Who will be the next Broadway Madame Rose?

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:26am

Ethel, Angela, Tyne, Bernadette, Patti...

Who is the most logical next Rose for Broadway? When do you think we'll get our next Gypsy? The Imelda Staunton revival was rumored to transfer at one point, many people talk about a fantasy Audra McDonald production, many actresses have said they'd love to play it one day - Sutton Foster, for one. Who do you think will get the opportunity to be the next Broadway Rose? 

[Quinn Wilson]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:28am

Renee Elise Goldsberry, if there is any justice in the world 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:29am

I'm more curious to hear who'll be playing the role at Goodspeed starting in April.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:36am

Honestly a bit bummed the Imelda Staunton version never transferred. I thought it was pretty distinct from both Bernadette and Patti’s versions and could have stood on its own. 

[broadwayben3]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:37am

TaffyDavenport said: "I'm more curious to hear who'll be playing the role at Goodspeed starting in April."

Give me Karen Mason.

[Tag]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:38am

Hannah Waddingham

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:45am

Loretta Swit

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:46am

Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that.  A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director.  

[bdn223]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:48am

Audra is likely next in line, although its crazy to think she finally aged into the role as she is now 1 year older then Merman was when the show debuted. Therefore unless someone like Amy Adams, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchette, Melissa McCarthy, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Salma Hayek, or Sandra Bullock are desperate to play the role on Broadway, IE an Alist Hollywood actress with a storied career, I would assume we will see an Audra lead production within the next 5 years or so. I think the more interesting question is will it be an all Black production, or maybe have Dainty June be lighter a lighter skinned person of color  and Louise be very dark skinned to add the subtext of colorism to the script. I know Gypsy is semi-biographical, but having a black Mamma Rose can add a layer of subtext to why her dreams never came true, and pushed them onto first June who is theoretically white passing and then as a last resort Louise. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:48am

Sherie Rene Scott

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:52am

I've always wondered about Chita's Rose, especially from the planned London production in the 1960

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:57am

In a few years, Cynthia Erivo might have a more interesting Rose in her than Audra –– and after the WICKED movie (and her Oscar nom from a few years ago) Cynthia means more at the Broadway box office than Audra.

There's not many people who I'm DYING to see play this role on Broadway. I'd like to see Keala Settle and LaChanze get a crack at it regionally.

Audra would probably be quite good, but there are other roles I'd like to see her play. Sally from FOLLIES, for example.

Updated On: 1/24/23 at 11:57 AM

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:08pm

Also, does Audra truly belt? Or how would she sing this score? What are the best examples of her singing songs close to Gypsy's score?
She has apparently started doing Rose's Turn in her concerts but no footage available as far as I'm aware - what are people's thoughts on her version of the song?
I feel, much like when Sutton Foster took on Reno Sweeney and when Kelli O'Hara took on Kate, we are moving further away from having the type of actress on which Rose was built - the kind of musical comedy 'broad' - or am I wrong? Foster was woefully miscast in Anything Goes but she's the closest they had to that kind of performer. Who carries the energy of those older divas? - Jessie Mueller? Megan Hilty? Neither screams Rose to me.
What about Donna Murphy? I'm surprised she hasn't been mentioned yet. Strange how she never got her Gypsy moment, as she's a contemporary of Bernadette's and Patti's (slightly behind them I know). Updated On: 1/24/23 at 12:08 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:09pm

A number of folks posted names that will NEVER open as Rose.  It clearly needs a star in the lead to attract an audience.  Even Tyne Daly, while not a Broadway name, was well known by potential audiences because of her years on Cagney and Lacy, which won her 4 Emmys.  

Gotta be a name with (A) talent and (B) name recognition.  

I do not think it needs to be someone who is well into middle age.  Rose Hovic was 21 and 22 when her two daughters were born.  At the beginning of Gypsy, that would make her 31 - 32.  So I think we should also consider younger folks, who might also attract a new audience.  Clearly, Lea Michelle would be a serious option under the 'go younger' scenario.  So would Lady Gaga, Ariana Dubose (sp), etc.

In the more traditional casting scenario, I like Hannah Waddingham, although I don't know whether her name would sell enough tickets.  Audra could act the hell out of it, but I have no idea whether the score is suited to her voice.  I have seen several excellent concerts with her, and she has not included (m)any of the types of songs included in the Gypsy score.  Would Everything's Coming Up Roses be as effective with Audra's singing style / can she sing comfortably 8 times a week in the brassy style that is the norm for Gypsy.  

[steve.sometime]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:23pm

Audra sang Rose's Turn just last month at Carnegie Hall. There's a recording of it if you know where to look. She didn't belt, but it was powerful nonetheless. I would LOVE to see her take on Mama Rose in a heartbeat!

[broadwayben3]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:32pm

This may be unpopular, but I would rather see a Rose who can act the hell out of it rather than sing it like Patti/or any beltress. Just my opinion. It is SUCH a rich acting piece, and Audra would act the **** out of it.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:33pm

nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."

Sadly, she didn’t modify her performance for camera. That performance played excellently at the theatre as she was playing to the balcony. With a camera in her face, oh boy. Same with the filmed 2001 revival of THE WOMEN. The ladies were glorious on stage but watching the filmed performance, they are literally screaming every word of dialogue. Performing on stage and for camera requires a huge adjustment.  Stanton’s GYPSY and the revival of THE WOMEN made no effort to adjust the performances for the camera.  

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:38pm

Yes it's obviously a rich acting part, but to me an equally important singing role. I personally need both equally strong. Imelda acted it beautifully (in the theater) but Ethan Mordden writes in his Sondheim book that a Rose has to have a certain appealing vocal tone and Staunton simply doesn't have that. I never listen to the Tyne Daly album for this reason. Lansbury just about got away with it - I never listen to her recording either because I don't find her voice particularly interesting. The most enthralling thing Lansbury did vocally was, interestingly, at the end of Rose's Turn - the manic 'everything's coming up Rose...' section, where she seemed to spiral out of control whereas a lot of Rose's just go ham vocally there, belting their faces off. Updated On: 1/24/23 at 12:38 PM

[NoItAll]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 1:18pm

Have you people been living in caves? There’s a new sheriff in town: Lea Michele.

Think a retired Fanny Brice ambitious for her daughters. 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:18pm

Marsha Wallace would be great.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:25pm

nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."

Fair enough. I found her acting quite nuanced, but I understand why people don't like her singing voice. It is rough and harsh, although I personally found that interesting.
I feel like West End and Broadway audiences often have extremely different expectations when it comes to singing. Reminds me a bit of Elena Roger in Evita: she got excellent reviews on the West End, but her singing did not pass muster for Broadway audiences. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:42pm

UWS10023 said: "Marsha Wallace would be great."

Marcia Wallace passed away in 2013.  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:45pm

Nicticorax said: "nealb1 said: "Glad that the Imelda rumors were just that. A screaming, out of control Mama Rose was an interesting choice by that director."
Fair enough. I found her acting quite nuanced, but I understand why people don't like her singing voice. It is rough and harsh, although I personally found that interesting.
I feel like West End and Broadway audiences often have extremely different expectations when it comes to singing. Reminds me a bit of Elena Roger in Evita: she got excellent reviews on the West End, but her singing did not pass muster for Broadway audiences."

While I agree with the sentiment that Broadway has higher standards for singing than London, this specific example is funny to me because I would venture to say Imelda sang Rose more competently than Tyne Daly.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:49pm

I'm not very familiar with Daly's performance, but you may be right!

And I didn't necessarily mean Broadway has higher standards, just different standards. I think West End audiences are much more willing to listen to a voice that isn't technically pleasant but conveys a lot of character.

[David10086]

Posted: 1/24/23 at 3:10pm

Ariana de Bose or Laverne Cox will be the next Rose.