Tony Nominee Montego Glover Steps into Iconic Rose Role in Broadway’s Gypsy for Limited Engagement

NEW YORK – Tony-nominated actress Montego Glover is set to join the critically acclaimed Broadway revival of Gypsy, stepping into the iconic lead role of Rose for a limited, one-week engagement at the Majestic Theatre. Glover will begin performances on Monday, June 30, 2025, covering the part while the production’s acclaimed regular star, Audra McDonald, is on a pre-planned vacation.

This highly anticipated temporary casting provides a unique opportunity for audiences to see Glover, a performer celebrated for her powerful voice and compelling stage presence, take on one of musical theatre’s most challenging and coveted roles. Her run is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, July 6, 2025.

A Distinguished Performer Takes Center Stage

Montego Glover earned a Tony Award nomination in 2009 for her breakout performance as Felicia in the musical Memphis. Her work in that production was widely praised by critics and established her as a significant talent on the Broadway stage. Since then, she has appeared in numerous other productions, demonstrating versatility across different genres and roles. Stepping into the shoes of Rose, the quintessential stage mother driven by ambition and a fierce love for her daughters, represents a major milestone in her career.

The role of Rose was famously originated by Ethel Merman and has been portrayed by a lineage of legendary performers, including Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, and the current star, Audra McDonald. McDonald, a six-time Tony Award winner, recently made history by securing her 11th career Tony nomination, further solidifying her status as one of Broadway’s most decorated artists. Glover’s temporary assumption of the role underscores her standing within the theatre community, being called upon to maintain the high artistic standard of the production during McDonald’s absence.

The Acclaimed Revival of Gypsy

The current revival of Gypsy, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents, opened to rave reviews at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 2024. Directed by the celebrated George C. Wolfe, the production has been a major draw on Broadway, captivating audiences with its raw emotional power, classic score, and compelling performances.

Wolfe, a multiple Tony Award-winning director, known for helming groundbreaking productions like Angels in America and Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk, brings his distinctive vision to this classic American musical. The production has been a critical and commercial success, currently booking through October 5, 2025, at the Majestic Theatre, a historic venue synonymous with landmark Broadway shows.

The Significance of a Limited Engagement

A limited engagement, particularly for a principal role in a major revival, is a common practice in professional theatre when a star requires a planned absence. However, it also serves as an exciting event for theatre enthusiasts, offering an opportunity to see a different interpretation of a pivotal character performed by an artist of Montego Glover’s caliber. This temporary casting ensures that the show continues uninterrupted, allowing audiences who have tickets booked during this specific week to experience the production with a highly capable actress in the central role.

For Glover, this week-long run is a chance to tackle a monumental role and add her unique voice to the legacy of Rose. For audiences, it is a brief window to witness her performance in a role that demands significant dramatic and vocal prowess, offering a fresh perspective on Laurents’ complex character and Sondheim’s brilliant lyrics, particularly in the show-stopping numbers associated with Rose.

Montego Glover’s engagement is one of the notable temporary shifts in principal casting that can occur during the run of a long-running production. Her performances from June 30 through July 6, 2025, at the Majestic Theatre are expected to be a highlight of the Broadway calendar during that specific week, promising a memorable experience for attendees before Audra McDonald returns to the production.