Scene to Song Episode 97: The Character of Rose in Gypsy

In this episode, actress, singer, writer, and producer Victoria Gordon discusses the character of Rose, or Mama Rose, in Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents's 1959 musical Gypsy, looking at the many actors who have played the role. We also talk about the song "Babbette" from Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green's 1978 musical On the Twentieth Century.

You can write to scenetosong@gmail.com with a comment or question about an episode or about musical theater, or if you’d like to be a podcast guest. Follow on Instagram at @ScenetoSong, on X/Twitter at @SceneSong, and on Facebook at “Scene to Song with Shoshana Greenberg Podcast.” And be sure to sign up for the new monthly e-newsletter at scenetosong.substack.com. Contribute to the Patreon. The theme music is by Julia Meinwald.

Music played in this episode:
"Everything’s Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy (1959 Original Cast Recording)
"You’ll Never Get Away from Me" from Gypsy (1959 Original Cast Recording)
"Together" from Gypsy (1973 West End Cast Recording)
"Rose’s Turn" from Gypsy (2003 Cast Recording)
"Babbette" from On the Twentieth Century (1978 Original Cast Recording)

YouTube Clips Referenced:
Angela Lansbury in Gypsy
Linda Lavin doing "Rose's Turn"