JANA ROBBINS -- "Rose's Turn" in GYPSY by Stephen Sondheim & Jule Styne

[sgtdroxie]

I saw her as Mama Rose at the Westchester Dinner Theater back in the 90's and she blew me away. Jana is amazing!

[janarobbins]

@sgtdroxie Thanks for the lovely words. Still my favorite role. Jana

[skewlboypin]

Wow...stunning!

[swimten1]

This is my favorite version. I saw the Drowsy Chaperone last night, at it to was amazing!

[BandGirl1964]

I love this!

[broadwaysweetheart]

my favorite mama rose :)

[janarobbins]

@broadwaysweetheart

Thank you SO much! My favorite role!

[alexdeja]

F A N T A S T I C! Riveting and emotional just like it should be.

[janarobbins]

@alexdeja Thank you Thank you! Hope you'll come to GYPSY IN MY SOUL at The Laurie Beechman Theater on Dec. 1 at 7:30.

[Elphaboy]

OMG someone get this woman a TONY!!!

[janarobbins]

@Elphaboy  That would be my dream come true!!!!!!

[chattymagpie1210]

PHENOMENAL! You're of the best Roses I've seen. I can't get enough of the your vocals, your energy and your character! :D

[janarobbins]

@chattymagpie1210 Thanks so much for your comments. I deeply appreciate your comment. I'll be doing GYPSY IN MY SOUL ( and singing the songs from 20 years ago, at The Laurie Beechman Theater in the West Bank Cafe Wed. Dec. 1 at 7:30. If you're in NY, I hope to see you there.

[ChrisRandomSinger]

Wonderful! It really is a fantastic, different interpretation. Kudos!

[traod8]

I really enjoy this interpretation. Rose shouldn't be subtle at this point, as she's "showing off".  This is done beautifully here!

[janarobbins]

@traod8 Thank you so much! Jana

[redbsh]

I saw you in Philly at the Walnut for your one woman cy coleman show....I also think you are the best!!! saw you at the trumpet playing stripper 5 x in NYC

[janarobbins]

@redbsh Thank you SO much. I love my Cy Coleman Show. We just put up a video of the night Cy came to see it. Thanks for your comments. Jana

[gordyCA]

I have been waiting twenty years to see you do this--since I noticed you understudied it after checking out your bio because I loved your riotous Mazeppa. It was well worth the wait. BRAVA!

[janarobbins]

@gordyCA Thank you so much and thank you for your comments. Jana

[badnomad]

I actually saw Linda Lavin as Mamma Rose when Tyne Daly left the show (1990 I think) and I thought she brought another unique interpretation of the character, and her singing was up there with the rest of them.

[DottieD20]

Jana, I saw you the first time you went on for Tyne Daly on Broadway - you were amazing!!!

I'm also very happy that Ragtime is back on Broadway. I love that show!!

[janarobbins]

@DottieD20 Thanks Dottie.

[KellyBevel]

Your Mamma Rose is obnoxious and over-the-top in my opinion just like Patti LuPone's was. Plus, I know you where the understudy for Tyne but if you look at the video of her Rose's Turn on Youtube, you basically do it EXACTLY like she does. It seems more like you are copying Tyne rather than giving a performance. I think people play Mama Rose too cartoonish. She works better more layered. I LOVED Bernadette's interpretation! Angela was a close second. This looks like Rose is having a seizure.

[DivaBehavior]

I don't think her Mama Rose was a copy of Tyne's at all. As she was Tyne's understudy, she was expected to do the same choreography and blocking and what not -- But I think the personality she gives Rose is completely different.

You're right, it is very cartoonish. But maybe Jana saw her as a cartoonish sort of woman?

I think she gave a great performance -- Not how I pictured Rose either, but she was brave in interpreting it differently from the others and it paid off.

[artofpoetry]

Can we tempt you to produce Gypsy and appear in it in Australia?

[boynamedalexxx]

Wait a minute?

They're reviving "Ragtime"?!

[janarobbins]

Yes, first preveiw was Oct. 23.

[boynamedalexxx]

Wow, that's so awesome.

"Ragtime" is incredible and really underrated. Hopefully this revival will get the attention it deserves.

BTW, your "Rose" is sooo much better than Tyne Daly's.

[AtLastOnTheGround]

Very unique and brave performance -- Different from the others I've seen, but in a (very) good way. The way you deliver your monologue reminds me of Sandy Dennis for some reason.

[janarobbins]

Thanks so much. Jana

[showtunestarpower]

Jana Robbins is fantastic! I want to see the whole performance and hear her sing the whole score!

[janarobbins]

Thanks so much for your compliment. Stay tuned and I'll let you know when I play Rose again!

[ragtime1925]

You sound to much like Patti LuPone, and she was not ment for the part. To touch such a role is one that needs to be studied and envied upon everyone who played it. I saw Ethel Merman in Gypsy in 1959 when I was super young, but remember it vividly. No one does it like her, but seeing the Theatre for so many years, you can make it on Broadway but DO NOT touch Ethel Merman territory and you'll be fine.

[janarobbins]

Thank you so much for viewing my video. I actually performed the role on Broadway in 1991 about 17 years before Patti played it. Unfortunately I never saw Merman. I love your name. I'm now producing RAGTIME on Broadway. Hope you'll come see it.

[ragtime1925]

I like that show very much, my husband I will have to make a save the date for it. Im glad you take constructive critizism very well. Most actors would have thought me of my rocker.

[robinycus]

As a die hard fan of Angela Lansbury's performance in Gypsy, I have to say this song and her performance of Everything's Coming Up Roses really wowed me. Great acting and performing. 5 Stars to you!

[janarobbins]

Thanks so much Robin. I'm glad that you liked my performance.

[janarobbins]

Thanks for the compliment. I'm a big Angela fan as well, and saw her in GYPSY myself, the year after my first Broadway show. She'll be back on Broadway in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. You'll have to see it, and while you're here see RAGTIME on Broadway which I'm producing. It's going to be fabulous!

[DivaBehavior]

That was an incredible performance - You pulled it off because you played Mama Rose as very theatrical and big but WITHOUT being obnoxious and campy. And I loved how the ROSE sign only went on when she said "Me" -- Great artistry.

Brilliant!

[janarobbins]

Thanks so much for your compliments. I'm glad that you enjoyed my performance of Roses Turn.

Jana Robbins

[Babspace]

Who IS this woman?!?! Why is she not a freakin' star? AMAZING performance, she can sing, act, move. Heartbreaking and riveting.

Wow.

[janarobbins]

Babs,

I so appreciate your comments and glad that you like my performance in GYPSY.

Jana Robbins