Hollywood Stars We Haven’t Seen On Broadway — Page 2

Dollypop said: "Mel Gibson"

I can’t tell if this is a joke. Definitely too many Jews and gays on Broadway for Mr. Gibson.

jagman1062 said: "OuttaTowner said: "I’ll also toss in Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Interesting to ponder - with any of these fine recommendations - if the star would “pop” on stage (you know, have that Broadway stage “presence” or merely fade into the scenery? Sometimes, film charisma doesn’t translate into stage success."

So very true. Julia Roberts in Three Days of Rain about 15 years ago is proof that great film actors aren't wonderful stage actors."

Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman are more recent examples. It’s a very different style of acting and if an actor didn’t start with a lot of stage work in their career, a director is charged with basically undoing camera acting habits.

Duckie4 said: "jagman1062 said: "OuttaTowner said: "I’ll also toss in Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Interesting to ponder - with any of these fine recommendations - if the star would “pop” on stage (you know, have that Broadway stage “presence” or merely fade into the scenery? Sometimes, film charisma doesn’t translate into stage success."

So very true. Julia Roberts in Three Days of Rain about 15 years ago is proof that great film actors aren't wonderful stage actors."

Bruce Willis and Uma Thurman are more recent examples. It’s a very different style of acting and if an actor didn’t start with a lot of stage work in their career, a director is charged with basically undoing camera acting habits."

True, of course, but Willis did at least have some stage experience much earlier on. He understudied Eddie in Fool For Love when it moved to Theater Row. Many, many years ago, though, and he'd pretty much been a whisperer on screen for thirty years before he played Broadway.

People love to name examples of celebrities who gave bad performances on Broadway. But in my experience, good actors are good actors; in the majority of cases, an actor who's skilled on camera will usually also be skilled onstage.You can name plenty of exceptions, but IMO they're just that: the exceptions, not the rule. I think it's telling that, whenever these conversations come up, it's always the same few names tossed around (though admittedly, I could probably add a few more names to the pot).

And even then I'd wager that many of those cases could largely be faulted to a director, or the choice of material. Not necessarily to the change in medium.

Granted, I agree it's more LIKELY to occur if the film actor in question doesn't have experience onstage. But still, I think most genuinely skilled actors will be skilled in both mediums, especially with help from a smart director, and with the right role.

Not to mention:

(a) I've seen plenty of bad performances from stars who had a ton of stage experience. Plus bad performances from actors made their whole career working onstage.

(b) I've even seen some film actors with barely any stage experience, who delivered a better stage performance than I'd ever seen from them on film.

Updated On: 8/6/22 at 10:56 AM

JBroadway said: "People love to name examples of celebrities who gave bad performances on Broadway. But in my experience, good actors are good actors; in the majority of cases, an actor who's skilled on camera will usually also be skilled onstage.You can name plenty of exceptions, but IMO they're just that: the exceptions, not the rule. I think it's telling that, whenever these conversations come up, it's always the same few names tossed around (though admittedly, I could probably add a few more names to the pot).

And even then I'd wager that many of those cases could largely be faulted to a director, or the choice of material. Not necessarily to the change in medium.

Granted, I agree it's more LIKELY to occur if the film actor in question doesn't have experience onstage. But still, I think most genuinely skilled actors will be skilled in both mediums, especially with help from a smart director, and with the right role.

Not to mention:

(a) I've seen plenty of bad performances from stars who had a ton of stage experience. Plus bad performances from actors made their whole career working onstage.

(b) I've even seen some film actors with barely any stage experience, who delivered a better stage performance than I'd ever seen from them on film.

"

Well...sure. I mean, there are a million factors to take into consideration. Role, script, director, rehearsal time, etc,etc. "Good actors are good actors" oversimplifies things, though. I mean, let's face it, many Hollywood stars are made "good actors" through several takes and good film editing. There's going to be a huge variation in how well screen actors adapt to live performing and using their whole body and full voice to reach a Broadway audience. I don't think anyone here is saying that every single Hollywood actor will bomb on stage or that every Broadway actor succeeds on stage every time.

I could name just as many Hollywood stars that were GREAT on the Broadway stage...probably more, actually....as those who just didn't translate well. I think the point that was raised was that you just can't predict that the transition will work.

I'd like to see some of these actors who have sold out to the MCU meat grinder to regain their chops on stage. Elizabeth Olsen and Robert Downey Jr for instance.

Julianne Moore

Natalie Portman

Reese Witherspoon

Judy Reyes

Michelle Yeoh

And I'd be happy to see Keira Knightley in another play. I can't think of anyone I'd want to see in a musical.

Duckie4 said: "Good actors are good actors" oversimplifies things, though.

Maybe phrasing it that way was oversimplifying. So here’s my point, less simplified. When I said “good actors are good actors,” what I should’ve said was:

When a film actor is highly skilled, really committed to the technical craft, and has lots of experience with preparation, character work, focused listening and responding, etc., I think they're more likely to be good onstage than not. Especially with a good director.

But in any case, I think we're all in agreement that the mileage will vary, and that there's no guarantee of anyone being good.

themick2 said: "Oh, sweetheart. Do you really think they do those movies for the creative stimulus? And yes, watching them throw away their talents in those focus grouped monstrosities is depressing. Not as depressing as infantilized adults defending these celluloid pieces of Kleenex as if they were defending their parents, but depressing nonetheless. Every single one of the actors you mentioned you love because of deeper material they have done."



None of that is even remotely the point. No one is claiming that those actors are doing their deepest and more sophisticated work in the MCU, or that they're doing it for the creative stimulus (although there is some genuinely strong acting peppered throughout the franchise, if one cares to look for it).

The point is, you implied that these actors are less respectable for having taken jobs in the MCU, and therefore have something to prove to the world. But (a) they're not less respectable, because yeah, sometimes artists need to make financially or strategically-motivated career choices, and that doesn't mean they're not valid as artists. And (b) by your own admission, these are actors who have earned artistic respect through other projects (some of which they work on DURING their MCU tenure). So again, they don't need to "regain their chops."

JBroadway said: "When a film actor is highly skilled, really committed to the technical craft, and has lots of experience with preparation, character work, focused listening and responding, etc., I think they're more likely to be good onstage than not. Especially with a good director."

Couldn't agree more. And I think the Broadway stage, more than any other medium, will quickly reveal any weakness in an actor's skill. Some will adjust and rise to the occasion, others will not, we can all agree on that.

Lola Getz2 said: "I believe Denzel Washington said once that doing "popular" movies gives him the freedom to pursue other projects he is passionate about that may not be all about the money. That makes sense to me.

That being said, where the heck has Amy Adams been? Seriously, she should have had a starring role in a new musical or major revival by now. Mame, perhaps? Or even the Sweeney Revival? Now that I could get excited about."

I just saw Amy Adams in The Glass Menagerie and thought that she was too small for the stage . I don't know when I've hated a directorial concept more than that production but a good director could have brought her further to reach her potential.


Tom Glynn-Carney as the young Tom lit up that stage. His imitation of his mother calling "rise and shine- rise and shine!" was the best Amanda in that performance.

Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, and Austin Butler have already been on Broadway.