How Do You Feel When A Favorite Broadway Singer Does a Straight Play?

I'm all for it. I'd like to see more Broadway singers work their acting chops.

I feel like talent is wasted somehow. Even in musicals where they don't get to sing as much as I'd like them to.

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It's all a matter of perspective and the material.

Does Megan Hilty have the chops to pull off Hedda Gabler? Would Kate Burton make a good Glinda?

Updated On: 8/26/06 at 03:16 PM

It's true that it may be the play itself. A fascinating drama might make you forget about the singing ability.

If it's a lame comedy or such you may be bored and your mind starts to wander and then you think you'd rather hear the singing.

What the players want is a bit off topic for the thread as it's the audience that's paying for the ticket and seeing the show.

So it's what the audience is feeling when they watch the show that is the question.

Christine Ebersole was great in Steel Magnolias!

Updated On: 8/26/06 at 03:25 PM

There's usually a difference in the 2 audience structures. A tourist crowd that's going to see Wicked would never be seen at Faith Healer.

Updated On: 8/26/06 at 03:31 PM

While your statement is obviously true for the entire audience, both shows, Faith Healer and Wicked are wonderful experiences.

Jerby, not every thread is titled to be from a performer's perspective. It's not dictating, it's just a choice for setting up a topic. Some are, some aren't.

I would like to think the performers on here can think from the audience perspective for when they see shows, too.

People are quick to defend performers on here, but it really isn't necessary. I think if you are a singer, it's not a bad idea to know what the audience expectations are as it may, for example, change whatever input you have into how a show is marketed or your choices of roles.

Yes, and while I think rath and I capably answered as audience members, we also added in the performer perspective. This is a message board where multiple facets are going to come into play and to which you can't control, nor should you try as long as people are staying on topic. Our povs were hardly a threadjack.

And I firmly believe that the more perspectives one comes to understand, the smarter a person becomes about a field. Perhaps, rath and I offering how the performers may feel would educate people who are in the audience or at least provoke thought in the matter. Maybe someone reading that response will be less likely to be annoyed by a musical theatre actor's performance in a play having info on how their favorite performer might feel on the matter. It relates and it affects the discussion.

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"I think if you are a singer, it's not a bad idea to know what the audience expectations are as it may, for example, change whatever input you have into how a show is marketed or your choices of roles. "

I think that statement is absolute rubbish. A performer should be allowed to branch out in their career. There are so many things wrong with that statement.

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Jerby, were you always this intense about responding or is it just lately?

It's not that an intense thread to me. What's up with that? You are welcome to come and have your say as Rath is always. It was just guidance toward the point of view.

You see I am wondering about the audience's experience while they sit in that chair. Their feelings. I know the ones I have experienced in that situation and I did not know ahead of the show how I would feel. I wondering what the experience of other audience members in that situation is, because it is one of their favorite SINGERS that is going to perform, but they won't be singing.