Christopher Sieber Annaleigh Ashford Laura Osnes Sebastian Arcelus Stephanie Block Christian Borle Alison Luff (who once won me a lottery ticket at Matilda and so I sat with her family).
More I am sure but those come to mind immediately...
Gavin Creel Jonathan Groff Jackie Hoffman Kyle Dean Massey Gavin Creel Celia Kenan-Bolger Jan Maxwell Audra McDonald Steven Pasquale Donna Murphy Charlie Williams Santino Fontana Gavin Creel Tyne Daly Taylor Trensch Jeremy Jordan Mary Louise Wilson Bobby Steggert Cheyenne Jackson Judith Light Norm Lewis Kelli O'Hara Charles Busch Josh Lamon Brandon Rubendall Bernadette Peters Jim Newman Gavin Creel Kristine Nielsen Veanne Cox Julia Murney Linda Lavin Michael Beresse Karen Ziemba Howard McGillan Emily Skinner Josh Young Ryan Steele and Matt Doyle (must count as one) Joe Mantello and Matthew Risch (same as RS and MD) Carol Channing Matt Loehr Rachel Bay Jones Heidi Blickenstaff Andrew Samonsky Wade McCollum Robert Joy Judy Kaye and Gavin Creel
And, oh, Elaine Stritch is so, so missed. Hunter Ryan Herdlicka is a fortunate man.
Well, that was fun. I'm sure I've missed someone. So many intelligent, talented, charismatic, beautiful, wonderfully nice people on the New York stage these days. This is just the beginning.
Many of mine would be Phantom connected, because I'm trying to start a Phantom-related blog and web site called "All Things Phantom." (It would be up and running already if life didn't keep getting in the way). In no particular order:
1) Norm Lewis, because he's a fantastic performer, because I love his baritone voice, and because he seems like a really nice guy. 2) Chuck Cooper, because I knew his wife quite well in high school, and I'd love to hang out with both of them. 3) Chet Walker, because I went to elementary school and, I think, junior high and high school, with him, when he was known as "Chester." 4) Tam Mutu, because I think he's got a gorgeous voice, because he's going to be really big (I hope), and because he played the Phantom in LND. 5) James Monroe Iglehart, because I just love his name, because, based on his performance at the Tony awards, I'll bet he's a hoot, and because I never had a friend like him. 6) Hugh Panaro, because of his Phantom experience and because he's an animal rights person. 7) Michelle McConnell and several of the other Carlotta Giudicellis, because they seemed like very nice people when I met them at the stage door, and because they might be able to teach me to sing. Christian Sebek, because I think he's the best Ubaldo Piangi I've seen, because he's got a gorgeous voice, and because we short folks have to stick together. 9) Sir Patrick Stewart, because he's Sir Patrick Stewart and because he played Jean-Luc Picard, my second-favorite ST character, with Spock being first. 10) Idina Menzel, because, despite wanting a voice more like an opera singer's (see #7), I suspect my voice is more suited to Idina's type of songs, and she might be able to teach me. Besides, she could help me sort out the timelines in If/Then.
BTW, I don't consider this a creepy thread unless someone intends to stalk people on their list, God forbid.
Audrey (who included some of the above with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, and included other folks that I really would love to know).
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
Audra McDonald Billy Porter Matt Doyle Kelli O'Hara Andrew Rannells Jessie Mueller Carolee Carmello Laura Michelle Kelly Idina Menzel LaChanze James Snyder Jenn Colella Andy Karl Chita Rivera Lesli Margherita *These are off the top of my head.
Jay Lerner-Z writes: I can picture myself frolicking hand-in-hand through green meadows with Jeremy Jordan.
Jay L-Z, if we're talking THAT kind of "friend" instead of a buddy, my list would look a bit different -- let's just say that Norm Lewis would still be there, and possibly, Sir Patrick Stewart.... Is it ok to add Gerard Butler, even though he's primarily a movie actor now? He started on the London stage.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
Namo, your Jerry Herman quip went completely over my head. (I know, I know: "No surprise there.") Care to give me a hint? You wrote:
"Bring elbow-length veterinary gloves, Fantod."
P.S. to Fantod, I met Herman briefly decades ago and he was a lovely man, but he and I have a close friend in common who swears he may be the nicest man in show business.