Demanding "Star" Roles

[Showface]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:06pm

What are some demanding "star " roles in the vein of Evita or Funny Girl?

 

Update: I changed the title, so there is no confusion. I mean basically what darquegk said, but it doesn't necessarily have to be the "others fading in the background part"

Updated On: 8/16/15 at 05:06 PM

[brdway411]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:10pm

If/Then

[mattporter17]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:26pm

Thoroughly Modern Millie

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:40pm

No one was a star in Millie.

[Fantod]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:43pm

Gypsy, obviously.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:45pm

Hedwig, perhaps?

[TFMH18]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:51pm

If/Then was certainly the first that came to mind 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:54pm

The producers?

[bfreak]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 5:59pm

Cabaret

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:09pm

Millie is absolutely demanding for that lead role

You wouldn't think of it as demanding but Seymour has to be in every scene except one of Little Shop of Horrors

I would also say: Beautiful, Hello Dolly, and Sunset Boulevard

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:11pm

Drood - for both Drood and Puffer

Company - for Bobby

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:12pm

Jekyll and Hyde

[broadwayboy972]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:13pm

Wicked

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:21pm

Charity in Sweet Charity

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:32pm

What's your definition of a star-vehicle? I feel like there are tons of plays and musicals with big, juicy leading roles, which invites the casting of a star. But the term "Star-vehicle" strikes me as having a slightly negative connotation, as if the show's MAIN purpose is to showcase the star. Definitely shows like If/Then, Evita, Anything Goes and The Audience come across that way. Gypsy was written specifically for Ethel, and is definitely a "star-vehicle," yet it's also one of the most well-constructed, impactful musicals ever written.

 

Hamlet is considered by many to be the best play and among the best roles ever written, and though many stars have played the role, calling it a star-vehicle seems highly reductive to me.

 

Company may have a big, meaty leading role, but it wasn't written for a star, and most of the people who have played it have not been extremely famous. Also, one doesn't get the sense from watching Company that the purpose of the show is to show off the star. 

 

I guess I'm rambling a bit, my main point is that "star-vehicle" strikes me as a reductive term, and though it is a very accurate description of many shows, I wonder where the line is drawn between being a star-vehicle, and being a show with 1 or 2 large, well-written roles. What do you guys think?

Updated On: 8/16/15 at 06:32 PM

[Showface]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:37pm

When I say "star vehicle", I mean a show with a clear and distinct lead or "star". It has to be pretty demanding too.

I wouldn't say a "star vehicle" is a bad thing. 

 

Updated On: 8/16/15 at 06:37 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:44pm

Ahhh, I totally took it to mean the show NEEDED a star.  My bad.

 

(And yes. Millie is an enormous role)

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:56pm

Ok, if we're using that definition, tons of shows come to mind (many of them include 2 distinct leading roles, rather than one, but I'd still consider that in the same category):

 

The Elephant Man (title role)

Fela! (title role)

Hamilton (title role)

Hedwig (title role)

How to Succeed (Finch)

The King and I (both title roles)

Lady Day (title role)

Les Miserables (Valjean)

Peter Pan (title role)

South Pacific (Emile and Nellie)

The Visit (Claire) 

Sunday in the Park with George (George and Dot)

Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye)

Forum (Pseudolus) 

Carousel (Julie and Billy)

Equus (Alan and Dr. Dysart) 

Grey Gardens (Edie) 

Man of La Mancha (title role)

Sweeney Todd (Sweeney and Lovett)

[David2]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 6:57pm

Definitely Beautiful, If/Then and Gypsy 

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 7:04pm

I'd add The Phantom of the Opera for Christine -- it's a VERY demanding lead role, even though the Phantom is treated as the star.

[smallworld]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 7:20pm

The Act

The Visit

 

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 7:33pm

I see "star vehicle" as meaning, in this context, a show which, despite not being a one-person show or two-person show, rests so heavily on the talents and frequent onstage presence of one performer that the rest of the cast, solid as they may be, fade somewhat into the background.

 

Shakespeare has no star vehicle shows- even big roles like Othello, Lear and Hamlet are backed by enormously important and present supporting leads. It's a much more common conceit in musical theatre.

[Mike Costa]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 7:39pm

The OP is using the term "Star Vehicle" incorrectly.

The term was coined to mean exactly the way it reads- A role that was written to be a vehicle for an already bonafide star. The best examples are Merman/Gypsy and Menzel/ If Then.  The other roles you are mentioning are good roles for leading ladies. (Lupone was not a star before Evita).

Also, The Emcee in Cabaret was written as a small fill in spot to cover set changes in one.  Notice Joel Grey's position on the original title page.  Cabaret was a vehicle for the stars Lotte Lenya and Jack Gilford since it was written for them and they were already known at the time.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 7:50pm

Lily from On the 20th Century

The Leading Player and Berthe in Pippin

Matilda & Annie

 

[mattporter17]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 8:10pm

"The Leading Player and Berthe in Pippin"

 

I'm sorry but how is Berthe a star role? Have you even seen the show, she's in one scene?... Do you mean Pippin from Pippin, who's in almost every scene???