Gypsy Is Back on Broadway and Patti LuPone Is the New Diva in Town

The fifth production since the first in 1959 of what's said to be the best American musical ever written, Gypsy opened last Thursday at the St. James Theatre to wonderful reviews. New York Times critic Ben Brantley did backflips for Patti LuPone the latest to play the notorious stage mother Momma Rose the ultimate part for the Broadway Diva -- evident by the big names before her, Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and Bernadette Peters.

The opening night party was at the new mega-club Mansion in the old Cro-Bar spot. It turned out to be a lovely bi-level space that had a very Old Hollywood vibe last night with showtunes playing in the background. Laura Linney was there as a guest of Patti's and posed for some pictures with Matthew Broderick. Patti of course was the last cast member to make her entrance and insisted upon seeing her friends before she talked to any press. Once she started posing for pictures she told the photographers what order interviews would be conducted and how it would be done -- not quite out of that Momma Rose character yet! But as the reviews say, she has earned her right to some diva-tude!

Pictured at top are Patti LuPone with co-stars Boyd Gaines (Herbie) and Laura Benanti (Gypsy Rose Lee); in the middle is Laura Linney, Scott Wittman and Matthew Broderick; and at bottom is Lauren Bacall. Photos from Broadway World