#1
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:29pm
I was reading the post on how hard JLY has it in Jersey Boys playing frankie Valli. I also read how hard people think it is to play Glinda or Elphaba.
I was wondering what people thought the hardest role to play in musical theater is. These are my suggestions:
Jekyll in Jekyll and Hyde.
Sings 22-26 songs (depending on the version) 2 different voices (since he is 2 different people). Tough acting role. Demon one second, scared man the next (confrontation being one of the harder songs in musical theater). Barely leaves the stage for the entire show. (Unlike JLY and Elphaba, where they have rests throughout). Carries the entire show.
Eva Peron in Evita.
Insane vocal range. Changing character throughout the show as she grows into a woman (yes acting is difficult when talking about tough roles to do). THe acting range is incredible. Each song is almost a monologue. She carries the show almost as much as Fanny (see below)
Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
Goes from being in the Follies to real life. Costume changes galore, almost in every scene, and vocally demanding like hell. Carries the entire show. I think Leslie Kritzer doing it at 23-24 at papermill playhouse is one of the best performances i have ever seen knowing how hard it is, trying to do it myself in college. I stunk.
I dont think Glinda and Elphaba hold a candle to these roles in the realm of DEMANDING. elphaba has what 7 songs? Glinda has 7? come on.
I was wondering what people thought the hardest role to play in musical theater is. These are my suggestions:
Jekyll in Jekyll and Hyde.
Sings 22-26 songs (depending on the version) 2 different voices (since he is 2 different people). Tough acting role. Demon one second, scared man the next (confrontation being one of the harder songs in musical theater). Barely leaves the stage for the entire show. (Unlike JLY and Elphaba, where they have rests throughout). Carries the entire show.
Eva Peron in Evita.
Insane vocal range. Changing character throughout the show as she grows into a woman (yes acting is difficult when talking about tough roles to do). THe acting range is incredible. Each song is almost a monologue. She carries the show almost as much as Fanny (see below)
Fanny Brice in Funny Girl.
Goes from being in the Follies to real life. Costume changes galore, almost in every scene, and vocally demanding like hell. Carries the entire show. I think Leslie Kritzer doing it at 23-24 at papermill playhouse is one of the best performances i have ever seen knowing how hard it is, trying to do it myself in college. I stunk.
I dont think Glinda and Elphaba hold a candle to these roles in the realm of DEMANDING. elphaba has what 7 songs? Glinda has 7? come on.
