Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
#1Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:36am
Are there any ensemble members of musicals that you absolutely love, whether because of how the the actor played the role or what that character does?
Because I'm a huge Les Miserables fan, my favourites are Montparnasse (mainly because he was my favourite character from the book, but still) in any production, and (but ONLY on the OBC recording) the guy who plays the 'Pimp' in "Look Down" who sings "Leave the poor old cow, move it, Madeleine!" for no apparent reason.
However, I also love that one guy from Little Shop of Horrors who walks in and says something along the lines of, "My! What a strange and exotic plant!" and proceeds to buy a dozen roses, then asks for twice as many. Small role, but the best one in the show.
#2re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:48am
In The Heights- Nina's track because it's Nina! She has abs of steel! And Rosie Lani Fiedelman's track
Rent- Probably Alexi Darling (When Mayumi Ando plays it) or Mr. Jefferson and Others because when Marcus plays it it is absolutely amazing (Best Season of Love Solo I have ever heard.
Jersey Boys- Joey because he is amazing.
Sunday In The Park With George- There really aren't any ensemble roles but I love the American Tourists who love the pastries.
Gypsy-Angus or "Amanda"
Those are my top five shows as well. I'm not gonna do any more.
#2re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 10:22am
Bit roles (for me) can be made by amazing actors.
I love Mayumi Ando (RENT) as the junkie during "Will I?" and "Christmas Bells". She is fantastic.
Marty Thomas is adorable in Xanadu.
I enjoy Todd Michael Smith and Lori Even Marinacci in Hairspray.
#3re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 10:33am
I love Amber efes roles in Legally Blonde. She just demanded attention when she was performing and was giving so much energy - fantastic.
#4re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:18am
I think Grantaire is quite the scene-stealing role, but when you play him thoroughly, he becomes an awesome character, MUCH more interesting than Marius. Drew Sarich's Grantaire is possibly the best single performance from anyone I've ever seen in any production of 'Les Mis'. And I've seen quite a few spiffy performerns in that show!
#5re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:30am
Oh, I LOVE Grantaire. My very favourite Grantaire was Brian Walker at Wolf Trap (he was my favourite performer in the whole show, in fact), but I've liked every Grantaire I've seen. Well, every professional role.
Oh, and I love that girl with the braids in Sweeney Todd. The girl who comes into the barbershop with her father, and Sweeney can't kill the dad because she's there...
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#6re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:35pm
LOL Mine is Marie Tusaud's cameo (??) in The Scarlet Pimpernel! Sooooo random but sort of connects the plot at the end?! (SP2-SP4 anyway!)
I also love whoever is playing Serena, Margot & Pilar in LB as well. And from the pre-Broadway (well the character name was sort of included on Broadway) Jekyll & HYDE, Nellie, who leads Lucy & the girls in the song "Girls of the Night." Is that still a bit role? Not sure but certainly not a 'major part.' Others from J&H, The Spider/Lord Savage & Lady Beaconsfield/Guinerve!
fetzles1490
Featured Actor Joined: 4/16/05
#7re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:38pmI love lucy schmeeler in on the town!
#8re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:39pmMr. and Mrs. (SITPWG) are hilarious!
Urban
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/05
#9re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:41pmIs Peron's Mistress small enough to be considered a bit part? Great one and a bit song role (of which I am still annoyed Madge stole in the movie) and if done well, a great bit part.
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#10re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:45pmAbout Peron's Mistress, that's a part I can never really identify either. To me, it seems more like a "featured" part, especially considering it's one of the well-known songs from the show, and a complete solo.
#13re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 1:52pm
However, I also love that one guy from Little Shop of Horrors who walks in and says something along the lines of, "My! What a strange and exotic plant!" and proceeds to buy a dozen roses, then asks for twice as many. Small role, but the best one in the show.
Isn't that role traditionally played by the same guy that plays Orin? Every production of the show I've ever seen has done it that way.
The ultimate bit role has to be Dewey/Kyle in Legally Blonde. What an impression he makes with what is really nothing more than a series of entrances and exits!
#14re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:28pm
Re: The Dentist's "strange and exotic plant" bit: Yeah, but typically not at high schools, where directors are determined to SQUUUEEEEEZE the most roles possible out of any show! And in the film, I believe it was Christopher Guest, if I'm not mistaken...
But Kyle-- YES. I absolutely love Kyle. And I love the character originated by Noah Weisberg who sang, "I won a Fulbright and a Rhodes..." etc.
When I first saw "Evita" live, I was so confused as to who Peron's Mistress was supposed to be. Granted, I was about ten at the time (probably a bit too young-- I spent the whole show alternating between marveling at Che's awesomeness and yelping about the swearing!), but I think my overall impression at the time was that Evita had fired Peron's maid. Ahhh, innocence.
Oh, another 'bit role' that I love is the three silly girls from "Beauty and the Beast," who sing a little in "Belle" and "Gaston" and have some funny lines. I've always wanted to play one of them.
Philly03-- Yes! I laughed out loud at the Madame Tussaud thing when that was revealed. Though her part is actually pretty big in the show, considering that there are barely any female roles at all. It does put a new spin on the rumour that she would model her wax sculptures on decapitated heads.
#15re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:34pm
Grandmaster Chad.
Piragua Guy.
Bamataboois.
Old Man Strong.
#16re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 2:42pmYour username's also a pretty great bit role... gotta love Sir Not Appearing In This Show. (I think he was dressed up as Don Quixote?) I also love that random cartwheeling frog in Spamalot. And the guy nun who danced with the monk. And... well, every single role, but the thing about Spamalot is that most of the "bit" roles are really played by lead actors.
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#17re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 5:12pm
Erroneous in Forum "First time around!"
Young Danny and I think it's Hermes in Xanadu "Bitch, I don't know your life!"
Mekroth
Broadway Star Joined: 2/23/08
#18re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 5:19pmCinderella's Father in "Into the Woods." If given to the right person, they can completely steal the show.
Broadwaynerd101
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/6/08
#19re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 5:21pmAlso gotta say Joey in Jersey Boys!!!
philly03
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/07
#21re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 6:02pm
"Philly03-- Yes! I laughed out loud at the Madame Tussaud thing when that was revealed. Though her part is actually pretty big in the show, considering that there are barely any female roles at all. It does put a new spin on the rumour that she would model her wax sculptures on decapitated heads."
The only reason I consider her a "bit" is that she's not technically listed in the 'main' credits...always Percy, Marguerite, Chauvelin & Armand. Also, she has no solos, and I'm not even so sure she sings in any songs other than probably Mme. Guillotine & whatever is left of "The Scarlet Pimpernel"...she's kind of in the opposite place for the others! She's really just a dialogue character in a musical!
Vespertine1228
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/30/05
#22re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 6:19pmThis one's easy. The obvious best bit role in any musical is Gloria Rasputin in Bye Bye Birdie. She's the tap-dancing secretary who uses a touch system, "Whenever possible." Classic stuff.
#24re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 6:54pm
Love Enid and Grandmaster Chad (Andy Karl's version) from LB.
Aldolfo (somewhat minor role) from Drowsy Chaperone. Just saying his name the way he does cracks me up.
stupidbeans
Broadway Star Joined: 8/30/08
#25re: Favourite Bit Roles In Musicals?
Posted: 9/6/08 at 7:30pmkitty in chicago!!
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