Is Rose from ‘Gypsy’ the Greatest Role in Broadway History? That’s What Tony Awards History Suggests
Written by djfrosty on May 1, 2025
What’s the greatest leading role in Broadway history? Based on Tony nominations, which date to 1947, the answer is Rose in Gypsy.
Every actress who has played the part on Broadway has at least been nominated for the Tony for best actress in a musical – from Ethel Merman, who originated the role in 1959, to Audra McDonald, who stars in the current revival, and whose nomination was announced Thursday (May 1) morning.
Angela Lansbury, who starred in a 1974-75 revival, and Tyne Daly, who starred in a 1989-90 revival, both won Tonys for their performances. (Linda Lavin, who replaced Daly, wasn’t nominated, but replacements in a production aren’t eligible.) Bernadette Peters, who starred in a 2003-04 revival, was nominated, and Patti LuPone, who starred in a 2008-09 revival, won.
No other lead character – across both musicals and plays – has led to six Tony nominations. Here are the runners-up: Five actors have been nominated for best actor in a musical for playing Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Five actresses have been nominated for best actress in a play for playing Josie Hogan in A Moon for the Misbegotten.
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In addition, actresses who have played Rose on both large and small screens have won Golden Globes for their performances. Rosalind Russell won actress in a leading role – musical or comedy in 1963 – for the previous year’s film. Bette Midler won best performance by an actress in a limited series, anthology series or a motion picture made for television in 1994 for playing the role in a 1993 TV movie for CBS. Midler also received a Primetime Emmy nod for her performance.
It’s easy to see why the role of Rose has led to so many awards and nominations. The actress who plays the role gets to sing some of the greatest songs ever written for a Broadway musical, including “Some People,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Rose’s Turn” and “Small World” (the latter a Grammy nominee for song of the year in 1960). Jule Styne and a young Stephen Sondheim collaborated on the song score.
The 1959 original cast album to Gypsy has been voted into both the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry.
Gypsy also includes one of the greatest featured roles in Broadway history – Rose’s daughter, Louise. Six actresses have been nominated for playing her, more than any other featured role. Sandra Church was nominated for originating the role. Joy Woods was nominated for the latest revival. In between, Zan Charisse, Crista Moore, Tammy Blanchard and Laura Benanti were nominated. (Benanti won.)
The latest revival of Gypsy was nominated for best revival of a musical. It’s the fourth time the show has been nominated in that category (or in a predecessor category, best revival). No other musical has been nominated four times in that category. Sharing second place, with three nods each, are Cabaret, Company, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls, Peter Pan and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Only one play, Arthur Miller’s A View from a Bridge, has been nominated four times for best revival of a play.
McDonald, 54, is Broadway royalty, having won six Tonys in competitive categories, more than any other performer. She won featured actress in a musical for both Carousel and Ragtime; featured actress in a play for both Master Class and A Raisin in the Sun; actress in a musical for Porgy and Bess; and actress in a play for Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.
This is McDonald’s 11th nomination, which is again more than any other performer. She pulls ahead Julie Harris and Chita Rivera, who landed 10 each. (Harris died in 2013; Rivera died in 2024.)
The eligibility period for the 2025 Tony Awards was April 29, 2024 through April 27, 2025. The 78th Tony Awards, hosted by Cynthia Erivo, will be held on June 8. The ceremony will be held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, airing live coast-to-coast on CBS.