5 Reasons to See Gypsy On Broadway

Broadway's got a new revival of Arthur Laurents-Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim musical Gypsy, with the George C. Wolfe-directed production opening at the newly refurbished Majestic Theatre December 19.

Based on the memoir of famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, Gypsy tells the story of the stage mother of all stage mothers: Madame Rose. Hellbent on making her daughters vaudeville star, Rose stops at nothing to get what she wants, regardless of what her daughters think about the situation. With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the classic musical is one of Broadway's favorites to revive. This production is the work's sixth outing on the Main Stem—thanks in no small part to its beloved score, which includes such favorites as "Some People," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "You Gotta Get a Gimmick," "Rose's Turn," and more.

Wondering if you should buy a ticket? Playbill has five things to know about the production that will help you decide if you want to see it (if Audra McDonald as Rose isn't enough of a selling point). Check out the five reasons to see Gypsy below and read the other reviews for the new production here.

1. Gypsy is one of the best musicals ever written

We don't traffic in explicit value judgements a lot here at Playbill, because we want to let all theatre fans have their own opinions. But when it comes to Gypsy, the strength of the material is pretty hard to argue with. Premiering on Broadway in 1959, Gypsy is often thought of as the defacto last, and perhaps best, of the Golden Age musicals. Rodgers and Hammerstein set the bar with Oklahoma! in 1943. And Broadway continued to expand and refine that model in the years following. Gypsy—notably featuring lyrics by Hammerstein's protegé, Sondheim—is in many ways the culmination of that work. It's imminently entertaining—Styne's score is filled with songs that have become standards—but Laurents and Sondheim, in particular, really pushed it to go beyond simple entertainment and cover some new dramatic territory. Laurents' book is (to many) among the best scripts ever written for the musical theatre. This production is a great showcase of that thanks to Wolf's sharp direction and the performances from the truly world-class cast (more on that later).

Like any good Golden Age musical, Gypsy has jokes, spectacle, and dance numbers. But it also has a plot that has been capturing audiences for more than 60 years. Even at the press performance this writer took in—which means the audience was primarily people more than familiar with Gypsy—certain plot points drew audible gasps. Gypsy hasn't ever been far from Broadway for long, but there's a reason. It's just incredibly good musical theatre. If you haven't seen it before and love musicals, you definitely need to see Gypsy. If you have seen it before, then you already know that any night watching this show is a memorable delight.

WATCH: Stephen Sondheim Told Danny Burstein That Gypsy Is 'The Best Broadway Show Ever Written'

Danny Burstein, Joy Woods, and Audra McDonald in *Gypsy* Julieta Cervantes

2. A cast for the ages

So if you want to see Gypsy, you can easily watch the Rosalind Russell-Natalie Wood movie, the Bette Midler TV movie, or the live capture from London with Imelda Staunton at home. But none of those Gypsys star six-time Tony winner and bonafide Broadway legend Audra McDonald, or Tony winner Danny Burstein, or rising star Joy Woods (The Notebook). Matching one of the best musicals with a cast that is the brightest of Broadway is borderline event theatre.

Madame Rose has been called by many the King Lear of musical theatre. Having the most Tony-winning actor in history take on the role means attention must be paid. Audra McDonald is not stunt casting. It is placing the literal top of the musical theatre acting game in arguably the top musical theatre role. Sure, you've probably seen "Rose's Turn" before. But McDonald is not a performer who turns in just another "Rose's Turn." We always knew McDonald would put her indelible stamp on the role, and she has, which makes it a must-see. McDonald's stature makes the casting seem destined, but she's actually a non-traditional choice. The role was written for and originally starred iconic Broadway belter Ethel Merman, a far cry from the Juilliard-trained, classical soprano singing that is McDonald's calling card. That means even though you may be familiar with McDonald's previous (and frequently Tony-winning) Broadway outings, you have never seen McDonald in a role like this, nor heard her sing like she's singing in Gypsy.

And though McDonald is inarguably the primary, above-the-title draw, she's far from the only stellar casting this production boasts. Burstein brings his own Tony-winning expertise to Rose's lover and manager Herbie, transforming what can easily become a perhaps bland character into a force all its own.

And in the title role, Woods is newer to the scene—this is just her third Broadway credit, and just five years after she made her professional New York debut (in Off-Broadway's Little Shop of Horrors). But to say she made a splash in The Notebook is an understatement. Her performance, particularly of the song "My Days," quickly became a favorite amongst theatre fans, propelling her to this latest gig. Like Laura Benanti, who played the role of Louise before her, if you see Woods in the role of Louise (turned Gypsy Rose Lee), you will no doubt be witnessing a star-making moment. You don't want to miss out.

READ: In Gypsy, Joy Woods Is Stepping Into Her Power

Zachary Daniel Jones, Tony d'Alelio, Jordan Tyson, Kevin Csolak, and Brendan Sheehan in *Gypsy* Julieta Cervantes

3. This is unlike any Gypsy you've seen before

This version of Gypsy is trying to do something altogether new with the 65 year-old musical. With most of its characters based on real people (Gypsy Rose Lee was a true star of burlesque and a fixture on TV and radio as well—and her sister, Baby/Dainty June in Gypsy, was stage and film star June Havoc in real life), Gypsy has tended to be cast with white actors. McDonald isn't the first Black actor to take on the role of Mama Rose, but this does appear to be the first major production to use that casting to add some new nuance to the story. Suddenly, Rose isn't just a woman frustrated at her supposed unrecognized potential. She's a woman frustrated that she has to operate in a world that's been designed to keep her from living out almost any potential, even if she does work incredibly hard. That shift, made without altering any of the original script, adds a lot of interesting depth to this production that will be new and novel for even the most seasoned of Gypsy fans.

And for the theatre nerds, this production also has some newly rearranged musical moments that are nice to hear, along with a formerly cut introduction to "Small World" that most fans won't have heard before.

PHOTOS: Look Back on the Previous Broadway Productions of Gypsy

4. A 25-piece orchestra

Speaking of the music, Gypsy is one of those musicals that really demands an old-school, big Broadway orchestra, and this Gypsy has delivered that in spades. Conductor Andy Einhorn is leading an ensemble of 25, playing the musical's full original (and newly restored!) orchestration—and it's something to hear. Nowhere is that more on display than in the musical's iconic overture which, to many Broadway fans, is the best overture in all of Broadway history. Some shows let audiences get seated with a basic medley of the evening's tunes, but Gypsy's is put together so well that it could almost be its own standalone piece separate from the musical.

Pro-tip: if you want to hear that incredible overture in full, make sure you are on time or even a little early. With a three-hour running time, Gypsy begins performances closer to the actual showtime than most others to minimize staff overtime. The vast majority of Broadway plays and musicals unofficially start five to seven minutes after showtime, but not Gypsy! Momma Rose doesn't tolerate lateness.

5. The Majestic looks better than ever

This one is for the real theatre nerds. This Gypsy is not only historic for what's happening during the show, but also for where it's happening. This revival is the first show to play the Majestic Theatre since The Phantom of the Opera finished its historic, 35-year run in the same venue (the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical closed in 2023 and is still Broadway's longest-ever run).

In between tenants, The Shubert Organization (which owns the Majestic) took advantage of the vacancy to have the theatre completely refurbished, and she's looking pretty beautiful. Any newly refurbished theatre can be a sight to see. But this case is particularly special because Phantom had much of the theatre's proscenium and ceiling painted black for its entire run. Many people, this writer included, have never seen what the theatre actually looks like, even if they've been in it before.

So when you are seated in the newly renovated Majestic, take special note of the ceiling above the stage, where you'll see newly uncovered plaster work and architectural details. You'll also be able to see the theatre's real chandelier, which had been in storage for Phantom's entire run to make room for its own crashing set piece. So if you're a lover of historic architecture, head over to see Gypsy at the Majestic.