‘Gypsy,’ Starring Audra McDonald, Will End Broadway Run

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The last Broadway performance of the revitalized production of “Gypsy,” featuring Audra McDonald, will take place on August 17th.

The Majestic Theatre resumed operations in December, and by its closing, it had completed 269 regular performances and 28 previews. McDonald, a six-time Tony Award winner, was the main attraction for her portrayal of Rose, the iconic stage mother, in the George C. Wolfe-directed revival. The show’s billboards read “Audra. Gypsy.”

(I aimed to maintain the original structure and tone while making it more conversational and easier to understand.)

The performance was up for five Tony Awards, including best musical revival, yet it didn’t win any prizes at the June awards show. McDonald was nominated for the category of best actress in a musical, which is one of the most popular categories in the business, but the award ultimately went to Nicole Scherzinger for her work in Sunset Blvd, which will close in July.

Initially, the show was drawing large crowds, but attendance started to dwindle during wintertime and hasn’t picked up since then. For quite some time now, the venue has been operating at about 70% capacity. Additionally, earlier this month, gross earnings dropped by approximately $700,000, coinciding with a planned absence of McDonald.

Apart from McDonald, the ensemble also consists of Danny Burstein, Joy Woods (both Tony Award nominees), Jordan Tyson, Kevin Csolak, Lesli Margherita, Lili Thomas, and Mylinda Hull. This production boasts a script by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Camille A. Brown.

For the very first time on Broadway, a Black actress took on the esteemed role of Rose, which marked a significant milestone in theater history.

David Saint, representing the Laurents Estate, praised George C Wolfe’s exceptional staging of Gypsy, stating that it perfectly preserved the essence of the original while adding a fresh layer of depth through the casting of Audra McDonald. He noted that Wolfe illuminated the story’s underlying racial themes, a reflection that Arthur, a lifelong champion for social justice, would appreciate.

Rick Pappas, spokesperson for the Sondheim Estate, remarked that the staging of GYPSY transformed it into an unforgettable experience, likely ranking among the most respected American musicals. George C. Wolfe’s insightful direction and a stellar performance by Audra McDonald, one of our foremost performers, have left their mark on Broadway lore. In discussions with Steve about roles from his body of work that Audra should undertake, they both agreed that ‘Rose’ was the ideal choice. We are confident that he would have been delighted with this groundbreaking stage production.

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2025-07-17 03:24