Audra is #1 in list of Bway musical divas, ranked in order

[chanel]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 5:50pm

Sutton is in second place, but tries harder.

http://www.papermag.com/2014/09/michael_mustos_definitive_rank.php

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 5:53pm

I feel like "Diva" is being improperly used here. Or is it the other way around? O.O

Updated On: 9/17/14 at 05:53 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 5:59pm

Sutton wouldn't even be in my top 10.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:00pm

Stupid article, and ludicrous use of the word Diva. Being a wonderful actress and being a diva are two very different things. Just ask Diana Ross, Madonna, or Ru Paul, who each know a thing or two about divadom if not about the finer points of creating a great role on Broadway.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:00pm

I don't really think you can rank actresses that are all so different. They are all divas and do their own thing

[chanel]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:07pm

Whatever you think of the word "diva," the intro makes it clear that it's a ranking of the best musical females on Broadway today. And yes, you can rank them.

[chanel]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:08pm

And the Tonys may have deemed "Lady Day..." a play, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to agree.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:09pm

Stupid article, looks like it was written by a 12 year old.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:35pm

Oh Michael Musto, I love you on Theatre Talk so much, but your articles are always ridiculous. The only real divas working on Broadway today are Patti "slurred words" LuPone and Bernadette "contested" Peters.

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:59pm

Well, I have already said the two current generation Diva's (and I mean that as TOP TIER KNOWN-OUTSIDE-THE-THEATRE-DISTRICT BROADWAY MUSICAL THEATRE ACTRESSES) are Audra and Kristen, as the last gen's were Patti and Bernadette. After Violet I may have to add a third current slot for Sutton. Next Gen Diva? I would say Laura Benanti and Jesse Mueller. I don't think they are as of yet old and experienced enough (though Laura is gaining the TV exposure needed) so that's still to be seen.

Updated On: 9/17/14 at 06:59 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 7:08pm

"musical females"

Lord have mercy.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 7:08pm

"musical females"

Lord have mercy.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 7:22pm

also an FYI. The poster chanel is Mr. Musto.

[Pootie2]

Posted: 9/17/14 at 7:33pm

It's much more interesting (to me) to argue about the definition of "diva" than some personally subjective attempt to actually rank them...

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 12:16pm

"The poster chanel is Mr. Musto."

Wow, ljay, isn't this exactly the kind of identity outing that is totally verboten on BWW, and the very thing that got a certain accessory into so much trouble?

It suddenly feels very weird to blast this article for its shortcomings with Mr. Musto sitting here in the room.

[dreaming]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 12:31pm

I think Jessie Mueller is a rising star, but not in the same league as Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters or Donna Murphy.

I think Kelli O'Hara could be there someday, as could Laura Osnes.

I'm not convinced Idina belongs here. (Kristin I could see going either way...)

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 1:02pm

I think my response might belong in the thread "Things I Feel Sorry About" because I feel sorry for Michael Musto. He belongs in that thread for having wrote this list of Divas. He should continue to wander street fairs (saw him at Folsom Street East...in June) in his frumpy clothes wearing socks and sandals.

A Diva has a much bitchier attitude, the world revolves around them and they feel entitled.
A majority of women on this list are by no means a "diva".

[Pootie2]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 1:24pm

"A Diva has a much bitchier attitude, the world revolves around them and they feel entitled.
A majority of women on this list are by no means a 'diva'."


See, that's the thing. Across different sources, I see there are two very distinct definitions for diva, and they're polar opposites. When used alongside someone like Lea Michele, "diva" carries a very negative connotation. But people like Seth I believe use it with the positive or neutral connotation in terms of fame (or something).

I'm guessing the positive/neutral version came first, maybe as a technical term like "prima donna," so I wonder when people started using it in the negative connotation. It's hard splitting discussion when a word like that can have contrasting meanings. If people are leaning towards the negative connotation, then what's another word for a positive version of "diva"? Hmmm.

[anmiller07]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 1:38pm

1. A diva (/?di?v?/; Italian: [?di?va]) is a celebrated female singer; a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and by extension in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of prima donna.

2. A diva is the female version of a hustla.

Updated On: 9/18/14 at 01:38 PM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:48pm

Yeah, the term "diva' originally referred to a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, but in the past 50 years, it has come to include any celebrated female singer in theater, cinema, and pop music; and fairly recent, it has had a negative connotation, defining said women who are bitchy and demanding. The author was obviously using the original, correct meaning.

Diva is one of the most misused terms. Another is "star." Suddenly, anyone who appears on a reality show or porn is a star (i.e. reality star, porn star), even if they only do one show/video, the rags call them stars.

A pet peeve of mine is the misuse of "starlet." The word actually refers to a young actress who has not yet achieved stardom, but I often see it in magazines to refer to any young actress regardless of their success. For example, four years ago, Jennifer Lawrence was a starlet, but with a few hits under her belt (including a blockbuster franchise), winning the Oscar (thrice-nominated), and topping Quigley's Top Ten Money Making Movie Stars list last year, she has graduated to being a bona fide star, even if she is just 24 years old.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:55pm

Someone in a tree, Chanel being Musto has been discussed before because he only posts when it's related to a Musto article. Not hard to figure out.

and as a ten year veteran member of this forum, please do not compare me to a troll.

Updated On: 9/18/14 at 05:55 PM

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 9/18/14 at 6:01pm

^ Well, exactly. I've always figured you for one of the respected veterans around here.

But shouldn't ____'s trollish behavior be verboten to the respected veterans too?