The upcoming Broadway revival of Gypsy has officially found its Louise and June. Joy Woods and Jordan Tyson, both currently starring in The Notebook musical, will take on the pivotal roles, joining six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald in the production.
Woods, who plays Middle Allie in The Notebook, will step into the role of Louise, while Tyson, who portrays Younger Allie, will play her younger sister June. The revival, directed by Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe, begins previews on November 21 at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre, with opening night set for December 19.
Producers Tom Kirdahy, Mara Isaacs, Kevin Ryan, and Diane Scott Carter made the announcement today, also confirming Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita, Lilli Thomas, and Mylinda Hull as the trio of strippers Tessie Tura, Miss Mazeppa, and Miss Electra. Hull will also take on the role of Miss Cratchitt. Full casting will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Woods and Tyson’s transitions from The Notebook to Gypsy signal a major moment for the young performers, both of whom made their Broadway debuts in the former. Woods’s final performance date in The Notebook has yet to be confirmed, while Tyson will leave the production on October 6.
The Gypsy revival is set to be one of Broadway’s most talked-about events of the season, featuring a stellar creative team. Choreography will be handled by four-time Tony Award nominee Camille A. Brown, with music direction and supervision by Andy Einhorn. Additional orchestrations and arrangements are by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters.
The design team includes several Tony Award-winning artists, including scenic designer Santo Loquasto, costume designer Toni-Leslie James, lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, and sound designer Scott Lehrer. Hair and wig design will be managed by Academy Award winner Mia Neal, with makeup by Michael Clifton.
Gypsy is inspired by the memoirs of famed burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee and follows her rise to fame, led by her determined and overbearing mother, Rose. The show originally debuted on Broadway in 1959, starring Ethel Merman as Rose, and has since been revived multiple times with celebrated performances from stars like Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Patti LuPone.
With McDonald leading the cast and Wolfe at the helm, this revival promises to deliver a fresh and dynamic take on the beloved musical. Performances begin in November, setting the stage for a must-see event of the 2024 Broadway season.