Latest news with #MiracleMop
New York Times
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
‘Joy' Review: A Rags-to-QVC-Riches Story
A cynic could question the very existence of a musical about the inventor of the Miracle Mop. But consider that there have been movies about Beanie Babies ('The Beanie Bubble'), Flamin' Hot Cheetos ('Flamin' Hot') and Pop-Tarts ('Unfrosted'), and 'Joy: A New True Musical' does not seem so random anymore. And unlike Cheetos, the self-wringing mop at least made women's lives a little bit easier — for it is they who still handle most of the housecleaning. The title inventor and entrepreneur is Joy Mangano, who had already inspired the 2015 film 'Joy,' in which she was portrayed by Jennifer Lawrence. In Ken Davenport and AnnMarie Milazzo's show, it's the Tony Award nominee Betsy Wolfe's turn to don the title character's sensible slacks. Wolfe ('& Juliet'), a dead ringer for Mangano, has a down-to-earth warmth and precise comic timing, and she is a confident singer. She is the main reason to catch the wholesome, low-boil production now running at the Laura Pels Theater. The word 'miracle' comes up so often in the show — starting with the mop's name and ending with the grand finale, 'Go Make a Miracle' — one might assume the action is set in Lourdes instead of on Long Island. Joy's rags-to-QVC-riches story did not hinge on divine providence, but on very human ingenuity, guts and persistence. We first meet our heroine in the early 1990s, and her life is a mess: She's has split from her ne'er-do-well husband, Tony (Brandon Espinoza); just lost her job with an airline; and is stuck between her separated parents, the philandering Rudy (Adam Grupper) and the agoraphobic Toots (Jill Abramovitz). Fortunately her imagination can't be tamped down, and Joy — always bursting with gadget ideas — comes up with a design for a more efficient mop. After failing to find distribution, she finally gets a break when QVC lets her peddle her ware on TV. Davenport's book takes a few liberties with Mangano's journey, but they don't impact the big picture — or appear to trouble Mangano, who's plugging the show on her website. The stage Joy has only one child, Christie (Honor Blue Savage), instead of the real-life three; Ronni (Gabriela Carrillo) has morphed from Mangano's longtime friend to a supportive QVC employee. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Miracle Mop titan Joy Mangano is auctioning her LI mansion
A famed inventor and entrepreneur with a new Broadway close-up sure knows how to clean up — and this time she has enlisted an auction house to help. The mastermind of the self-wringing Miracle Mop, Joy Mangano has sold more than $3 billion worth of home products — including 1 billion hangers — and designed everything from guitars with Keith Urban to natural cleaning products with the rapper Pitbull. And, on July 25, Mangano is auctioning her 9-acre Long Island estate with Concierge Auctions, in partnership with broker Kyle Roskot of the Agency. 11 Joy Mangano. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images 11 Driving up to the estate's gracious entrance. Visual Grip 11 The interiors of the home are breathtaking. Visual Grip 11 The light-filled, two-story great room. Visual Grip 11 The chef's kitchen anchors the home. Visual Grip 11 Gorgeous beamed vaulted ceilings show the home's attention to detail. Visual Grip 11 The bar and game room provides ample space for entertaining guests. Visual Grip The historic property, known as Swan Manor, first hit the market for $20 million in 2022 and it was last asking $11.99 million. It was originally designed in 1917 by Stanford White, who created Washington Square Park's famed arch, the listing notes. While there is no minimum bid, starting bids are expected to be 'between $4 million to $7 million,' a Concierge Auctions spokesperson said. The estate will be auctioned move-in ready and fully furnished. 'I've seen a lot of homes around the world. This is a beautiful estate, and it also feels like a home,' said Mangano, a perfectionist who has spent millions renovating the property, which she bought for $1.35 million in 2000. The gated property is on the hamlet of St. James on Long Island's North Shore, between Manhattan and the Hamptons, in Suffolk County. It includes a 17,790-square-foot, nine-bedroom main house, and a 2,349-square-foot barn-turned-guesthouse that comes with three bedrooms. The main residence features a two-story great room, a sun room and a large chef's kitchen, along with an indoor pool. There's also a formal dining room with a fireplace, vaulted and wood-beamed ceilings, a gym, a sauna and a hot tub — and a wine cellar and tasting room in the finished basement. Outside, there's a tennis court, a pergola deck, walkways and a stone garden waterfall. 'When I first came to this amazing estate, my whole family was here. Now I'm rambling around with my dog. The space is miraculous. It was a dream come true for me and now it's someone else's turn,' Mangano told Gimme Shelter. 11 One of the estate's many bedrooms. Visual Grip 11 The lovely indoor pool is one of many perks. Visual Grip 11 Just in time for summer, there's also a massive chunk of outdoor space for al-fresco hangouts. Visual Grip 11 Swan Manor's grand lawn. Visual Grip The news comes as 'Joy: A New True Musical' debuts on Broadway, starring Tony-nominated actor Betsy Wolfe. It's based on Mangano's life story and follows the success of the 2015 biopic 'Joy' starring Jennifer Lawrence, who received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Mangano and a Golden Globe. 'The only thing that's better than a movie is a musical because it goes on and on,' Mangano quipped, adding that her home is a great place to foster creativity. 'The first time I heard the music for the show was here in my living room at Swan Manor. It was monumental — and now they are getting standing ovations!' she said. Celebrities who have stayed at Swan Manor include Paula Abdul. 'I purchased [the home] myself. I was enamored with everything about it. Everyone who comes here never wants to leave,' Mangano said.
