Ready or not, here comes Audra!
Just like I said.
A new Broadway revival of “Gypsy,” starring Audra McDonald as Mama Rose, was officially announced on Wednesday.
Directed by George C. Wolfe, the production of Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents’ classic musical will open in December (previews start in November) at the newly renovated Majestic Theatre — its first tenant since “The Phantom of the Opera” closed after 35 years.
This story might ring a bell. That’s because The Post broke the news that the six-time Tony Award winner, 53, was planning to play Mama Rose during the 2024-25 season way back in January.
But at the Screen Actors Guild Awards a month later, McDonald denied the report on the red carpet.
“Oh no, that was a rumor,” the actress told Entertainment Tonight. “I read about that in the New York Post, too.”
The flummoxed interviewer replied, “How does that happen? How does someone make up that you’re starring in the revival of ‘Gypsy’?”
Answered McDonald: “People talk, people talk.”
They sure do, Audra. And some people accurately talked about how you would soon be singing “Some People” on Broadway as that most ferocious of stage mothers.
But don’t worry, Audra, I don’t hold grudges. No fits, no fights, no feuds and no egos!
This confirmation does, however, set up a Godzilla-size battle for the Tony next year between McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger, who begins playing Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” at the St. James Theatre weeks earlier. Right across the street!
Formerly of the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger, 45, who won the Olivier Award for best actress in a musical in London for playing the part, is phenomenal.
She’ll be major competition.
There are other big female turns next season to contend with — Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard in the campy “Death Becomes Her”; Sutton Foster in “Once Upon A Mattress” and British actress Katie Brayben as Tammy Faye Bakker in Elton’s “Tammy Faye.”
My advice? Sing out, Louise!