Laurie Beechman's solo lines in Annie

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:00pm

I was listening to Annie the other day ( it takes a man to admit that, even a gay one!) I still love Beechman's solo lines as the Star-to-Be(irony) in NYC, and I am sure that brief cameo got her some serious notice and led to larger things. I was wondering if anyone can think of any other very small cameo parts in musicals that were parlayed into careers.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:04pm

Sutton Foster sang those same lines in the revival of Annie.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 7:12pm

Andrea McArdle did them in the Disney remake...which I always thought was cool.

[misto625]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 10:17pm

Would Anthony Crivello singing "Drink With Me" in Les Miserables count?

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 10:48pm

Crivello had been a Patinkin replacement for Che in Evita on Broaway long before Les Miz, so it probably wouldnt count. Unless you eally want it to! :)

[misto625]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:01pm

Oh my bad! I did not know that about him. I just was aware of his later career.

Does this thread refer to a Broadway debut only? Or can it refer to a person who first got a small role and then became a star, like Kevin Cahoon had the small role of Ed in The Lion King but then landed Hedwig and the Angry Itch, Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and of course Wedding Singer, and the only thing he did before Lion King was a gang member in The Who's Tommy. I bet I can think of examples once I understand the parameters more.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:11pm

Laurie Beechman's role in ANNIE wasn't just that 'Star-to-Be' bit in "N.Y.C." -- she, along with the rest of the ensemble cast, played various roles, so she was visible throughout the show.

What singled her out to me as a 12 year old when I saw ANNIE for the very first time shortly after it opened in April 1977 was her huge brown eyes. Even before the "N.Y.C." number came up, I already singled her out in the ensemble and kept an eye on her during that very first performance (for me).

I loved her Grizabella in CATS, too. Again...THOSE EYES!

[thejcm]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:38pm

misto625: It's "Inch" not "Itch"

[misto625]

Posted: 10/16/06 at 11:53pm

Oh whoops. That's what I first thought and then considered to be wrong. Although if I was a transsexual having surgery problems I could imagine an inch of itching :-p

Posted: 10/17/06 at 1:42am

It's funnier as Itch!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 9:50am

Laurie Beechman had talent to spare. She deserved all the success she got and more and certainly did not deserve her later tragedy.

But the when I saw Annie (the original production) and this character that literally had no name, entered and belted out her lines in 'NYC', all I could think was "Who is this? Is she sleeping with the director or something?"

As it turned out, she was.

[JBSinger]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 9:55am

Ann Crumb - various solo lines in OBC of Les Miz - later went on to the lead in Aspects of Love (though not too much high profile stuff since then).

One could argue that both Debbie Gravitte and Faith Prince got their big breaks as featured performers in Jerome Robbins' Bway. from no-namers to headliners.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/17/06 at 10:19am

Liz Callaway sings the opening lines of the song "Merrily We Roll Along" on the OBCR.

There's no mistaking that voice in the chorus!