Audra McDonald-led ‘Gypsy’ sets final Broadway performance

The six-time Tony Award winner headlines the five-time Tony-nominated revival of the classic showbiz musical playing at the Majestic Theatre since November.

Gypsy on Broadway, starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, will play its final performance at the Majestic Theatre on August 17. At the time of closing, the musical revival will have played 297 total performances.

In November 2024, Gypsy became the first show to reopen the Majestic, newly renovated following the closure of The Phantom of the Opera after a record-setting 35 years. Directed by George C. Wolfe, this Gypsy revival was the first to feature a majority-Black cast in the classic musical written by Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics).

McDonald plays the “ultimate stage mother” Momma Rose, who will do anything to make her two daughters into vaudeville stars. Wolfe’s revival earned five Tony nominations, including Best Musical Revival, Best Choreography for Camille A. Brown, and acting nods for McDonald, Danny Burstein as Herbie, and Joy Woods as Louise.

The main cast also includes Jordan Tyson as June, Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Mazeppa, Mylinda Hull as Electra/Miss Cratchitt, Kevin Csolak as Tulsa, Jacob Ming-Trent as Uncle Jocko, Summer Rae Daney and Kyleigh Denae Vickers alternating as Baby Louise, and Marley Lianne Gomes and Jade Smith alternating as Baby June.

In a Gypsy review, New York Theatre Guide’s critic wrote, “McDonald’s take on Momma Rose is all her own [...] McDonald throws her entire being into “Rose’s Turn,” building and building until you begin to marvel that you are lucky enough to witness such a performance. And when Rose finishes her song, soaking in the adoration from the audience that is both imaginary and also very real, there is no other choice but to give her a standing ovation.”

“George C. Wolfe's exquisite production of Gypsy managed to both capture the full integrity of the original, without changing a word, and at the same time brought a historic new level of depth with his casting the magnificent Audra McDonald. He shed a complex light of racial awareness on this quintessential American story, one that would make Arthur, the lifelong advocate for social justice, extremely proud,” said David Saint, spokesperson for the Laurents Estate, in a statement.

“This production of Gypsy made a once-in-a-lifetime event out of arguably the most revered American musical. With George C. Wolfe’s sharp and illuminating direction and a performance for the ages from one of our greatest living performers, Audra McDonald, its legacy is etched in Broadway history. Steve and Audra had a conversation about roles in his canon she should tackle, and they agreed “Rose” should top that list. We know he would have been thrilled with everything this historic production came to be on stage,” said Rick Pappas, spokesperson for the Sondheim Estate, in a statement.

Learn more about Gypsy on Broadway.

Photo credit: Gypsy on Broadway. (Photo by Julieta Cervantes)