# 36: GYPSY (The 2003 Revival):
RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!! We are only 36 days away from Broadway’s biggest night of the year, the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Our TOP 40 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more Broadway powerhouse performances from the past telecasts.
At # 36 on the countdown, we have one of the most iconic musicals ever written. It follows the story of one of the most craziest and bossiest stage mothers of all time…. “Rose Thompson Hovick” (aka “Mama Rose”). We are talking about GYPSY!!! Based on a memoir by Rose Louise Hovick (aka Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous stripper in the world), the show features a score by Julie Styne and Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents.
From the 2003 telecast, 2 time Tony winner Bernadette Peters, from that year?s revival brings down the house with a roof-shaking performance of the musical’s climax number ROSE?S TURN.
GYPSY originally premiered on Broadway in 1959 at the Broadway Theatre (and later transferred to the Imperial Theatre) for 702 performances. The original production starred?.
the legendary first belter of Musical Theatre, Ethel Merman, as “Mama Rose”
Sandra Church as “Louise”
and Jack Klugman as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 1960 including Best Musical, but lost all of its categories.
Following the success of the original Broadway run, GYPSY went on to tour across America and around the world. The show was later revived on Broadway four times.
The first revival happened 1974 (following the success of the musical’s World Premiere in London’s West End that following year) at the Winter Garden Theatre for a limited run of 124 performances. That first revival starred?
the legendary Dame Angela Lansbury as “Mama Rose,”
Zan Charisse as “Louise,”
and Rex Robbinson as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards in 1975 winning only 1 for Best Leading Actress in a Musical (for Angela Lansbury).
The second Broadway revival happened in 1989 playing the St. James Theatre (and later transferring to the Marquis Theatre) for 499 performances. This cast featured…
Tyne Daly (later Linda Lavin) as “Mama Rose,”
Crista Moore as “Louise,”
and Jonathan Hadary (and later Jamie Ross) as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards in 1990, winning 2 for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Leading Actress in a Musical (for Tyne Daly).
The third Broadway revival (as seen in this video) happened in 2003 playing the Shubert Theatre for 484 performances. This cast featured?
Bernadette Peters (who previously appeared as “Baby June” in the original production’s first National Tour),
Emmy-winner and Tony nominee Tammy Blanchard as “Louise,”
and Tony winner John Dossett as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards that same year including Best Revival of a Musical, but lost all of its categories.
The most recent Broadway revival happened in 2008 based on the acclaimed New York City Center Encores production. It returned to the St. James Theatre for 359 performances. This cast starred….
2 time Tony winner Patti LuPone as “Mama Rose”,
Tony winner Laura Benanti as “Louise”,
and Boyd Gaines as “Herbie”.
This revival was nominated for 7 Tony Awards winning 3 for Best Leading Actress, Featured Actor, and Featured Actress in a Musical (for Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines, and Laura Benanti).
That most recent revival was well known for a little onstage drama that happened on the second-to-last night before it closed. During the song “ROSE’S TURN”, a pair of rude audience members were taking illegal flashed photographs during the performance which almost caused LuPone to trip. She stopped the show to scream at the audience members that were taking the photographs and then threw them out. From there, she starting the number all over. Someone at the same time sneaked audio of that incident, which went viral on YouTube.
GYPSY is currently being rumored to come back to Broadway with a fifth revival based on the 2016 West End production that swept the Olivier Awards, starring Imelda Staunton as “Mama Rose.” Fingers crossed.
The musical has also been captured on film three times starting in 1962, starring Rosalind Russell as “Mama Rose,” earning her a Golden Globe Award for her performance.
The second time was in 1993 as a TV film starring (and last year’s Tony winner) Bette Midler as “Mama Rose,” in which she received an Emmy Award for her performance.
The most recently captured presentation was a filmed performance of that 2016 acclaimed West End revival with Imelda Staunton, which was seen on Great Performances l PBS.
Doesn’t this musical make you wanna shout “SING OUT LOUISE”??!!!
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #BroadwaysBiggestNight #NYBTTonyAwardsCountdown #NewYorkBroadwayTours #Top40Countdown #ThisIsBroadway
This is the full clip of Bernadette Peters performing Rose’s Turn at the 57th annual Tony Awards in 2003, with introduction by Hugh Jackman.
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