Challenging Contemp. Male Roles

Saw this and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were. I agree with some but think others are way out there – I mean, JD?

https://theatrenerds.com/15-vocally-challenging-contemporary-male-roles/

Updated On: 8/24/17 at 06:14 PM

Oh, please, that website reads like its written by high schoolers.

Like the show or not, Evan Hansen is about as physically, vocally, and emotionally exhausting as a role can get.

I've never considered Elder Price to be a vocally challenging role.

Alex Kulak2 said: "Like the show or not, Evan Hansen is about as physically, vocally, and emotionally exhausting as a role can get."

Wasn't disagreeing. I think, out of the list, the hardest ones would be Evan Hansen, Dewey Finn, and Anatole (not necessarily in that order). I can see the case for a few others (ie. Pierre and the Phantom). The rest seem kind of ridiculous to me.

RippedMan said: "What exactly makes Pierre so vocally challenging to people? He's a baritone role and he's in like 20% of the show. "

The range in Dust and Ashes is pretty immense, plus the fact that a performer is meant to 'roughen up' their voice for the part. I personally don't think it's that difficult (considering it's from the show that includes Anatole and Marya D), but I understand the case for it.

RippedMan said: "Is that stated somewhere? When I saw it Oak just grunted a lot and Josh Groban sounds gorgeous on the recording..."

I know Josh has mentioned having to do so in multiple interviews, though I can't remember which ones. He sounded a lot rougher live than on the recording as well. As for Oak – vocally, I've always thought he was the most 'off' of all the Pierres for the part (coming from someone who's seen/heard all of them), so I wouldn't take him as an example.