Playbill.com reported last week that, after much “will they or won't they” speculation, LuPone's "Gypsy" will indeed be coming to Broadway in March.
The first in the City Center's Encores! Summer Stars series, the musical—which opened in previews on July 9 and finished its run on July 29— was undoubtedly the theatrical event of the summer and was met with critical applause (for the most part) and fanatical audiences nightly. LuPone's fellow cast members—notably Boyd Gaines (Herbie) and Laura Benanti (Louise/Gypsy Rose Lee)—have been asked to join the Broadway cast as well, but at the moment only LuPone has committed.
A show-business story of the highest order, the musical fable is based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee and is arguably one of the greatest musicals of all time. The 1959 smash features some of the most famous (if not over-performed) songs in Broadway history: “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn” and “Some People.”
Ethel Merman created the role of Rose in the original production, followed by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and most recently, Bernadette Peters in 2000—a hotly debated performance that left many saying that the legendary Peters was miscast in this manic, near-crazy role.
LuPone’s performance, on the other hand, had the opposite effect, with critics and audiences declaring she was born to play the role of Rose.
Theatergoers can see for themselves, as “Gypsy” is scheduled to start previews March 1, with opening night on March 27.
"Gypsy" features a score by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) and a book by Arthur Laurents.
