Biggest celebrity surprise performances on Broadway?- Page 2

[sesot]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:06pm

I don't know if he is still considered a celebrity- maybe D-list but AShley Parker Angel surprised me in hairspray- he wasn't the best link I've ever seen, but he did a good job and his voice wasn't bad. In the same production- Lance Bass- only downfall of the performance I saw. I saw the first performance post strike- everyone had so much energy and stage presence- everyone but lance. His performance was so bland and flat. I know acting on Broadway is a completely different than his Nysnc days; however you would have thought he would have been a better performer and had more stage presence.

[NJgirl]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:08pm

If she counts, I'd go with Diana DeGarmo in Hairspray.

I too enjoyed Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity. She was fun and enjoyable to watch even if she wasn't the best singer or dancer.

[sesot]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:13pm

Was Diana good?

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:14pm

Diana was wonderful. I thought she was even better than the Penny before her, Tracy Miller, and I was a huge fan of Tracy's.

[uncageg]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:18pm

I agree with SNL, Ms. Applegate was a very nice surprise. After all of the talk surrounding the show, she was wonderful. I was also pleased with Sean Combs' performance in "A Raisin in the Sun". No, he is not a great stage actor, but I give him credit for taking the chance and doing a pretty good job. But I think my favorite surprise was Sanaa Lathan. I have enjoyed her in movies and was quite impressed with her performance in "A Raisin in the Sun".

[philly03]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:52pm

Hasselhoff in Jekyll...yuck!

Sure he proved he has minimal singing talents and a good range, but what else did he himself prove from that?!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:57pm

Brooke Shields in Wonderful Town

When it was announced, everyone here was waiting for her to fail. BUT she wound up getting rave reviews, and the minds all of the naysayers were changed.

[sesot]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 6:58pm

What did people think of Molly Ringwald in Cabaret?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 7:32pm

Lea Thompson in "Cabaret"
Reba McIntire AND Susan Lucci in "Annie Get Your Gun"
Joan Jett in "Rocky Horror Show"

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 7:38pm

I was really impressed with Claire Danes.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 7:44pm

People were pretty surprised with Fantasia.

[mc1227]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 8:19pm

I second Brooke Shields in Wonderful Town. She was wonderful!!

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 8:52pm

I agree with everyone who mentioned Christina. When we saw her she was totally "on" and the entire audience was loving her (immediate standing ovation at her curtain call). I didn't think her dancing and singing was that bad. Also, she really inhabited the role of Charity. Best of all, her comedic timing was perfect. This show was one of the highlights of our New York trip that year.

[NJgirl]

Posted: 1/15/08 at 8:54pm

I also loved Neil Patrick Harris in Cabaret and what I've seen and heard of him in Assassins.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 12:07am

- Lou Diamond Philips - surprisingly impressed with his portrayal of the King from the Broadway revival of the King and I.

- Steven Weber - so underwhelmed and disappointed in The Producers.

- Bebe Neuwirth - excellent performance in Chicago.

- Julie Andrews - a legend!

- Neil Patrick Harris - first time to see him on stage in Cabaret and was very impressed with his vocals and acting chops.

- Betty Buckley - first time to see her on stage as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. Very powerful vocals.

- Kristin Chenoweth - first time to see her on stage in Wicked. Amazing, amazing portrayal of Glinda. She should have received the Tony.

Updated On: 1/16/08 at 12:07 AM

[sesot]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 4:46pm

I agree uncageg Sean Combs was not the greatest actor, but he held his own which was surprising to me. I didn't think P diddy had it in him. The rest of the cast was great. Has the tv movie version come out yet? Did they use the original Broadway cast?

[Flaunt It]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 4:57pm

I have to add KATHIE LEE GIFFORD in PUTTING IT TOGETHER. I do not like like 'her' one bit but she was excellent in the show. She also, though not on Broadway, blew me away in THUMBS.

I felt she was able to let go of her persona in both cases and did her homework and committed to the characters 100%.

I might want to add SALLY STRUTHERS in GREASE.. I went to laugh AT her and found myself in love with her and laughing with her the whole night.
Updated On: 1/16/08 at 04:57 PM

[Gilbert24]

Posted: 1/16/08 at 10:07pm

I have to concur with the praise for Diana Degarmo. She was a real revelation not just as Penny but also off Broadway in West Side Story as Maria and Brooklyn as the title character.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 7:52am

Raquel Welch in "Woman of the Year." Hardly a world-class thespian, but I swear I have never seen one person enjoy themselves so much on stage. Her joy was absolutely infectious.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 9:24am

I always get Raquel Welch and Juliet Prowse confused...

I didn't see it, but Loretta Switt got some good praise for MAME.

[spidey_882]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 9:42am

I've only heard audio, but Molly Ringwald's performance in "tick, tick...BOOM!" made me cringe. A lot.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 9:57am

In 1995 I had my biggest and best surprise seeing a play I wasnt sure I wanted to...Indiscretions. I thought Kathleen Turner was SO wonderful. I was PO'd she was the only cast member not nominated for a Tony.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 10:07am

Eric McCormack in The Music Man
Applegate in Sweet Charity
Cheryl Ladd in Annie Get Your Gun
Jennifer Garner in Cyrano
Usher in Chicago

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 10:21am

Almost forgot...Marie Osmond in "The King and I". Very solid acting and quite a revelation vocally. Where's she been hiding that voice?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/17/08 at 10:30am

The Queen of the Surprises has to be: Bacall. Musical. Two Tonys. Who knew?