First Triple Threat Broadway Performer

[ggersten]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#1

Posted: 3/28/15 at 4:59pm

I'm guessing George M. Cohan
...or possibly Gene Kelly.

But, in the post-Oklahoma world, I'm thinking Gwen Verdon was an early triple threat and a game changer

[musicaltheatreman2]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#2

Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:18pm

Ann Miller
Gwen Verdon
Chita Rivera
Donna McKechnie

[henrikegerman]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#2

Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:49pm

Marilyn Michaels maybe.

[Bilbo3]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#3

Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:54pm

Not many of us were around to see these performers live, so not sure if you will get a good response here.

Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...

[GavestonPS]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#4

Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:57pm

Absolutely George M. Cohan, who was a star 30 or 40 years before Gene Kelly appeared on the scene. But I doubt Cohan was the first: there were triple-threat minstrel performers as far back as the early 1800s. We just don't remember their names because there were no movie cameras to film their work.

[Hest882]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#5

Posted: 3/28/15 at 7:34pm

I suspect GavestonPS is right. Plus, it reminds me of a comment an actor made (in one of the "That's Entertainment" movies maybe?) where he said in the studio days MGM expected an actor could sing, dance and act. I would that that would be even more true for stage performers who needed to be ultra versatile to get work.

[Robbie2]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#6

Posted: 3/28/15 at 10:30pm

Mickey Rooney

"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new." Sunday in the Park with George

[ggersten]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#7

Posted: 3/28/15 at 11:20pm

This came up because my daughter and I were talking about "Small House of Uncle Thomas" which has a dancing ensemble, a singing ensemble and one actor. I explained to her that this used to be the way most Broadway shows were written until the 1970s (with some exceptions). So, I was specifically wondering about people in Broadway shows- not film nor minstrel shows - (Rooney didn't make it to Broadway until 1979). And since I (nor likely any poster other than After Eight) have any idaa what kind of an actor Cohan was, Gwen Verdon was the first name which came to my mind of someone who did it all back in the Golden Age.

[Curious3]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#8

Posted: 3/29/15 at 12:33am

Pre-dating everyone other than Cohan is Fred Astaire and don't forget his sister Adele.

[Broadwaylover2]

First Triple Threat Broadway Performer#9

Posted: 3/29/15 at 3:59am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Cohan

and I am sure after8 was joking so relax