History Trivia / Gypsy

*** The 2003 revival directed by Creator/SamMendes was going to be very different to the minimalist set seen in the final production. On Show People Creator/DavidBurtka who played Tulsa remembered the planned staging was going to be smokey with the burlesque house and that Creator/BernadettePeters to sing Rose's Turn with make up running off her face, however Arthur Laurents' threaten to withdraw the production.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The second act was originally supposed to have Rose's breakdown take the form of a Dream Ballet (as one might expect for a show whose director-choreographer was ostentatiously credited for the "entire production" of both this musical and West Side Story, hit of the previous season). Fortunately, the ballet was never choreographed, and "Rose's Turn" was written instead.
* Legal threats from June Havoc almost resulted in June being renamed Clare in the show.
* The famous Medley Overture originally included the "Cow Song" and "Together We Go" after "You'll Never Get Away From Me"; Jule Styne, who complained that the overture ran too long, suggested they be replaced with a timpani roll.
* "Little Lamb" was originally to have been sung by Louise as an interlude within "Mr. Goldstone"; this version can be heard on Ethel Merman's demo recording. It was barely rescued from being cut altogether.
** The 2003 revival directed by Creator/SamMendes was going to be very different to the minimalist set seen in the final production. On Show People Creator/DavidBurtka who played Tulsa remembered the planned staging was going to be smokey with the burlesque house and that Creator/BernadettePeters to sing Rose's Turn with make up running off her face, however Arthur Laurents' threaten to withdraw the production.

!! The Play:

!!The film adaptation:

!!The TV Series:

* TheCastShowOff: In contrast to ''Film/{{West Side Story|1961}}'', where she was dubbed, Creator/NatalieWood shows off her singing here.

* RealitySubtext: Creator/NatalieWood had her own experiences with an abusive StageMom, just like her character.

* FakeAmerican: Naomi Watts is British/Australian, but as usual plays an American.

* TheCastShowOff: In contrast to ''Film/WestSideStory'', where she was dubbed, Creator/NatalieWood shows off her singing here.

** In ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', Ethel Merman has a cameo as a shell-shocked veteran who thinks he's Ethel Merman, and "he's" singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

* RealLifeWritesThePlot: The song "Momma's Talkin' Soft", mentioned above, was meant to be sung by the actresses playing Young June and Young Louise as they sat on a high platform and observed their mother flirting with Herbie to get what she wanted. Unfortunately, the actress who originally played Young Louise was petrified of heights and couldn't do the number, so it had to be cut.
* SugarWiki/SheReallyCanAct: The original production starred Ethel Merman, who was renowned as a comic actress and thus an unexpected choice for the flawed, dramatic part of Mama Rose; Merman herself expressed doubts about "Rose's Turn," pointing out that it was more aria than musical theatre. Regardless, she ''completely'' owned the role and played Mama Rose with a mixture of comedy, pathos, and depth that is still considered the benchmark for the part.

* TheCastShowOff: In contrast to ''Film/WestSideStory'', where she was dubbed, Natalie Wood shows off her singing here.

* NonSingingVoice: Rosalind Russell's vocals were blended with Lisa Kirk's for Mama Rose's singing.
* RealitySubtext: Natalie Wood had her own experiences with an abusive StageMom, just like her character.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Another actress was originally cast as Dainty June but was replaced with Ann Jillian, because it was decided she looked too young for the role.
** Rosalind Russell and Frederic Bisson were hoping to do a straight dramatic adaptation of Gypsy Rose Lee's memoirs, but the rights of the book were tied up in the rights of the stage version. As a result, the film is an adaptation of the musical.

* FakeAmerican: Naomi Watts is British/Australian, but as usual plays an American.

** Another actress was originally cast as Dainty Jane but was replaced with Ann Jillian, because it was decided she looked too young for the role.

* DawsonCasting: 20-something Creator/NatalieWood played Louise as both a teenager and a young woman.

The Play:

The TV Series:

The Film:

** In ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', Ethel Merman has a cameo as a shell shocked veteran who thinks he's Ethel Merman, and "he's" singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

* SugarWiki/SheReallyCanAct: The original production starred Ethel Merman, who was renowned as a comic actress and thus an unexpected choice for the flawed, dramatic part of Mama Rose; Merman herself expressed doubts about "Rose's Turn," pointing out that it was more aria than musical theatre. Regardless, she ''completely'' owned the role and played Mama Rose with a mixture of comedy, pathos, and depth that is still considered the benchmark for the part.

* SheReallyCanAct: The original production starred Ethel Merman, who was renowned as a comic actress and thus an unexpected choice for the flawed, dramatic part of Mama Rose; Merman herself expressed doubts about "Rose's Turn," pointing out that it was more aria than musical theatre. Regardless, she ''completely'' owned the role and played Mama Rose with a mixture of comedy, pathos, and depth that is still considered the benchmark for the part.

* SheReallyCanAct: The original production starred Ethel Merman, who was renowned as a comic actress; Merman herself expressed doubts about "Rose's Turn," pointing out that it was more aria than musical theatre. Regardless, she ''completely'' owned the role and played Mama Rose with a mixture of comedy, pathos, and depth that is still considered the benchmark for the part.

** Mama Rose of the 1993 TV adaptation is [[Film/HocusPocus Winifred Sanderson]], who now says, "Hello, Salem, my name is Winifred! What's yours?"

** Mama Rose of the 1993 TV adaptation is [[HocusPocus Winifred Sanderson]], who now says, "Hello, Salem, my name is Winifred! What's yours?"

* DawsonCasting: 20-something NatalieWood played Louise as both a teenager and a young woman.
* ReferencedBy: In ''Film/{{Airplane}}'', Ethel Merman has a cameo as a shell shocked veteran who thinks he's Ethel Merman, and "he's" singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses".
** Also, Mama Rose of the 1993 TV adaptation is [[HocusPocus Winifred Sanderson]], who now says, "Hello, Salem, my name is Winifred! What's yours?"

* DawsonCasting: 20-something NatalieWood played Louise as both a teenager and a young woman. Granted, she was small enough to get away with it.

* ReferencedBy: In ''{{Airplane}}'', Ethel Merman has a cameo as a shell shocked veteran who thinks he's Ethel Merman, and "he's" singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses".

* HeyItsThatGuy: In the 2015 West End revival, [[Film/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] is Mama Rose and [[Series/{{Sherlock}} Irene Adler]] is Louise.

** Also, Mama Rose of the 1993 TV adaptation is [[HocusPocus Winifred Sanderson]], who now says, "Hello, Salem, my name is Winifred! What's yours?"