"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Not sure I'd say this is the greatest I've ever seen, but I feel Josh Gad in Mormon was by far one of the most underappreciated performances of the past decade. I don't know that I've ever seen another performer strike as perfect of a mix between being big and goofy and funny and over-the-top with just the exact right amount of warmth and heart and realness underneath it all which he never lost sight of throughout the show and really made you love and cheer so hard for his character as a result.
I’ll jump on the bandwagon and say that I was lucky enough to see Nathan Lane from the center orchestra during previews for The Producers and it remains the greatest musical comedy performance I’ve ever seen. Of course, he had good material!
In terms of turning straw into gold however, Mark Rylance was pure genius in Boeing-Boeing.
I will just list the first one that came to mind. I know not many had the chance to catch it at Encores but Christine Baranski in Promises, Promises. In her very limited time onstage she stole the show.
cliffordbradshaw2 said: "Dorothy Loudon in "Annie." Judy Holliday in "Bells Are Ringing."
And another vote for Maggie Smith in "Private Lives.""
You saw Judy Holliday in Bells Are Ringing? If I could go back in time and see 3 or 4 performances that I was unable to see, Judy Holliday in Bells Are Ringing would be one of them. I still play the OCR regularly, although it is relatively short. I have cut the Midas Touch, I seem to recall a Beatnik number, and at least one other song. What's left represents an incredible score AND audible proof that her live performance must have been incredible.
The funniest performance I ever saw in a show was Christian Borle in Peter and the Starcatchers. There's a moment - if you've seen the show you know what I mean - that stopped the show dead for a solid three or four minutes because the laughter was so extreme. I've never laughed that hard in a theater, and I saw Nathan Lane in The Producers (my runner up choice).
Andy Karl’s physical comedy in Groundhog Day was only amplified by the huge heart and depth he played Phil with. Really wish he had gotten the recognition he deserved for that role.
VotePeron said: "Andy Karl’s physical comedy in Groundhog Day was only amplified by the huge heart and depth he played Phil with. Really wish he had gotten the recognition he deserved for that role. "
To be fair, given his precursor run, he probably would’ve won if it weren’t for him being up against such an undeniable performance in a way bigger show.
Mulaney and Kroll in Oh Hello! Obviously not a traditional play with traditional actors, but definitely the funniest thing I've seen on a Broadway stage.
Pretty recent, but I really though Sarah Stiles in Tootsie was just stellar. I really enjoyed most of the cast in that show anyways but Sarah was absolutely incredible in that role.
Rick Holmes - Peter & The Starcatcher at New World Stages as Black Stache. Absolutely stole the show, pure brilliance. I also saw Borle, but he had nothing on what Holmes managed to do. Went back to see the closing performance just for him.
I'm going to throw in a vote for Peter Gallagher for the revival of On the Twentieth Century. I didn't think he was giving anything away to John Cullum, but he wasn't even nominated. He slid under the radar, as did the show pretty much after it flopped in the Tonys.
And I'll see you a Christine, and raise you a Katie. They were both great in a great role. Katie won the Tony.
I forgot how to make the video stop, so this goes on for another minute after Katie.
The original Broadway cast of Gods of Carnage. That foursome had perhaps the greatest timing and chemistry I’ve ever seen on stage. I’ve never laughed so hard in the legitimate theater in my life as I did that night.