A History of GYPSY's Mama Rose and the Women Who Have Played Her

Gypsy is back on Broadway, starring Audra McDonald in the iconic role of Mama Rose! As fans welcome the anticipated revival to the stage, BroadwayWorld is looking back on some of the performers who have taken on the musical's lead role, on Broadway, the West End, and beyond.

From Ethel Merman to Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, and more, take a walk down memory lane below!

The revival of Gypsy is now playing at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre on Broadway.

Ethel Merman

Ethel Merman starred in the original Broadway production of Gypsy, which opened on May 21, 1959, at The Broadway Theatre, before transferring to the Imperial Theatre. The production closed on March 25, 1961, after 702 performances and two previews.

The show was produced by David Merrick and directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Alongside Ethel Merman as Rose, the cast included Jack Klugman as Herbie and Sandra Church as Louise. 

Merman received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance.

Scenic and Lighting design were by Jo Mielziner and costumes were by Raoul Pène Du Bois. The orchestrations, including an overture, were supplied by Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler.

Following the closing of the Broadway production, two national touring companies were formed, with Merman leading the first. The tour opened in March 1961 at the Rochester, New York Auditorium, and closed in December 1961 at the American in St. Louis, Missouri.

Angela Lansbury

Lansbury appeared in Gypsy in London's West End, Broadway, and a North American tour. She won the 1975 Tony Award for her performance.

In 1973, it was announced that Elaine Stritch would be starring in the first West End production of the show, but Lansbury was later hired to boost ticket sales. The West End production opened at the Piccadilly Theatre on May 29, 1973, directed by the show's author, Arthur Laurents, with choreography by Robert Tucker. The cast also included Zan Charisse, Barrie Ingham, Debbie Bowen and Bonnie Langford.

Lansbury left the London production in December 1973 to embark on the show's pre-Broadway 24-week tour of North America. The production opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on September 23, 1974, for a planned limited engagement, and closed on January 4, 1975, after 120 performances and four previews. 

Tyne Daly

Tyne Daly starred in the 1989 Broadway revival of Gypsy, which opened on November 16, 1989, at the St. James Theatre, and then moved to the Marquis Theatre on April 18, 1991. The show closed on July 28, 1991, after 476 performances and 23 previews. The cast also included Jonathan Hadary as Herbie and Crista Moore as Louise.

Linda Lavin briefly took over for Daly beginning on July 30, 1990, and Daly returned to the production from April 18, 1991 until closing.

This production won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival and Daly won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.

Bernadette Peters

A new Broadway revival of Gypsy began performances in 2003, starring Bernadette Peters. The production began previews on March 31, 2003, and opened on May 1, 2003, at the Shubert Theatre. The director was Sam Mendes, with choreography by Jerry Mitchell and costumes and sets by Anthony Ward. 

This production was notable in that it had begun previews with a virtually bare stage, but by opening night this had been changed to a minimalist set. The cast featured John Dossett as Herbie, Tammy Blanchard as Louise, Kate Reinders as June and David Burtka as Tulsa. The production was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical, however it did not win any Tony Awards.

Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone led the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy, but she also starred in several productions before it opened. LuPone first portrayed Rose at the Chicago Ravinia Festival in August 2006, directed by Lonny Price and accompanied by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

From July 9 to 29, 2007, the same production was presented at New York City Center with LuPone once again. Directed by Arthur Laurents, the production also featured Laura Benanti as Louise, Boyd Gaines as Herbie and Leigh Ann Larkin as June. Nancy Opel, Marilyn Caskey, and Alison Fraser played Mazeppa, Electra, and Tessie Tura. 

The show then transferred to Broadway, where it opened at the St. James Theatre on March 27, 2008. 

LuPone won a Tony Award for her performance.

Imelda Staunton

Imelda Staunton took on the role of Role in the 2025 West End revival of Gypsy, which opened at the Savoy Theatre on April 15, 2015 following a run at the Chichester Festival Theatre. The limited run ran through November 28.

Directed by Jonathan Kent with choreography by Stephen Mear and set and costume design by Anthony Ward, the cast also included Peter Davison as Herbie, Lara Pulver as Louise, Gemma Sutton as June, Dan Burton as Tulsa, Anita Louise Combe as Tessie Tura, Louise Gold as Mazzeppa and Julie Legrand as Electra. 

The London production was nominated for eight Laurence Olivier Awards at the 2016 ceremony, winning four, including Staunton for Best Actress in a Musical. Staunton also took home the UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Musical and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance.

The production was also filmed and broadcast on BBC Four over the 2015 Christmas/New Year period and was first broadcast on PBS' Great Performances in the United States in 2016.

Betty Buckley

Another notable production of Gypsy, outside of its Broadway and West End runs, occured in 1998 at Paper Mill Playhouse. The production starred Betty Buckley as Rose alongside Deborah Gibson, Lenny Wolpe, and Laura Bell Bundy played June. 

The production was rumored to be Broadway bound, but this did not materialize.

Six years prior to the Paper Mill production, Buckley took on the role at Arizona CLO in 1992.

Rosalind Russell

The original film adaptation of Gypsy was released in 1962, starring Rosalind Russell, and produced and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. The screenplay was written by Leonard Spigelgass based on the musical.

The film was a financial success, grossing $11,076,923 at the box office, and earning $6 million in U.S. theatrical rentals. It was the 8th highest-grossing film of 1962.

Russell won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Bette Midler

In 1993, a made-for-television film was released, starring Bette Midler as Rose. The film was directed by Emile Ardolino, based on the musical.

Midler won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. 

The film was originally broadcast by CBS on December 12, 1993, and then released in theaters in foreign markets. It was released on videotape and laserdisc by RHI Entertainment in 1994 and on DVD by Pioneer Entertainment in 2000 and Lionsgate Home Entertainment in 2005. The film was also released on several digital download and streaming outlets in future years, including Amazon and iTunes. In 2013, the film was re-released on DVD in a double-feature set with the 2001 television remake of South Pacific.