How did Lupone get so good at Singing? She went to Juilliard....- Page 4

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 3:51am

I'm wondering if the poster was conflating WORKING with THE CRADLE WILL ROCK (which incidentally came years after EVITA). LuPone played a working girl in both, but sang a couple songs solo in CRADLE.
The Cradle Will Rock

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 3:58am

If I am "the poster" you mean, no, I am definitely talking about WORKING. I'm not arguing that Lupone sang a solo; IBDB suggests she did not.

My point is that she stole the show with her acting. I agree with BeadleDeedle when he says, "To sing, act, and dance equally well always seems to translate to being just slightly above average at all three."

Chita Rivera may be the one exception, but I don't think many believe her to be a "singer".

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 4:08am

Honest to God, Gaveston, I didn't think I was talking about you, but checking back, I see I am. I am very familiar with LuPone in CRADLE, not so much with WORKING.

"Chita Rivera may be the one exception, but I don't think many believe her to be a "singer"."

LOL, Lord love her, but no, I don't think Chita herself would call herself a singer. I also agree with BeedleDeedle regarding "triple threats", more or less. I can't think of anyone who really, truly is a triple threat.

Also from CRADLE.
The Nickel Under Your Foot

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 4:13am

Alas, I didn't see CRADLE (except for Tim Robbin's movie and a production at the Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon, LA). But Lupone was great in WORKING.

And I know we're speaking "technically" in terms of Chita Rivera. But is there really anyone else we would rather hear sing "All That Jazz"? I doubt it.

ETA Rivera is the perfect example of the problem with insisting that musical stars be true "triple threats". Her singing in CHICAGO is actually more interesting than what would be produced by a better vocalist. Ditto Robert Preston, Angela Lansbury and Barbara Harris.

Updated On: 3/31/13 at 04:13 AM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 4:37am

"Rivera is the perfect example of the problem with insisting that musical stars be true "triple threats". Her singing in CHICAGO is actually more interesting than what would be produced by a better vocalist. Ditto Robert Preston, Angela Lansbury and Barbara Harris. "

I won't name names, but I can think of many performers currently or recently on Broadway who are technically incredible singers and/or dancers, but really aren't all that interesting. To me, in the end, it comes down to the acting. If you can really, truly act, the rest can be worked out (depending on the role, of course).

I never think of LuPone as a dancer, really, but she does herself justice in this video (from what you can see - the footage is dreadful, but frankly, it's amazing that it exists at all). She even does a quite creditable layback at one point.
Early footage Evita

[broadway guy]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:55am

Oh yeah im a troll cause i asked a question that is thought provoking.Jesus.grow up you bitchy queen.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 9:01am

Gosh. With regards to the original question, my answer is simply this: hard work. from RC in Austin, Texas

[broadway guy]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 9:42am

Yeah that makes sense i guess.She is an actress before a singer.I respect that

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 10:36am

"Jon, Master Class yes is a straight play but she SUNG in the play she was a vocal student
did you read the play do you know the play ?"

And she didn't get the Tony Award for Prettiest Voice in a Play. She wins awards because on top of being a fantastic vocalist, she's a fantastic actor.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 10:47am

I think it's funny how most of you on here think im a troll and think this thread is dumb and yet i have gotten 80 comments on it and all of you have responded hahahah you rascals.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:15am

As long as we're talking about triple threats, I couldn't agree more on Chita, to me she's perfection! Definitely a stronger dancer than a singer, but she has her singing moments too, I would consider the tittle song in Kiss of the Spider Woman to be her vocal highlight. The only dancer which I believe comes close to her is Ann Reinking.

I do believe there are triple threats out there, like Sutton, Ben Vereen, Donna Mckechnie, and of course, my queen... Liza!

Updated On: 3/31/13 at 11:15 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:18am

I thought your queen was Lea?

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:20am

That's his dame.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:21am

I'm curious what a triple thread is? Poly-cotton-linen blend?

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 11:23am

I have many goddesses, Liza is their queen. Dame Lea is the youngest.

AEA, LOL, I just realized I wrote thread instead of threat, already fixed, but thank you. Updated On: 3/31/13 at 11:23 AM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 6:57pm

ghost, I think you're right: in every case I mentioned, in their most famous roles, it all came down to the acting. Even with Lupone, I think she sings just fine, but what she does even better is act a song!

Updated On: 3/31/13 at 06:57 PM

[binau]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 7:04pm

"Gosh. With regards to the original question, my answer is simply this: hard work. from RC in Austin, Texas"

I'm sure she works really hard, but I reckon the real answer is that you "either got it or you aint, and she got it".

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 7:14pm

"I do believe there are triple threats out there, like Sutton, Ben Vereen, Donna Mckechnie, and of course, my queen... Liza!"

Comes down to how you define a triple threat. I think they're unicorns - they don't really exist. I can't think of one person that stands up to my definition (excelling far above average in all three categories). I'd eliminate Vereen and Mckechnie, because while they are both (or were) incredible dancers, I don't think either are great singers or actors. Liza and Sutton are excellent singers, act and move quite well, but I wouldn't call them dancers. There are tons of dancers that have and do exceed Rivera and Reinking, but you'll never know their names, because they aren't great actors or singers.

It's all very subjective, of course.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 7:57pm

Ghost, I respect understand and respect your argument, but to me Sutton Foster is indeed a terrific dancer, and while Liza's vocal talents are far superior in contrast to her dancing, nobody can dance Mein Herr like she did. She was a dancer before becoming a singer and is one of Luigi's disciples not to mention Fosse's.

In regards to Ben and Donna not being good singers or actors, Ben's rendition of Life is just a Bowl of Cherries gives me chills every time, not only for his amazing vocal abilities but also for all of the enormous amounts of raw emotion he puts into it. He's a brilliant actor in my opinion. And Donna, is a Tony wining actress with a fabulous voice.

Maybe there are lesser known or unknown people who can dance better than Chita, but for me no one will never come close to her brilliant level of performance.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 7:58pm

Loni Ackerman Is definitely a Triple threat.Anyone who plays evita Needs to be a triple threat.Loni Ackerman is the first person that came to mind.Her and Sutton Foster.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:00pm

OMG!! Your post just made me realize how spectacular Sutton would be as Evita!!

[broadway guy]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:02pm

....noooo... Sutton would be all wrong for Eva Peron. It would be going against Type.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:10pm

I'm imagining her rendition of Rainbow High, and it's chilling.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:18pm

I don't think the existence of a handful of debatable exceptions really disproves the basic principle.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/31/13 at 8:24pm

But, Jazz, in MY mind, I'm stupendous as Evita as well.


Sutton? No. Just....no.