Hardest Role

Who do you all think is undertaking the hardest role right now on Broadway?

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Updated On: 1/27/04 at 08:48 PM

Hm... Bernadette Peters.

I would say Bernadette Peters as Mama Rose.
But what about the dancing roles on Broadway?
The cast of Movin' Out
Noah Racey and Nancy Lemenager in Never Gonna Dance
The singing isn't much for the both of them, but they sing AND dance, and they are two of the most challenging leads on Broadway now, in my opinion.

The role of Momma Rose could eat the role of Elphaba. No contest on which one's more demanding.

It doesn't always have to do with how difficult a role is, but how well the people before you played it. I think Kerry Butler has faced a huge difficuly trying to live up to Ellen Green, the original Audrey. Come on, who doesn't know that voice? Although it is not a hugely difficult role, living up to that is.

Peters still had it the worst if you ask me. She had to follow in the footsteps of Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly. The latter two had won Tony's for their interpretation so I think she must have really felt the pressure to live up to that. She of course lost the Tony to a chubby girl from NY who smirked her way through a tacky musical. Oy, I'm going to regret those last few comments...

*The adjective "chubby" was so used by Ms. Winokur during her acceptance speech. It was not meant to be rude or demeaning in the sense of body weight.

Updated On: 1/27/04 at 09:15 PM

"The role of Momma Rose could eat the role of Elphaba"
-funny but not necessarily true. Mama Rose has been done so many times it's not hard to figure out the character...if you are originating the role it is a lot harder to discover the character. Now, that being said it is also harder with Mama Rose to make the character uniquely your own. I would also have to add that Elphaba is probably the most challenging role Idina Menzel has ever had to play(I think I remember her saying something along those lines) and it is incredibly demanding vocally. Mama Rose could be, but I do not think it is, the most challenging role Bernadette Peters has done. If anybody understoood that logic.......

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Jo, I was trying to say the exact same thing yesterday, when my pc froze and then i couldn't log on again to the board. I fully back you up. Plus, Hugh risked his succesful Hollywood career, he is playing a real person and he is mesmerizinig the audience every night even if the show is not a masterpiece. If this is not hard work, I don't know what is. And like PB already said, i have to add Phantom to my list, i think it is a very hard part for any actor.

Take care

The conductor. They are responsible for starting a show, for ending a show and making everyone takes the trip in between together.

Bernadette and Idina definitely...and even Kristin (vocally, her part is actually quite demanding. She has to hit very high notes).
But I would say the most demanding role on Broadway right now is Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz.

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I was also going to say the Peter Allen role in Boy From Oz. A physically exhausting and vocally demanding role that has to carry the show due to a weak book and score. I certainly wouldn't want that kind of pressure every night.

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Add me to the Idina and Bernadette group.

Robbiej-I don't think Millie is exceptionally hard for Sutton as it will be for Susan Egan.
As for the rest
Mama Rose in Gypsy- true it's hard to live up to the Merm and the others, but Bernadette Peters is a legend herself.
Elphaba in Wicked-Come on. That is such a dry role and Idina managed to turn it into a great one.
Audrey in Little Shop-No one can beat Ellen Greene and poor Kerry is doing her best.
Tevye in Fiddler-It is just demanding all around.
Emcee in Cabaret- That role is definatley so hard to play.

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