8 Favorite Modern Broadway Performers- Page 2

[jmnpublications]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 5:42pm

This took some thought because I have favorites for different reasons.

Rachel York is my pick for best singer and all around musical, comedy, and acting talent.
Brian Dennehy is my choice for best dramatic actor.
Vanessa Redgrave for best dramatic actress.
Bernadette Peters is my favorite female diva, meaning boffo musical stage presence.
Nathan Lane is my favorite male diva - same definition as above. (Would that make him a divo???)
Matthew Broderick has the greatest puppy dog appeal.
Kristin Chenoweth is tops in the perky category.
And Brent Barrett cuts a nice figure as musical leading man.

I'd go to see any of these performers in any role.

lc

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 5:43pm

8 Non-musical:

Zoe Caldwell
Vanessa Redgrave
Rosemary Harris
Eileen Atkins
Kathleen Chalfant
Cherry Jones
Swoosie Kurtz
Jeffrey Wright

8 Musical:

Chita Rivera
Gregory Hines
Nathan Lane
Elaine Stritch
Audra MacDonald
Bernadette Peters
Jennifer Holliday
Cleavant Derricks

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 5:44pm

Sutton Foster
Bernadette Peters
Nathan Lane
Julie Andrews
Raul Esparza
Carolee Carmello
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Donna Murphy

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 7:12pm

Idina Menzel
Raul Esparza
Sutton Foster
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Bernadette Peters
Patti LuPone
John Tartaglia
Kristen Chenoweth

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 8:44pm

marissa jaret winokur
matthew morrison
harvey fierstein
kerry butler
mary bond davis
carly jibson
clarke thorrel
jackie hoffman

[Blonde]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 8:57pm

bernadette peters
kerry butler
stephanie d'abruzzo
john tartaglia
kristin chenoweth
hunter foster
sutton foster
veanne cox(though more for acting than singing)

[Jon]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 9:00pm

Based on performances I've seen live over the past 10 years:

Karen Ziemba
Marin Mazzie
Nancy Opel
Idina Menzel
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Nathan Lane
Brian D'Arcy James
James Brennan

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 9:04pm

Bernadette Peters
Sutton Foster
Idina Menzel
Kristin Chenoweth
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Brian D'Arcy James
John Tartaglia
Hunter Foster
Kerry Butler

[zoran912]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 9:09pm

Based on performances and recordings:

-Heather Headley
-Laura Benanti
-Idina Menzel
-Amy Spanger
-Sherie Renee Scott
-Michael Arden
-Christian Borle
-Jennifer Laura Thompson

That was in no particular order, of course.

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 9:12pm

1. Adam Pascal
2. Idina Menzel
3. Raul Esparza
4. Brian Stokes Mitchell
5. John Tartaglia
6. Taye Diggs
7. Jai Rodriguez
8. Daphne Rubin-Vega

Updated On: 8/28/04 at 09:12 PM

[mule]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 9:18pm

In no particular order:

JLT
Idina
Douglas Sills
Linda Eder
Cheno
Terrance Mann
Bob Cuccioli
Hugh Jackman

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 11:02pm

Idina Menzel
Kristin Chenoweth
Kerry Butler
Bernadette Peters
Hunter Foster
Laura Bell Bundy
Matthew Morrison
Marissa Jaret Winokur

[adamized88]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 11:05pm

susan egan
adam pascal
terrence mann
brian stokes mitchell
heather headley
idina menzel
stephanie d'abruzzo
john tartaglia
jen barnhart
mattew morrison

sorry i can't figure out who to cut!! i guess brian and john if you forced me

Updated On: 8/28/04 at 11:05 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 11:08pm

Sutton Foster
Susan Egan
Hugh Jackman
Julie Hanson
Idina Menzel
Kristen Chenoweth
Hunter Foster
Kerry Butler

[MeliMel]

Posted: 8/28/04 at 11:27pm

Jeremy Kushnier
Idina Menzel
Audra MacDonald
Rachel York
Lea Salonga
Raul Esparza
Wilson Cruz
Eden Espinosa
Daphne Rubin-Vega
Jefferson Mays
Ian McKellan
Dame Judy Dench (west end but still...)

more than 8 but too bad i could go on forever

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:40am

Hmmmmmmm

Sutton Foster
Idina Menzel
Kristin Chenoweth
Bernedette Peters
Kathy Brier
Kerry Butler
Linda Eder
(even though I've never seen her perform live) Heather Headley

[BT]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:56am

Margot - thanks for reminding me to add Elaine Stritch to my list. I do so wish to be a lady who lunches... Off to a show, then to a fitting, pretending I'm fat...

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:00am

No particular order...

Patti Lupone
Hunter Foster
Donna Murphy
Michael Cerveris
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Marin Mazzie
Marc Kudisch
Sutton Foster

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:37am

hey margo -
i obviously know you have seen a lot, but what else did you see Cleavant in besides Dreamgirls? i like him..i would have been too young to see him in Dreamgirls, but hes obviously great on the recording - though i feel he is vocally inferior to Billy Porter. and have you seen Billy "act" the part beyond the 2001 concert?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 3:58am

Cleavant starred in Fosse's last show "Big Deal" and was wonderful, getting nominated for a Tony. I also saw him in the revival of "You Arms Too Short To Box With God" that co-starred Jennifer Holliday (that production was where Bennett and company saw both of them, resulting in both of them being cast in "Dreamgirls"). I know Cleavant was playing Horse in the national company of "The Full Monty" not long ago and getting rave reviews (I didn't get a chance to see him in it, though). Cleavant is finally returning to Broadway with "Brooklyn" in a month or two.

Billy's a hell of a singer, one of the best around (I saw him in the Dreamgirls concert, "Radiant Baby," "Songs of the New World" and "Five Guys Named Moe"). Not sure I would call Cleavant at his peak "vocally inferior" to Billy (I don't know what he sounds like these days, though) -- they're both amazing singers. Cleavant's also an exceptional actor and dancer -- not sure how Billy compares since the acting and dancing I've seen him do hasn't been particularly demanding.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 03:58 AM

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:18am

I agree with what you are saying - but Billy Porter is VERY (if that is impossible) underrated. He is quite the actor and dancer. (Top Dog/Underdog in Pittsburgh with the City Theatre was amazing) He's also been dancing since he was very young. However, because of his unique range and vocal technique he can't even get into many auditions because he is considered a singer (ex-recording artist as well) primarily. Many people are completely unaware what he can do as an actor or singer. Definitely not saying you are wrong, considering you are one of the few people on this board in which I actually READ their posts. But thought I would give you my 2 cents.

Updated On: 8/29/04 at 04:18 AM

[venticelli]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 9:22am

Brian Stokes Mitchell
Davis Gaines
Douglass Sills
Kristin Chenoweth
Kerry Butler
Kevin Kline
Gary Beach
Idina Menzel

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 11:10am

Brent Barrett (when is he going to get to originate a role!)
Rachel York
Carolee Carmello
Kevin Kline
Laura Linney
Sutton Foster
Audra McDonald
Phylisha Rashad (sorry...I couldn't think of how to spell her name to save my life)