Gypsy Alums Tyne Daly and Jonathan Hadary to Reunite at Gypsy of the Year

Tyne Daly and Jonathan Hadary, who co-hosted the first Gypsy of the Year competition in 1989 while co-starring in Gypsy, will return to kick off the 20th anniversary of the benefit event. This year’s competition will be held on December 8 and 9 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, hosted by Seth Rudetsky.

At the first Gypsy of the Year, an estimated 800 people paid $5 each for an unreserved seat at the St. James Theatre, with 12 productions participating in the show. Hadary, who was playing Herbie in Gypsy, hosted, and Daly, who went on to win a Tony as Momma Rose, welcomed the audience. A total of $64,000 was raised for the then-fledgling charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Last year, more than $3.5 million was raised with over 64 Broadway, off-Broadway and touring productions fundraising and 18 creating on-stage presentations. The 19 editions of Gypsy of the Year have raised more than $32.5 million to benefit BC/EFA.

This year’s Gypsy of the Year will feature on-stage presentations by 15 companies including 13, August: Osage County, Equus, Grease, Gypsy, Hairspray, In The Heights, Mamma Mia!, Naked Boys Singing, Rock of Ages, Monty Python’s Spamalot, South Pacific, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and The Marvelous Wonderettes, with the possibility of more to come.

Gypsy of the Year favorites Jen Cody and Don Richard will return as Little Sally and Officer Lockstock. The cast of [title of show] Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff, and Susan Blackwell will return for a special appearance, presenting the show’s final number.