Is Patti LuPone coming to the West End as Mama Rose in Gypsy?

It seems that the transfer of Arthur Laurents’ revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone could be in London’s West End by the end of this year.  This production played at the St James Theatre on Broadway, closing a year ago and winning three Tony Awards, including Best Actress in a Musical for Miss LuPone.

At one time the producer  David Ian  was trying to get hold of one of the West End’s bigger musical theatres for the large production with a cast of 30 and orchestra of 27.

Gypsy is all about the American burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her ambitious stage mother Mama Rose (played by LuPone). This strong headed woman is determined that her two daughters will become stars and does everything she can to find them fame and fortune – no matter what the cost.

The 1959 Broadway musical has a book by Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Jerome Robbins originally directed and choreographed the musical, which includes the classics “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, “Rose’s Turn” and “Some People”.