Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Hardest Role In Musical Theater
massofmen
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/10/04
#1Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#2re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:38pmThe 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?
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#2re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:40pmMama Rose in "Gypsy" and Caroline in "Caroline, or Change" come to mind as some left off your list.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#3re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:42pmRose 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.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
wheredidhegogeorge2
Chorus Member Joined: 1/9/07
#4re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:45pmGeorge M perhaps? You literally dont leave the stage and sing most every song.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#5re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 4:46pm
The hardest thing?
REALLY?
Answering this question every 6-9 months.
It's really very subjective.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
Johnnytoc
Broadway Star Joined: 12/19/04
#7re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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)
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#8re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 2/4/07 at 04:50 PM
#9re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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!"
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#10re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:19pmThe swings!
I killed the boss, you don't think they're gonna fire me over a thing like that!!!!
Julian2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/06
#11re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:20pmOoh, 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.
I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!
dramaqueen2
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/23/05
#12re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:24pm
agree with you massofmen.. and i definitely second SWINGS!
that is incredibly difficult!
hear my song; it was made for the time when you don't know where to go, listen to the song that i sing, you'll be fine..
#13re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 6:52pmCunegonde in CANDIDE. Eight minutes of some of the toughest music for a soprano out there. Not for the meek.
http://docandraider.com
#14re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#15re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#16re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:07pmI 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 !
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#17re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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.
#19re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
Can, can I have it?
#20re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:22pmLucky - NEVER GONNA DANCE
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#21re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
Posted: 2/4/07 at 8:23pmAdd me to the list of people who agree that the swings have the hardest jobs.
#22re: Hardest Role In Musical Theater
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
Understudy Joined: 6/2/05
Videos