All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the author put on paper. That's what makes theatre live. That's why it persists.
- Stephen Sondheim
"I'm sorry, but the Emcee in Cabaret is NOT a demanding role"
What makes you say that?
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)
princeton/rod- i tried running trough act one fully with a puppet on... for the ENTIRE first act that actor basically only leaves the stage for puppet changes
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
There is obviously some personal bias here, but I think that the title character of The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most challenging male musical theatre roles ever. Vocally, emotionally, physically, it seems quite difficult, but still a great role to play. Plus, you have to sit perfectly still backstage for an hour to get your makeup done, and run up and down several flights of stairs in heavy costumes over the course of the show.
I would say Fosca takes the cake by far. Emotionally, it is impossibly hard, and vocally, I think it's definitley one of Sondheim's three hardest women. It is a crazy, crazy score.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
Wow, it must be hard to stroll around a set and sing every once in a while.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
"and run up and down several flights of stairs in heavy costumes over the course of the show."
CRAP!!!
There are about 4 chorus members dressed as the phantom, that man is not running anywhere!!
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Mimi/Roger- RENT Christine- POTO Frederick- Pirates of Penzance Caroline- Caroline, or Change Jean Val Jean- Les Mis Kim/ Chris- Miss Saigon Peter Allen- The Boy From Oz Full Cast- Movin' Out (dear god they have No break throughout that show) Elphaba/Glinda- Wicked Eva Peron- Evita Mary- Mary Poppins
Now all I see are cute boys with short haircuts in a maze of their own...
She's on stage 90% of the show. There is a video interview with Kealla Settle on 'that sight' where she talks about how busted up her body is after doing the tour, poor thing.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
Mama Rose in GYPSY, as many others have already mentioned. Even Ethel Merman, who was known as being calm, cool and collected on stage, used to sit in her dressing room during intermission, utterly exhausted with her head in her hands, awaiting the 2nd act with her demanding 11:00 number(Rose's Turn) still to come.
I also agree with Bobby in CRAZY FOR YOU. He is onstage almost the entire time. Harry Groener was just wonderful in that role--an under-rated actor/singer/dancer IMO. Where is he now?
Wow, I just looked up Harry Groener. Apparently he's been busy. He was in Spamalot (maybe he still is, it's unclear) at least sometime in 2006, he was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, lots of other TV shows, Assassins off-broadway in 2003, and several other things. I'm glad to see he's been doing lots of stuff. I love him on the Crazy For You CD.
Of course, "The Music and the Mirror" is an emotional, physical and vocal workout, but I've read several posts that list Cassie as demanding, and for those 7 or 8 minutes, of course it's demanding, but she doesn't have all that much to do the rest of the show. Compared to almost the entire score Madame Rose must sing (as an example) that's not too much.