The entire cast of "The Normal Heart" would win a special accolade in my book. There was not a weak link in the cast. It was incredibly well cast and the performances touching, beautiful and fully realized.
I also had the great privilege to see the original cast of Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club and they were absolutely astounding. (Natasha Richardson gets a special place in my heart for her Sally and I thought Alan Cumming, Ron Rifkin and Mary Louise Wilson were amazing as well.)
Sorry to not narrow it down so much. I just found the entire casts of these shows to be incredible.
When I saw Kevin Kline (pretty much an unknown at that time) in the Pirates of Penzance, I was mesmerized. What stage presence! What charisma! What comic skill! What a voice!
It's a tough choice, but I'm going with Jefferson Mays in I Am My Own Wife. I'm also really big on Tonya Pinkins in Caroline, or Change and Celia Keenan-Bolger in Spelling Bee.
I'll give you my "TOP 10" (...in no particular oder...)
Mark Rylance in JERUSALEM ad/or LA BETE Emily Walton, Jamey Hood and Sarah Sokolovic in THE SHAGGS Frank Langella in FROST/NIXON Nina Arianda in VENUS IN FUR Daniel Breaker in PASSING STRANGE Kirsten Holly Smith in FOREVER DUSTY Patti LuPone in GYPSY Michael Cerveris in SWEENEY TODD Norbert Leo Butz in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS Jeff McCarthy/Anette O'Toole in SOUTHERN COMFORT
One of the least talked about performances: Daniel Breaker in PASSING STRANGE. It was tremendous. Full of heartache, life, spirit, honesty and passion, and always performed with a strong burst of energy that catapulted until the curtain call was completed. Tremendous. It's ingrained in my memory.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Tie between Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti in the last revival of GYPSY. I get chills just remembering that show and how lucky I was to see these theatrical greats on the same stage.
The guy last night in my bed around 2:30am. His technique, breath, vocal and diction was just perfect. It blew my away. The way he handled himself just felt amazing and that performance was breathe taking. I hope I can see his performance again!
The cast of the Off-Broadway The Little Foxes a few years back, specifically Elizabeth Marvel and Cristin Milioti. I remember not being able to breathe during the last twenty minutes of the show- the whole cast was astonishing.
Close runner-ups are Christine Ebersole/Mary-Louise Wilson in Grey Gardens, and Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
I thought John Gallagher Jr while I did not see him live saw bootlegs of him and I am so sorry I missed him on Broadway what a profound performance in a musical I hope that shows what the current life is like for children.
I thought John Gallagher Jr while I did not see him live saw bootlegs of him and I am so sorry I missed him on Broadway what a profound performance in a musical I hope that shows what the current life is like for children.
I've strangely never thought of this! Off the top of my head:
Marissa Jaret Winokur in Hairspray Elena Rogers in Evita Bertie Carvel in Matilda Josh Gad in Book Of Mormon Cristin Milioti in Once Kirstine Nielson in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Molly Ranson and Marin Mazzie- Carrie. Molly really impressed me during the title song and the last minutes with Marin! Marin's "When There's No One" does no justice to Betty's but I still was enraptured. Patina Miller- Pippin. Her whole performance was great, but the finale won me over. She was electrifying! Alan Cumming- Macbeth. I was speechless.
Elizabeth Ashley in SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH Elizabeth Ashley in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF Phil Silvers in FORUM Jim Dale in SCAPINO Nathan Lane in THE PRODUCERS Patti LuPone in GYPSY Ann Miller in ANYTHING GOES Dorothy Collins in FOLLIES Maggie Smith in PRIVATE LIVES Dorothy Collins in ANNIE Sandy Duncan in PETER PAN Lena Horne in THE LADY AND HER MUSIC Jennifer Holliday in DREAMGIRLS The Cast in NICHOLAS NICKLEBY Mandy Patinkin in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Bernadette Peters in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE Alan Rickman in LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSE Robert Lindsay in ME AND MY GIRL Colleen Dewhurst in MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN Jason Robards in MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN Maggie Smith in LETTICE AND LOVAGE Kristine Nielsen in BETTY'S SUMMER VACATION Jonathan Hardary in ANGELS IN AMERICA Stephanie Lawrence in BLOOD BROTHERS Joe Mantello in THE NORMAL HEART Cherry Jones in FLESH AND BLOOD and THE BALTIMORE WALTZ Patti LuPone in MASTER CLASS Donna Mackechnie in STATE FAIR Alan Cummings in CABARET Brian Stokes Mitchell in RAGTIME Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley in SIDE SHOW Lily Tomlin in THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE Christine Ebersole in GREY GARDENS Kevin Spacey in MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN
Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson Jesus/Judas Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in Porgy and Bess Tom Holland as Billy Elliot Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Lovett Colm Wilkinson - Valjean Lea Salonga - Fantine