THE LIST (in short): 10. Carol Woods 9. Marin Mazzie 8. Mary Testa 7. Eden Espinosa 6. Karen Olivo 5. Sherie Rene Scott 4. Orfeh 3. Jenifer Lewis 2. Carolee Carmello 1. Patti LuPone
Comments? I would have put Mandy Gonzalez on this list instead of Olivo. Gonzalez is the full package...Olivo is a good belter but she's the only real weak link of the IN THE HEIGHTS cast.
You guys... Broadway.com is a TICKETING agency!!! Any expectation of anything above-the-bar reporting needs to go out the window.
This is not a list based on "diva-ship"... it's a list based on marketability... Here's a translation:
BUY TICKETS FOR 1. Gypsy 2. Mamma Mia (over 50% of their website traffic) 3. Hairspray 4. Legally Blonde 5. The Little Mermaid 6. In The Heights 7. Rent 8. Xanadu 9. Spamalot 10. Chicago
This list is a list of the best divas currently on Broadway...and I guess in the roles in which they are playing as well. Meaning, while Lopez was incredible in A CHORUS LINE, she's just good in IN THE HEIGHTS and I doubt they would take the time to mention Lopez's performance in A CHORUS LINE which was around thirty years ago.
For some reason the 2 times I saw ITH I never really was too impressed with Mandy Gonzalez. I much prefer Olivo to Gonzalez. I was blown away by Karen.
I totally agree, Karen Olivo blew Mandy Gonzalez out of the water. I actually thought she gave a pretty weak performance. I like the list and think it's a fair assessment of *current diva's.
Some of these women ARE true divas (Mary Testa, Sherie Rene Scott, I guess Orfeh, and of course Madame LuPone) but others are just thrown in here because, yes, they are females in musicals.
I think everyone on the list is incredibly talented, but most aren't 'divas'.
some of the definitions of 'diva' from the dictionary: • a female singer who has enjoyed great popular success : a chance to create a full-blown pop diva. • an admired, glamorous, or distinguished woman : the former director of the association is still a downtown diva. • a haughty, spoiled woman : she's such a diva that she won't enter a restaurant until they change the pictures on the walls to her liking.
So, in reality, what IS a diva? Does talent really have anything to do with it? Is it just a glamorous, crazy bitch?