Hardest Role In Musical Theater- Page 3

[2373]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:18pm

BUMP

[WalkOn]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:32pm

My guesses would be

Eva in EVITA
Sweeney in SWEENEY TODD
Mama Rose in GYPSY

Mame in MAME and Charity in SWEET CHARITY seem pretty tough too. They are on stage all the time.

Updated On: 2/6/07 at 04:32 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:36pm

Elphaba is way down on my list. Maybe it is a hard role because a large percent of the women cast are not singing properly and blow out their voice very quickly. For me the hardest are...

Female:
Eva Peron in Evita
Rose in Gypsy
Lily in On the 20th Century
Mr Lovett in Sweeney

Male:
Sweeney
Oscar in 20th Century
Bobby in Company
Jean Valjean in Les Mizzzzzzzzzzz

[WalkOn]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 4:39pm

Also.. and I don't think anyone as mentioned it before..is Giorgio in PASSION. He is on stage almost the entire time and must stand there an listen and re-act, a trememdous amount of concentration required.

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 5:38pm

Evita... One, because it is so vocally/physically (lots of stage time) demanding, and because people who see a performance will always be comparing you to Patti LuPone or Elaine Page...

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 2/6/07 at 8:22pm

Bigelow. Soliloqouy. Range. Acting. 8 minutes. Empty stage.

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:26pm

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Dewey from School of Rock yet. Reading about all the adverse physical effects the role had on Alex Brightman is insane. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 2:48pm

Evan Hansen is probably the hardest male role ever written.  This becomes quite apparent when you see what the role has done to Platt.  He's on a strict diet, constant vocal rest, and sees a physical therapist in order to keep him from permanently picking up Evan's ticks.  Say what you want about the show, but the role is almost physically impossible to play.  Some Honorable Mentions: Hedwig, Billy Bigelow, Sweeney Todd, Tevye, George  (SITPWG), Che, Bruce Bechdel, and honestly, all of the men in Falsettos.  That show is HARD and EXHAUSTING.

Evita is probably the hardest female role.  The role is a vocal shredder.  I don't think I need to elaborate.  It's crazy.  Some Honorable Mentions: Trina, Big Edie/Little Edie, Caroline Thibodaux, Nellie Lovett, Dolly Levi, and I'm sure many others that are completely escaping my mind.

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 3:55pm

Dolly Levi? not really.

Agree that Evan Hansen is too difficult.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 4:02pm

^It's a lot of singing, acting, physical comedy, and a bit of dancing that is usually done by a woman over the age of 55, so I would say that Dolly is a pretty difficult part.  It would seem like a breeze to a 45 year old woman, but someone like Midler, who is 71, finds the role quite difficult.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 4:05pm

I second GeorgeandDot's post. A role can't get much harder than Evan Hansen. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 5:34pm

Whatever roles an actor is miscast in.

 

No, Dolly is not a difficult role -- at all.  It has a lot of stage time, but it's not difficult really.  I would think almost any 70 year old would find a lead in a musical taxing - but  tiring is not the same as difficult.  

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 5:41pm

Dolly certainly is a hard role.  Idk why people feel the need to argue about everything here.  The role IN MY OPINION is a difficult part.  The actress carries the whole show on her shoulders and has multiple solos as well as having to do some rather challenging physical comedy.  It's a tiring part.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 5:55pm

I also agree with GeorgeAndDot  about the difficulty of the role of Evan Hansen and was shocked that it had not been mentioned until then. Putting aside the acting chops necessary to play the part, the vocal requirements are frigging insane. 

Mama Rose would probably get my vote on the female side. 

Updated On: 9/10/17 at 05:55 PM

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 6:00pm

HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN MAMA ROSE?!

She's definitely one of the most difficult roles out there.  Louise is also a rather difficult part in terms of acting.  You need an actress that can really hold back the whole show and then really let it loose for the last twenty minutes.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 7:19pm

I imagine Jason from Falsettos is pretty tough, considering it has to be a 12 year old performing the role

[johannabarker]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 7:52pm

The Phantom is not hard at all, you can do whatever you want and you'll get a standing ovation. Christine is the hard role.

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 8:01pm

The Man in Chair from Drowsy Chaperone comes to mind instantly. You are onstage the entire show (bar a very short 3 minute break); narrarating the entire production while coming off as likeable and funny. 

Dolly Levi is very challenging, actually. Dolly has to be warm and funny, and not come across as too campy or annoying. Vocal-wise it's a piece of cake, but Dolly is in nearly every scene and has to have a big stage presence. Plus she has to save her energy for her big flashy number in Act 2- which is long and is quite dance-heavy, and an encore usually follows.

Reno Sweeney is a stamina breaker, no doubt. This role has some of the most extreme dancing in musical theater, and you have to be singing for all of them! Plus Reno has to have a very high-energy, outspoken personality. Sutton proved this role is a deal-breaker for so many people, if you aren't able to fully play Reno then you won't be able to at all (I think she was absolutely amazing as her, but for many people she wasn't). 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 8:28pm

Funny, how is stating MY opinion arguing?  I'm DISCUSSING.

Tiring is not the same thing as HARD.  I've played the part (not professionaly), it's a lot to do, but that alone doesn't make it difficult.   

[Cat Guy]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 8:31pm

Having seen the touring company last night, and because it's fresh in my memory, I say the two leads (Jerry and Lise) in An American in Paris.  They act.  They sing.  They dance.  They sing and dance a bit more.  Then they dance their BUTTS off in the beautiful and demanding title number that seems to take up most of the entire second act.  Wonderful, difficult, amazing work.

And Dolly.  Of course, Dolly.  Try doing all that she does when you're in your SEVENTIES (as is Bette and as will soon be Bernadette).

Updated On: 9/10/17 at 08:31 PM

[TheatreRocks]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 8:40pm

Christine Daee and Bruce Bechdel. Kim in Miss Saigon. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 9:05pm

Are some of you not reading the date of this thread? DEH wasn't around in 2007. That's why you're not seeing Evan listed on the first two pages. 

Updated On: 9/10/17 at 09:05 PM

[greenifyme2]

Posted: 9/10/17 at 9:24pm

The Groundhog Day cast. They all run around like (choreographed) crazy. Makes me tired just to watch them!

[C.Jack]

Posted: 9/11/17 at 2:11pm

Having known people who have played these character and seeing it before, I'd say that any of the leads in Falsettos have GOT to be some of the hardest roles to play. As you are almost constantly on stage and have to sing some of the highest notes known to man. Especially Trina lmao.

[coreman009]

Posted: 9/11/17 at 5:38pm

I truly think Evan Hansen is the toughest role in Broadway history. The fact that Platt knocks it out of the park is such a testament to his unbelievable talent.