Hardest Role In Musical Theater

[massofmen]

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.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:38pm

The really demanding part about the roles in "Wicked" (And probably a large part of why Idina got the tony) is that you are taking characters very largely ingrained in our memories as being a particular way, and presenting them in a new fashion. So the difficulty lies in, can you convince us that the Wicked Witch wasn't Wicked?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:40pm

Mama Rose in "Gypsy" and Caroline in "Caroline, or Change" come to mind as some left off your list.

[D2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:42pm

Rose in GYPSY - another hellish tour de force for the actress. Very few sustained breaks, carries most of the vocal weight of the show, and has to keep it going up through the final number, which is a killer. And the energy level has to be through the roof or the show dies.

[wheredidhegogeorge2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:45pm

George M perhaps? You literally dont leave the stage and sing most every song.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:46pm

The hardest thing?

REALLY?

Answering this question every 6-9 months.




It's really very subjective.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:47pm

George in SitPwG perhaps?

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:48pm

Rose - Gypsy
Caroline - Caroline or Change
Effie - Dreamgirls (Though she's not always on stage, the vocals and acting range are tough to go through 8 times a week)
Charity - Sweet Charity (Though not vocally demanding range wise, but onstage most of the show)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:50pm

A few that come to mind:

Rose in GYPSY
Effie in DREAMGIRLS
Eva in EVITA
Fosca in PASSION
Caroline in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Fanny in FUNNY GIRL
Max in THE PRODUCERS
Cohan in GEORGE M!
Bess in PORGY & BESS
Charity in SWEET CHARITY (with the original Fosse choreography)
Male lead in LITTLE ME
Sweeney in SWEENEY TODD
Barnum in BARNUM
ELiza in MY FAIR LADY
Peter Allen in THE BOY FROM OZ
Annie in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
Michelle Craig in THE ACT
Emma in SONG & DANCE

Updated On: 2/4/07 at 04:50 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:11pm

Ensemble members in THE SECRET GARDEN.

Ensemble members in 42nd STREET.

Ensemble members in ...

I was going to make a long list, but I'll save myself the time. Several times the ensemble actor has more stage time than featured or even leading actors. Leading actors and featured actors may get solos or lines, but in many cases it is the chorus member who has to be the true triple threat. Sing, dance, and act - "often at the same time!"

[mattonstage]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:19pm

The swings!

[Julian2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:20pm

Ooh, like in Ragtime, especially when you only have three black people, and the white people have to zip off from Success and onto for Gettin' Ready Rag. It was actually suprisingly well paced considering we were missing a whole people group.

[dramaqueen2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:24pm

agree with you massofmen.. and i definitely second SWINGS!

that is incredibly difficult!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:52pm

Cunegonde in CANDIDE. Eight minutes of some of the toughest music for a soprano out there. Not for the meek.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:52pm

Some that haven't been mentioned that come to mind:
Guido Contini-NINE
Cunegande-CANDIDE
Sally Bowles-CABARET
Velma Kelly-CHICAGO
Big Eddie/Little Edie-GREY GARDENS
Female lead-THE APPLE TREE

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:29pm

Roles like those in JERSEY BOYS because they are based on well-known people and people who will see the show and judge how their portrayed.

"Ensemble members in THE SECRET GARDEN. "
Very true.
I was Major Holmes

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:07pm

I always thought that the Phantom is an incredibly demanding role, so I am surprised it hasn't been mentioned at all yet ! Also, Jesus and Judas in JCS, Valjean in Les Mis and Norma in Sunset Boulevard ! But, I have to add, that, I don't judge a role's diificulty only by how many songs the role performs but also by its acting demands !

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:12pm

So the difficulty lies in, can you convince us that the Wicked Witch wasn't Wicked?

Oh God, you'd have to be a serious abomination to the craft of acting if you managed to convince the audience that Elphaba truly was wicked by the end of the show. The show's book itself pretty much ensures that no one is going to think that.

[TWSFan4Ever]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:15pm

Effie in "Dreamgirls"

[pants2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:21pm

hardest? probably not, but up there i would have to say...
brooklyn- brooklyn the musical
velma kelly- chicago
tracy- hairspray (you have to belt and dance HARD at the same time as being overweight, how easy can it be?)
sweeney- sweeney tood
george- sunday in the park with george

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:22pm

Lucky - NEVER GONNA DANCE

[alliez92092]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:23pm

Add me to the list of people who agree that the swings have the hardest jobs.

[brooklynbecca]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:29pm

Jane in Jane Eyre barely leaves the stage. I was sad when Marla Schaffel didn't get the Tony that year. She was fierce.

And when it comes to ensembles, I think the hardest working one I ever saw was in Bat Boy.

[BS]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 9:51pm

Apparently Max Bialystock.

[neomystyk29]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 10:12pm

Dot/Marie in SITPWG