Hardest Role In Musical Theater — Page 2

I think that if you look at any show, you will find one demanding role in it. It's not like you can through any show on auto-pilot and work in this business very long.

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Norma Desmond - "Sunset Blvd"
Mama Rose - "Gypsy"
Mame - "Mame"

"can through any show on auto-pilot and work in this business very long."

Michelle Federer did just that in wicked for 3 years and it doesn't seem to have hurt her.

I say ensemble 100%. Principles aside, I really don't think anyone works harder in a show than the ensemble.

"Urinetown" comes to mind.
Not only is it physically demanding with all the dancing and movement in general, but there are about 7 costume changes and they are in about 16 of the 20ish songs (with crazy 5 or 6 part harmonies)

The ensemble works their butt on in any show!

It might be subjective, but there are certainly roles that carry extreme challenges. One of Margo's examples, Emma in Song & Dance, where there is only one woman to carry a whole act - that is certainly something not any performer can truly succeed at.

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As hard a the songs might be, they still alternate musical numbers, so it is challenging, but I doubt they are the hardest.

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Don Lockwood - Singin' in ths Rain

When i played this part i think i left the stage for what one whole scene in the whole show. Vocally its not super inetense, but you have to dance the crap out of that show, with an 8 minute +/- depending on how you do it ballet, and oh yeah, tapping in rain.

Lets just say it was really really really hard. But so rewarding. Oh and i had not even exaggerating like 18 costume changes, with about 17 of them being intense quick changes

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I concur with Mamma Rose.

I agree that Mama Rose is hands down the most demanding role in musical theatre.

I agree with many others said, but I'll also add Christine in Phantom. She's on stage for almost the whole show, and is still usually overshadowed by the Phantom. It's really up to her to carry the show.

And since the subject says "hardest" I'm gonna take that to mean something aside from most demanding--for instance Tony in West Side Story...well, it isn't a walk through the park...some of those high notes...damn. But also having to win the audience over is very hard for this character...when the Jets and Sharks get these amazing show off numbers like Cool and America, and even Maria comes to life at the end...it's really hard to be a standout Tony.

I guess some people could say similar things about Bobby in Company.

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what about anyone in that past Sweeney revival? singing octives rarely seen on a register whilst playing a cello and acting fearful seems pretty hard to me!

I disagree completely about Christine in Phantom of the Opera. She might be on stage for most of the night, but I've never once thought of a mediocre Christine or Raoul, "Wow, that person really ruined the show for me." A bad Phantom, on the other hand? Absolute murder for the show. Christine is just one of the least emotionally complex roles in theater. That's not to say that the difficulty of a role is in any way based on how important the audience finds the character, but I don't think that Christine is a role that demands a first-class performer. Ingenue roles in general don't strike me as as challenging as many of those listed here. And I wouldn't even place the Phantom in this category, while we're at it.

The first role that came to mind was George in Sunday in the Park with George, if only because so much of the success of the show depends on his being the right mixture of qualities to portray the emotionally closed-off painter without alienating the audience. There's also the consideration that he's playing two characters in the different acts. Dot/Marie is very difficult, as well.

Updated On: 2/5/07 at 01:28 PM

I've got to get on the Mama Rose bandwagon; it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of this thread. I also thought of Mame, Fanny Brice, and Tevye.

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