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

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

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

"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

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

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"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.

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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

That's his dame.

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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

"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".

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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.

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

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

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


Sutton? No. Just....no.

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