Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
crc03772
Understudy Joined: 2/27/08
#1Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 12:49pm
Ok, before I get reamed a new one, I did a search on this and couldn't find a thread.
So, in your opinion who do you think are the best Belter's from the late 60's to today? (Post Golden Age is always subjective, but I always say this period started with rock musicals, Hair, JCS, etc etc)
#2re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:08pm
Hmmmm. Hard question, given that so many roles these days call for a mix and not a pure belt.
But, even though it's going to be controversial, I am going to say (off the top of my head):
1. Jennifer Holliday
2. Patti LuPone
3. Betty Buckley
4. Sutton Foster
5. Andrea McArdle
6. Kay Cole
7. Karen Morrow
8. Randy Graff
9. Heather Headley
10. Idina Menzel
Get those barbs ready!!!
#2re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:17pmomg I forgot Laurie Beechman. LOL
#3re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:28pmI would add Stephanie J. Block to the list. Her voice is simply incredible. And Nancy Opel if for nothing other than her unforgettable performance in Urinetown.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
crc03772
Understudy Joined: 2/27/08
#4re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:31pm
I see you lean towards the women belters...again a controversial subject, but yes, men can too belt! :)
Anywho my short list (in no particular order):
1. Idina Menzel
2. Sherie Rene-Scott
3. Patti Lupone
4. Adam Pascal
5. Michael Ball
6. Raul Esparza
7. Andrea Burns
8. Sutton Foster
9. Jennifer Holliday
10. Linda Eder
#5re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:32pm
Jennifer is up there...
And she only did one show on Broadway but Linda Eder has an amazing Belt.
I also enjoy Julia Murney.... Her CD is one of the highlights of my life. I really enjoy it.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
#6re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:41pmI would add Orfeh's name to the mix.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
ChecksintheMayo
Stand-by Joined: 10/26/06
#7re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:50pm
Marin Mazzie
Carolee Carmello
Heather Headley
Alice Ripley
Emily Skinner
Rachel York
Megan Mullally
#8re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 1:56pm
Debbie (Shapiro) Gravitte!!
and...
Donna Murphy
Tonya Pinkins
Beth Fowler
Barbara Walsh
Mary Bond Davis
Lillias White
#9re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 2:44pm
Patti LuPone
Raul Esparza
Bernadette Peters
Sutton Foster
Stephanie J. Block
"It's the little things; the details, that distinguish the Barbra Streisands from the Rosalyn Kinds."~Gilmore Girls~
Shannon Bo Dannon
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/08
DefyGravity777
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/28/08
#11re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 3:57pm
Julie Reiber
Stephanie J. Block
Lea Salonga
Kate Shindle
Orfeh
Shoshana Bean
Eden Espinosa
Just about everyone in Wicked...LOL.
Don't believe everything that you hear! Only the peeps involved know the truth!
#12re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:03pm
It's a complete crime that no one has Mary Testa on their list!
MARY TESTA! 
Upcoming shows:
#13re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:19pm
I agree with most of these!
The most thrilling, amazing flexible belt for me is: Alice Ripley. The woman is amazing. Gonna mention Miss Emily Skinner too. And the tow of them together...forget it... the best there is.
But i mean you can't have the list without:
Patti Lupone
Linda Eder
Jennifer Holliday
and probably Sutton too.
"...and in a bed."
#14re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:36pm
As for men:
Marc Kudisch
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Brent Barrett
Jeff McCarthy
Steven Pasquale
Updated On: 11/19/08 at 04:36 PM
Shannon Bo Dannon
Broadway Star Joined: 8/19/08
#15re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:39pmI think Norbert Leo Butz and Gavin Creel have powerhouse voices as well.
Pianist3912
Leading Actor Joined: 7/12/07
#16re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 4:48pmI'd like to remove Idina Menzel and add Farah Alvin.
spiritx33
Understudy Joined: 5/22/07
#17re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 5:28pm
Um, hello?
HEIDI BLICKENSTAFF.
#21re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 7:48pm
Patti Lupone
Karen Olivo
Heidi Blickenstaff
Bernadette Peters
Sutton Foster
Jennifer Holiday
Eden Espinosa
Tracie Thoms
Idina Menzel
Fredi Walker
Adam Pascal
Mandy Gonzalez
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#22re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:10pm
All the Lucy's & understudies:
Linda Eder
Emily Skinner
Leah Hocking
Luba Mason
Coleen Sexton
Kate Shindle
And: Ripley, Toro, Ruffelle, & Andreas!
#23re: Best Belters on Broadway (Post Golden Age)
Posted: 10/2/08 at 8:20pm
ah, i forgot about Eden Espinosa...
And if we're doing men, the ultimate is Douglas Sills. Listen to the Scarlet Pimpernel OBCR and try to tell me he's not astonishing. SO good.
"...and in a bed."
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