Posted: 7/8/25 at 4:44pm
This is why Audra McDonald has been doing 8 shows a week until now. The producers will have to heavily discount the Sunday matinees, and that’s going to hurt the bottom line every week.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 4:53pm
bear88 said: "This is why Audra McDonald has been doing 8 shows a week until now. The producers will have to heavily discount the Sunday matinees, and that’s going to hurt the bottom line every week."
Scott Rudin is ready to commiserate.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 5:40pm
In other news, I'm pleased to read Maybe Happy Ending had its highest gross ever, for the 7th straight week.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 7:03pm
ACL2006 said: "Those Gypsy numbers are terrible. If only they could have gotten Heather Headley instead."
as much as i adore Heather Headley
i really do not think she can help BO with this dull and lifeless production
Posted: 7/8/25 at 7:48pm
bear88 said: "This is why Audra McDonald has been doing 8 shows a week until now. The producers will have to heavily discount the Sunday matinees, and that’s going to hurt the bottom line every week."
Based on the number of times Tryphena has gone on, I don’t think Audra has done a full 8 in some time (which is expected during a long run of a role of this caliber).
I really do think that they missed an opportunity to alternate cast Rose like they did for Norma and market it as a Special Guest Star. While it didn’t necessarily boost box office, it gave another Broadway mainstay a chance to build her following and perform a role she may never otherwise have gotten the chance. It also reduced the use of standbys/understudies for Nicole.
If they had double cast Montego out of the gate, she would’ve had a chance to grow in the role and build her own following while giving Audra the breaks she needed. Instead, they throw her on for a week and pray for the best, which was a transparent window to her taking on an alternate role. It feels like they are doing Montego dirty a little bit.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 8:08pm
“Based on the number of times Tryphena has gone on, I don’t think Audra has done a full 8 in some time (which is expected during a long run of a role of this caliber).”
Ethel Merman would like a word!
Updated On: 7/8/25 at 08:08 PM
Posted: 7/8/25 at 8:39pm
LuPone also rarely called off, if I remember correctly? Not to pit anyone against each other, but I wonder if this is a difficult vocal role for Audra since it doesn’t quite suit her voice? Having seen her I think she’s sensational in the role. But I wonder as a performer if this is tough on her vocally? Having to navigate a score meant for a true Broadway belter.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 8:42pm
BorisTomashevsky said: "“Based on the number of times Tryphena has gone on, I don’t think Audra has done a full 8 in some time (which is expected during a long run of a role of this caliber).”
Ethel Merman would like a word!"
Or that since she lost the Tony Award, Audra has decided not to do all 8 shows a week since they have Glover available.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 10:10pm
RippedMan said: "Not to pit anyone against each other, but I wonder if this is a difficult vocal role for Audra since it doesn’t quite suit her voice? Having seen her I think she’s sensational in the role. But I wonder as a performer if this is tough on her vocally? Having to navigate a score meant for a true Broadway belter."
McDonald and open-ended musical runs have a complicated history.
Posted: 7/8/25 at 10:29pm
It’s almost like people realized the production around Audra was no where near the same caliber as her performance.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 1:28am
IdinaBellFoster said: "It’s almost like people realized the production around Audra was no where near the same caliber as her performance."
Many knew that from the beginning. "Dull and lifeless " is a spot on description of this production. Shocked it was even nominated as best revival.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 5:44am
Audra is the first and only Rose in history that did not perform 8 times a week. I thought her vocals were so strong I wondered how she would sustain them, I guess the answer is she can’t?
Posted: 7/9/25 at 6:11am
gibsons2 said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "It’s almost like people realized the production around Audra was no where near the same caliber as her performance."
Many knew that from the beginning. "Dull and lifeless " is a spot on description of this production. Shockedit was even nominated as best revival."
That was always kind of a given. The narrative was basically set up as a showdown between Sunset and Gypsy from the jump.
The other options were Once Upon A Mattress (long closed and reviews were polite but not rapturous), Elf (a seasonal show, and most of the hype was around Grey Henson’s performance), and The Last Five Years (shockingly, critically panned)
Posted: 7/9/25 at 6:51am
gibsons2 said: "Shocked it was even nominated as best revival."
Politeness.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 8:54am
east side story said: "RippedMan said: "Not to pit anyone against each other, but I wonder if this is a difficult vocal role for Audra since it doesn’t quite suit her voice? Having seen her I think she’s sensational in the role. But I wonder as a performer if this is tough on her vocally? Having to navigate a score meant for a true Broadway belter."
McDonald and open-ended musical runs have a complicated history."
I didn’t mean any shade to her. But for someone like LuPone this is her wheelhouse. So I just wonder as a more lyrical soprano if this style is more taxing on her.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 5:39pm
RippedMan said: "east side story said: "RippedMan said: "Not to pit anyone against each other, but I wonder if this is a difficult vocal role for Audra since it doesn’t quite suit her voice? Having seen her I think she’s sensational in the role. But I wonder as a performer if this is tough on her vocally? Having to navigate a score meant for a true Broadway belter."
McDonald and open-ended musical runs have a complicated history."
I didn’t mean any shade to her. But for someone like LuPone this is her wheelhouse. So I just wonder as a more lyrical soprano if this style is more taxing on her."
Serious question: do you think Lupone will return to broadway?
Posted: 7/9/25 at 7:01pm
Lupone as Svetlana.... It would be easy to understand why Anatoly wouldn't worry about leaving an older wife behind in Russia. Maybe it would be like when Omtay Ruiscay married an older woman early in his career to mask his omosexualityhay.
Updated On: 7/9/25 at 07:01 PM
Posted: 7/9/25 at 8:02pm
witchoftheeast2 said: "Serious question: do you think Lupone will return to broadway?"
The last time LePone had a lead role in a Broadway musical (by workload, not billing) was War Paint in 2017.
She's been on Broadway as recently as last December in The Roommate. As long as Chris Harper keeps paying her salary, there's no reason to think she'd stop. But I do wonder if she'll only take smaller roles in musicals going forward, or only do plays, like Nathan Lane.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 8:43pm
Jonathan Cohen said: "The last time LePone had a lead role in a Broadway musical (by workload, not billing) wasWar Paint in 2017.
She's been on Broadway as recently as last December in TheRoommate. As long as Chris Harper keeps paying her salary, there's no reason to think she'd stop. But I do wonder if she'll only take smaller roles in musicals going forward, or only do plays, like Nathan Lane."
She'd make a FABULOUS Carlotta in Follies. Just like Company, where she gets a fantastic song to sing, and drop a few scene-stealing one-liners.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 9:09pm
I’m just betting she’ll be Parthy in the LCT “Showboat”, if that happens.
Posted: 7/9/25 at 10:00pm
It’s interesting that the Cabaret revival has settled into a range of lower prices but nearly full houses during the final weeks of the Orville Peck-Eva Noblezada run. My daughter got the last ticket about three hours before showtime for Saturday night’s sold-out performance. She came to see Noblezada and liked her but was very impressed with Peck.
None of this is enough to turn a profit, but a packed house is still a packed house - even if a reasonably priced ticket is easy to come by.
Updated On: 7/9/25 at 10:00 PM
Posted: 7/15/25 at 8:52am
Just spreading a little news (or gossip - it's up to you how you define it) from a self-described 'GYPSY" insider which is making it's rounds on a variety of chat forums.
The message is 'Don't be surprised if GYPSY announces a closing notice this week'.
Make of it what you will.
