_ IS ___

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_ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 2:52am

Name your Top 10 Broadway Actors who played their characters so believably that they WERE that character and you almost forgot they were just somone playing them.. You may also have (3)three honorable mentions if necessary.

**Does NOT have to be origional cast, may be an understudy or replacement**

In no particular order:

1. Bernadette Peters (Rose, GYPSY)
2. Nadine Isennegger (Peggy, 42nd Street)
3. Dorothy Stanley (Dorothy, 42nd Street)
4. Sutton Foster (Millie, Thoroughly..)
5. Brent Spiner (John Adams, 1776)
6. Felicia P. Fields (Sofia, The Color Purple)
7. David de Vries (Lumiere, Beauty and the Beast)
8. Jonathan Freeman (Roger de Bris, The Producers)
9. Cathy Rigby (Peter Pan, Peter Pan)
10.LaChanze (Celie, The Color Purple)

Honorable Mentions:
Jan Maxwell-The Baroness
Steve Blanchard-The Beast
TIE! Alice Ripley/Emily Skinner-Side Show

I adore the black band holding on the Phantom's mask. ~ Jenna2

Updated On: 1/23/06 at 02:52 AM

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:03am

In no particular order...

!. Terrence Mann {Javert, Les Miserables & Dr. Frank N. Furter, The Rocky Horror Show, among others)
2. Mark Price {Dennis, All Shook Up & Boris, Dance of the Vampires, among others)
3. Will Chase (John Lennon, Lennon)
4. Rene Auberjonois (Professor Abronsius, Dance of the Vampires)
5. Adam Pascal (Radames, Aida)
6. Raul E. Esparza (Emcee, Cabaret and Philip Sallon, Taboo, among others)
7. Susan Egan (Sally Bowles, Cabaret)
8. Raymond Jaramillo McLeod (Wreck, Wonderful Town)
9. John Tartaglia (Princeton/Rod, Avenue Q)
10. Hugh Jackman (Peter Allen, The Boy From Oz)

Honorable Mentions, also in no particular order...

1. Gary Beach (Albin, La Cage Aux Folles)
2. Julie Danao-Salkin (Yoko Ono, Lennon)
3. Daphne Rubin-Vega (Conchita, Anna in the Tropics)

And, it was an Off-Broadway performance and I know I mentioned his Broadway word already, but the singular most exquisite, moving, incredibly Perfect performance I have EVER seen was Raul E. Esparza as Ned Weeks, in The Normal Heart.

"It's not for sissies, contrary to popular belief." - Tommy Tune, on musical theatre.

My avatar: Yummy, no?

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 3:36am

Ok. I'm sure I'm going to get yelled at because I don't have 10 (What can I say? I've been deprived of Broadway for most of my life.), but I really wanted to be the first person to say it:

Anthony Rapp IS Mark Cohen.

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 5:42am

1. Sutton Foster (Millie, TMM)
2. Hugh Jackman (Peter Allen, Boy From Oz)
3. Norbert Leo Butz (Freddy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
4. Harvey Fierstein (Edna, Hairspray)
5. Bernadette Peters (Mama Rose, Gypsy)
6. Howard McGillin (Phantom, POTO)
7.
8.
9.
10.

will fill in later when I think of more...

"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 5:50am

overthemoon419, I couldn't agree more. Raul's performance in THE NORMAL HEART was pretty damn amazing. Had the production transferred to Broadway, he would have no doubt nabbed a Tony for that performance.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 8:21am

In no order:

1.Will Chase (Radames-Aida, Roger-Rent)
2.Maria Friedmen (Marian-WIW)
3.Angela Christian (Anne-WIW, Dorothy-Thourogly Modern Millie)
4.Jill Paice (Laura - WIW)
5.Julie Hanson (Christine-POTO)
6.Lisa Brescia (Marian-WIW, Amneris-Aida)
7.Howard McGillin (Phantom-POTO)
8.Michael Ball (Count Fosco-WIW)
9.Schele Williams (Nehebka-Aida)
10.Hugh Panaro (Phantom-POTO)

Other Honorable Mentions (no order)
1. Adam Brazier- WIW
2. Anne Runnoflsson -POTO
3. Diana Kaarina - Les Mis

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 8:41am

In no particular order, except for the first:

Raul Esparza, The Normal Heart -- best performance I've ever seen, from the best actor I've ever seen. Not a moment of contest.
Mary Louise Parker, Reckless
Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd
Bernadette Peters, Gypsy

I really can't think of ten that even touch those, so I'm stopping there.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 1/23/06 at 08:41 AM

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 8:46am

I don't think I have ten, but:

1. Anthony Rapp (Mark, RENT) - ya'll know it's true
2. Norbert Leo Butz (Jamie, L5Y) - I swear the role was written for him
3. Sutton Foster (Millie, Thoroughly..)
4. Kristin Chenoweth (G(a)linda, Wicked)
5. Jesse L. Martin (Collins, RENT) - really just the OBC sans Daphne and Fredi *hides*
6. Carolee Carmello (Lucille, Parade)

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 10:04am

1. Norbert Leo Butz (Freddy, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels)
2. Idina Menzel (Elphaba, Wicked)
3. Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda, Wicked)
4. OBC of Rent (I totally agree with you Hoshi, you don't have to hide)
5. Jennifer Laura Thompson (Glinda, Wicked. Sorry guys, she was pretty darn good, IMO)
6. David, Hank, and Lauren in Spamalot. Wow.
7. Diana Kaarina (Eponine, Les Miz)
8. Antonique Smith (Mimi, Rent)
9. Jan Maxwell (The Baroness, Chitty)
10. Cary Shields (Roger, Rent)

Honorable Mentions:
1. Patti LuPone (Sweeney Todd)
2. Angela Christian (TMM)
3. Anthony Rapp (Mark, Rent. He gets his own little category)

Edit: Totally forgot Victoria in Piazza! She goes right before JLT.

Updated On: 1/23/06 at 10:04 AM

#10

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 10:44am

1. Jill Paice is not Jill Paice she is Laura F. lol don't bother asking why I attach her identity so much to her character, I don't even know the answer
2. Cherry Jones (Sister Aloysius, Doubt)
3. Chita Rivera (Aurora, Kiss of the spider woman)
4. Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, Caroline or change)
5. Victoria Clark (Margaret, Light in the piazza)
6. Celia Keenan-Bolger as well as the obc of 25th Annual
7. Donna Murphy (Fosca, Passion)
8. Michael Cerveris (J.W.B., Assassins)
9. Linda Eder (Lucy, J&H)
10. Marissa Jaret Winokur (Tracy, Hairspray)

#11

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 11:26am

1. Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll/Hyde)
2. Colm Wilkinson (Jean Valjean, Les Mis)
3. Terrence Mann (Javert, Les Mis
4. Carol Channing (Dolly Levi, Hello Dolly)
5. Robert Preston (Harold Hill, The Music Man)
6. Nathan Lane (Max Bialystock, The Producers)
7. Brian Stokes Mitchell (Coalhouse Walker, Jr, Ragtime)
8. Audra McDonald (Sarah, Ragtime)
9. Brent Carver (Leo Frank, Parade
10. Harvey Fierstein (Edna, Hairspray)

Ok...there are a couple (guess which two) that I never saw perform these roles live but on film or on video...but I could never picture anyone else in them!!

"You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you are left with nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering." --Harold Hill from The Music Man

#12

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 11:44am

Lauren Kennedy IS Cathy.
Nobert Leo Butz IS Jamie.
Terrance Mann IS Javert.
Johnny IS Princeton & Rod.
Carol Channing IS Dolly Levi.
Sherrie Rene Scott IS Amneris.
Anthony Rapp IS Mark Cohen.

Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/

#13

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 11:47am

1. Colm Wilkinson (Valjean, Les Miserables)
2. Hugh Panaro (The Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera)
3. Philip Quast (Javert, Les Miserables)
4. Terrance Mann (The Beast, Beauty and the Beast)
5. Norbert Leo Butz (Jamie, The Last Five Years)
6. Euan Morton (Boy George, Taboo)
7. Raul Esparza (Jonathan, Tick...Tick...BOOM!)
8. Anthony Rapp (Mark, RENT)
9. Idina Menzel (Elphaba, Wicked)
10. Ben Vereen (Judas, Jesus Christ Superstar)

#14

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 12:47pm

1. will chase- john lennon
2. Gary Beach- albin
3. Raul esparza- ned in the normal heart
4. carol channing- dolly
5. Jan maxwell- the baroness
6. tonya pinkins- caroline in caroline or change
7. Kristen Chenowith- sally in YAGMCB
8. Sutton Foster- millie
9. Obc of doubt
10. cast of the pillowman
11. Tom Hewitt- Frank-n furter
they were in no particular order

"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!

#15

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/23/06 at 2:00pm

Post physics class add-ons:

Ben Vareen IS The Leading Player
Patti Lupone IS Evita
Mandy Patinkin IS George
Lonny Price IS Charlie Kringus

And I totally with agree with Zippyjen's The Pillowman cast comment.

Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/

#16

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:26am

1. Terrence Mann {The Beast, BEAUTY & THE BEAST; Javert, LES MISERABLES & Dr. Frank N. Furter, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW)
2. Mark Price {Dennis, ALL SHOOK UP)
3. Raul E. Esparza (Emcee, CABARET)
4. Kristen Chenowith, (Glinda, WICKED)
5. Raymond Jaramillo McLeod (Wreck, WONDERFUL TOWN)
6. John Tartaglia (Princeton/Rod, AVENUE Q)
7. Hugh Jackman (Peter Allen, THE BOY FROM OZ)
8. Julie Danao-Salkin (Yoko Ono, LENNON)
9. Euan Morton (Boy George, TABOO)

#17

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:33am

Not in order...
1) Micheal Crawford- Phantom, Phantom of the Opera
2) Colm Wilkinson- Jean Valjean, Les Miz
3) Angela Lansbury- Nellie Lovett, Sweeney Todd
4) Micheal Cerveris- Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd
5) Howard Mcgillian- Phantom, Phantom of the Opera
6) Glenn Close- Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard
7) Patti Lupone- Eva Peron, Evita

Micheal Ball- Count Fosco, Woman in White
9) Nathan Lane- Max Bialostock (sp.), The Producers
10) Philip Quast- Javert, Les Miz

Keep your morals, I don't have time. Keep your lovers, I'm changing mine! -The Likes of Us

#18

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:35am

Raul Esparza in everything he does.
Sutton Foster-Millie
Michael Cerveris-Also everything he does. Hell, last year I was even convinced he was a bald Freddie Mercury.
Marc Kudisch-The Baron in Chitty
Joanna Gleason-TNH I'm glad I wasn't shocked when I saw her walking around after the show was over!
Norbert Leo Butz-Freddie and Ruprecht in DRS.
David Turner- Winston from In My Life.

"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL

#19

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:48am

1. Sutton Foster IS Millie
2. Gavin Creel IS Jimmy Smith
3. Kristin Chenoweth IS Galinda
4. Tracy Miller IS Penny Pingleton
5. Andrew Rannells IS Link Larkin
6. Becky Gulsvig IS Amber
7. Barrett Foa IS Rod/Princeton...im sorry that might be weird since they are puppets, but i can't imagine anyone else
8. Kerry Butler IS Shelly Parker
9. Bernadette Peters IS the Witch (Into the Woods)
10. Both Diana Kaarina and Dawn Younker blew me away as Eponine

honorable mention: Shannon Durig IS Tracy Turnblad..ive seen 4 different tracys (including marissa) and she by far was my favorite

I was lost 'til I heard the drums, then I found my way

Updated On: 1/25/06 at 12:48 AM

#20

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:13pm

1. Terrence Mann IS Javert and Chauvelin (Scarlet Pimpernel)
2. William Daniels IS John Adams (1776)
3. Colm Wilkinson IS Jean Valjean and the Phantom
4. Will Chase IS John Lennon
5. Hugh Jackman IS Peter Allen
6. James Barbour IS Edward Rochester
7. Nathan Lane IS Max Bialystock
8. Ruthie Henshall IS Fantine
9. Audra MacDonald IS Sarah
10. James Barbour and Terrence Mann collectively ARE The Beast and Leon Czolgosz.

If Percy Blakeney were in Les Mis....

Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)

#21

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:20pm

Michael Cerveris-Sweeney Todd, Sweeney Todd

I'm sorry, but Len Cariou IS Sweeney Todd.

A few more:

LaChanze IS Ti Moune
Gwen Verdon IS Charity Hope Valentine
Michael Rupert IS Marvin
Donna McKechnie IS Cassie
Glynis Johns IS Desiree Armfeldt
Judy Kuhn IS Cosette
Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley ARE Daisy and Violet Hilton

#22

re: _ IS ___

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:34pm

Yikes! Let's see...in no particular order:

1) Idina Menzel (Elphie, Wicked)
2) Kristin Chenoweth (G{a}linda, Wicked)
3) Julie Andrews (Victor/Victoria)
4) Anthony Rapp (Mark, Rent)
5) Susan Egan (Belle, Beauty & the Beast)
6) Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde)
7) Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel, Rent)

Betty Buckley (Grizabella, Cats)

That's about all I can think of right now. I'd say Bernadette in "Annie Get Your Gun" but I don't want the Ethel Merman fans to throw stuff at me! :)

#23

only 8

Posted: 1/25/06 at 4:46pm

1. Sutton Foster (Millie, Millie)
2. Maureen McGovern (Marmee, Little Women)
3. Norbert Leo Butz (Jamie, The Last Five Years)
4. Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen, RENT)
5. Idina Menzel (Elphaba, Wicked)
6. Marissa Jaret Winokour (Tracy, Hairspray)
7. Brian Stokes Mitchell (Coalhouse, Ragtime)
8. Matthew Broderick (Harold Hill, Music Man *movie*)

alright i'm out.

#24

only 8

Posted: 1/25/06 at 5:39pm

Donna Murphy (Fosca, Passion)
Marin Mazzie (Mother, Ragtime and Passion)
Bernadette Peters (Rose, Gypsy)(Dot, Sunday...)
Kathleen Turner (Martha, Who's Afraid...)
Patti LuPone (Sweeney Todd)- When I saw it for the first time, I actually literally forgot that it was Patti. I'm sitting there in awe of the performance and all of the sudden I realize I'm watching patti luPone on stage. Her character was so riviting that I went in knowing that it was Patti and left having saw Mrs. Lovett. Extrodinary!

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

#25

only 8

Posted: 1/25/06 at 7:27pm

a bit of a brain freeze right now, but just wanted to say the whole cast of the light in the piazza- they were all extrodinary! (OBC btw)

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