Broadway legends still alive

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 9:43am

Just wondering who would be considered a broadway legend still alive ( working) in some public capacity, especially in theatre still.

The reason why Im asking this, a friend and I were discussing who would be a must see on stage before its too late if they came to Broadway. Thanks.

My short list was:

Julie Andrews (not in theatre recently)
Chita Rivera
Rita Moreno
Bernadette Peters
Liza Minnelli (not in theatre recently)
Angela Lansbury
Patti Lupone
Joel Gray
Stephen Sondheim
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tim Rice

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 9:52am

Audra McDonald

Nathan Lane

Updated On: 1/9/20 at 09:52 AM

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:04am

Love Audra and Nathan, but I still consider them spring chickens somehow. I’d put Betty Buckley, John Lithgow, Jonathan Pryce, Christine Ebersole and Barbra Streisand ahead on the “see them now” list.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:04am

dupe post

Updated On: 1/9/20 at 10:04 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:21am

Laura Benanti

Sutton Foster

Eden Espinosa

Kristin Chenoweth

Jessie Mueller

Christian Borle

Jeremy Jordan

Laura Osnes

Harvey Fierstein

Norm Lewis

Neil Patrick Harris

Idina Menzel

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:36am

Carol Lawrence
Carol Burnett
Barbra Streisand

[carnzee]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:38am

Mandy Patinkin, Maggie Smith, Judy Dench(more West End than Broadway),

[Kad]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:41am

Someone in a Tree2 said: "Love Audra and Nathan, but I still consider them spring chickens somehow. I’d put Betty Buckley, John Lithgow, Jonathan Pryce, Christine Ebersole and Barbra Streisand ahead on the “see them now” list."

Ebersole is only a couple years older than Lane, and Lane has done considerably more Broadway work (Ebersole has 13 Broadway credits, Lane has either 23 or 24, depending on how you consider Angels in America). 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:45am

Len Cariou
Liza Minnelli

[Gorlois]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 10:48am

For the record, in the past decade Julie Andrews has actually done some work in the theatre— just not on Broadway and not as a stage performer. She directed a new musical based on one of her children’s books, “The Great American Mousical,” and she directed the 60th anniversary production of “My Fair Lady” in Sydney. And her short-lived Netflix series “Julie’s Greenroom” was very much a love letter to the stage and the performing arts for young audiences.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 2:13pm

I'd keep Buckley off your "see them now" list. She's a hearty Texas cowgirl who still posts going for margaritas with HER MOM Betty Bob who is alive and well. I don't know how old she is, but I'm guessing 90s. That's her DNA. Nothing to sneeze at. I think she'll be around a long time. 

I consider Glenn Close a theatre legend. She started in NY theatre and is an impeccable stage actress. 

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 2:23pm

I think the word legend is one of the most overused words in the English language.  Angela Lansbury and Chita Rivera and Patti Lupone (to name three) are theatre legends.  It trivializes the term 'theatre legend' to refer to Laura Osnes and Norm Lewis and Eden Espinosa (to name three) as theatre legends.  I have seen all three more than once, they are all very talented, but there is nothing to indicate that they are currently even on the path to legend status, based on their work to date.  

I agree that Nathan Lane, Audra MacDonald and Harvey Fierstein (to name three) are on their way to being Broadway legends, part of which comes with a certain age IMO (sorta like the Kennedy Center honors).

Question (and this may sound like semantics): Clearly Barbra Streisand is and will always be a an entertainment legend.  Is she really a theatre legend, based on Wholesale and Funny Girl?  Is Maggie Smith, easily an entertainment legend, really a NY theatre legend based on (I think this is it) Private Lives, Night and Day (a flop) and Lettuce and Lovage, all of which I loved her in).  Are Carol Burnett and Rita Moreno, clearly entertainment legends,  really theatre legends.  I don't see it. 

After my little tirade, I am afraid to propose adding names, but I will throw out James Earl Jones, Rosemary Harris and Frank Langella for consideration.

 

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 2:31pm

That Evan Hansen kid from The Real O'Neals.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 7:03pm

^ Never change, dear Namo.

[tombomb31]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 7:29pm

I know for me, personally, Beth Leavel is a legend. She’s worked consistently and always gives top notch performances. I guess the main difference between Beth and some of the other performers mentioned here would be that Beth isn’t really known by the mainstream.

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 7:54pm

Robert Morse.

[markypoo]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 7:56pm

Jarethan said: "I think the word legend is one of the most overused words in the English language. Angela Lansbury and Chita Rivera and Patti Lupone (to name three) are theatre legends. It trivializes the term 'theatre legend' to refer toLaura Osnes and Norm Lewis and Eden Espinosa (to name three) as theatre legends. I have seen all three more than once, they are all very talented, but there is nothing toindicate that they are currently even on the path to legendstatus, based on their work to date.

I agree that Nathan Lane,Audra MacDonald and Harvey Fierstein (to name three)are on their way to being Broadway legends, part of which comes with a certain age IMO (sorta like the Kennedy Center honors).

Question (and this may sound like semantics): Clearly Barbra Streisand is and will always be a an entertainment legend. Is she really a theatre legend, based on Wholesale and Funny Girl? Is Maggie Smith, easily an entertainment legend, really a NY theatre legend based on (I think this is it) Private Lives, Night and Day (a flop) and Lettuce and Lovage, all of which I loved her in). Are Carol Burnett andRita Moreno, clearly entertainment legends, really theatre legends. I don't see it.

After my little tirade, I am afraid to propose adding names, but I will throw out James Earl Jones, Rosemary Harris andFrank Langella for consideration.

 

Just curious to know why you label Night and Day as a flop.

 

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 9:48pm

Tommy Tune? But isn’t he semi (or fully) retired now? 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 1/9/20 at 11:28pm

Joel Gray and Andre De Shields

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/10/20 at 12:22am

markypoo said: "Jarethan said: "I think the word legend is one of the most overused words in the English language. Angela Lansbury and Chita Rivera and Patti Lupone (to name three) are theatre legends. It trivializes the term 'theatre legend' to refer toLaura Osnes and Norm Lewis and Eden Espinosa (to name three) as theatre legends. I have seen all three more than once, they are all very talented, but there is nothing toindicate that they are currently even on the path to legendstatus, based on their work to date.

I agree that Nathan Lane,Audra MacDonald and Harvey Fierstein (to name three)are on their way to being Broadway legends, part of which comes with a certain age IMO (sorta like the Kennedy Center honors).

Question (and this may sound like semantics): Clearly Barbra Streisand is and will always be a an entertainment legend. Is she really a theatre legend, based on Wholesale and Funny Girl? Is Maggie Smith, easily an entertainment legend, really a NY theatre legend based on (I think this is it) Private Lives, Night and Day (a flop) and Lettuce and Lovage, all of which I loved her in). Are Carol Burnett andRita Moreno, clearly entertainment legends, really theatre legends. I don't see it.

After my little tirade, I am afraid to propose adding names, but I will throw out James Earl Jones, Rosemary Harris andFrank Langella for consideration.

 

 

 

Just curious to know why you label Night and Day as a flop."

 

 

It closed before it was supposed to, and lost money.  It was not well reviewed, although I do not remember Smith’s reviews.  

[The Other One]

Posted: 1/10/20 at 7:41am

Hugh Jackman and Mark Rylance.  People see shows because of them and their performances are talked about long after their shows have closed.

Tracy Letts and Laurie Metcalf.  Between their successes in Chicago and New York, it's fair to call them theater legends even if Broadway isn't the first word to come to mind when you think of them.

Updated On: 1/10/20 at 07:41 AM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 1/10/20 at 8:28am

"I agree that Nathan Lane, Audra MacDonald and Harvey Fierstein (to name three) are on their way to being Broadway legends, part of which comes with a certain age IMO (sorta like the Kennedy Center honors)."

I can't imagine what more Nathan Lane could do in his Broadway career to become a legend. As for age, he is 63, does he become a legend when he turns 70? People in other fields of entertainment are legends before they get old. The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson were considered legends way before they hit 40. Meryl Streep was considered a legend way before she turned 70.

Updated On: 1/11/20 at 08:28 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 9:54am

Hugh Jackman and Mark Rylance. People see shows because of them and their performances are talked about long after their shows have closed.

Um, Hugh Jackman has only done 1 show: THE BOY FROM OZ.  His other Broadway appearances were his one-man variety shows.  He’s never done another play after THE BOY FROM OZ.  

[The Other One]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 10:38am

BrodyFosse123 said: "Hugh Jackman and Mark Rylance. People see shows because of them and their performances are talked about long after their shows have closed.

Um, Hugh Jackman has only done 1 show: THE BOY FROM OZ. His other Broadway appearances were his one-man variety shows. He’s never done another play after THE BOY FROM OZ."

He didn't do A STEADY RAIN?  He isn't already, or at least likely to be, breaking box-office records for THE MUSIC MAN?  He didn't sell out the run of his variety show?  I'm not a big fan of his, but I would definitely call him a Broadway legend.  If he were to be unable to perform, the show would not go on with his understudy, the performance would be rescheduled and the tickets would be exchanged.  There are very few people you could ever have said that about, a handful at most, and that is why they are thought of as legends.

Updated On: 1/11/20 at 10:38 AM

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 1/11/20 at 10:53am

The Other One said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "Hugh Jackman and Mark Rylance. People see shows because of them and their performances are talked about long after their shows have closed.

Um, Hugh Jackman has only done 1 show: THE BOY FROM OZ. His other Broadway appearances were his one-man variety shows. He’s never done another play after THE BOY FROM OZ."

He didn't do A STEADY RAIN? He isn't already, or at least likely to be,breaking box-office records for THE MUSIC MAN? He didn't sell out the run of his variety show? I'm not a big fan of his, but I would definitely call him a Broadway legend. If he were to be unable to perform, the show would not go on with his understudy, the performance would be rescheduled and the tickets would be exchanged. There are very few people you could ever have said that about, a handful at most, and that is why they are thought of as legends."

Thank you "The Other One".  Can't believe there are some who don't think Hugh Jackman is a legend.  He's done both Broadway and the West End.  Sold-out audiences from his recent world concert tour.  People buying "The Music Man" tickets months in advance of the opening.  Movie after movie.  Yeah, Hugh Jackman qualifies as a legend.