Joy Woods stays booked and busy!
Actress, of Six and Little shop of horrors fame, will remain on the slate this fall, moving from Broadway Notebook — in which she originated the role of Middle Allie — to join Audra McDonald in the long-awaited revival Gypsy.
It’s a gig that comes as Notebook getting ready for the last bow. The stage musical adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel and 2004 film of the same name will play its final performance at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater on December 15.
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Woods will leave the musical early to prepare Gypsywhich begins performances at the Majestic Theater in New York on November 21 before an official opening on December 19. Her last play in Notebook it will be on October 20.
She won’t go alone, either. Going with Woods to join Gypsy the cast will include Jordan Tyson, who plays the younger Allie. Her last performance will be on October 6.
In a new revival Gypsydirected by George C. Wolfe, Woods will play Louise — the older daughter of McDonald’s relentless acting mom, Rose — while Tyson will play June, Louise’s sister and the center of the family’s vaudeville. Over the course of the story, Louise grows up to become Gypsy Rose Lee, the legendary burlesque entertainer, stripper and actress whose largely fictional 1957 memoir was used as the basis for the 1959 musical.
Other newly appointed Gypsy The cast includes Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (as “Tessie Tura”), Lili Thomas (as “Miss Mazeppa”) and Mylinda Hull (as “Miss Electra”).
Tony winner Danny Burstein will play Herbie, Rose’s lover.
Gypsy widely regarded as the greatest musical of all time, often referred to as “The King Lear Broadway musicals.” With music by Jule Styne (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), the show is filled with major tunes like “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “You Gotta Get a Gimmick,” “Together, Wherever We Go,” and “Rose they turn”.
Favorite pop culture quotes like “Sing out, Louise” and “I’m a pretty girl, mama” can also be traced back to Arthur Laurents’ book.
The musical has been revived countless times, with famous Broadway actresses including Tyne Daly, Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone portraying Rose on stage. The role was created by Ethel Merman and has been seen on screen in films starring Rosalind Russell (1962), Bette Midler (1993) and the 2015 London revival starring Imelda Staunton.
George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Robert Downey Jr. and all the stars go to Broadway
Gypsy.
Courtesy of Broadway
McDonald, 54, is the first black woman to tackle the role on Broadway. The most decorated actor of our time with six acting Tony Awards—the most of any performer—McDonald was the perfect choice for producers Tom Kirdahy and Mara Isaacs when they wanted to bring Gypsy back.
“When we began this journey, we had a specific dream of pairing Audra McDonald, our most acclaimed stage actress, with legendary director George C. Wolfe in what many consider the greatest musical,” he said in a statement in May. “We couldn’t be more honored to bring this special Gypsy to the Broadway stage.”
Further casting for Gypsy will be published later.
This production will also have the distinction of being the first to play the Majestic Theatre. The cult place in Manhattan, first opened in 1927, has been renovated since The Phantom of the Opera closed in February 2023.
Tickets for Gypsy they are on sale now.
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Source: HIS Education