Leading Actress in a Musical?

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 3:48pm

It occurred to me today that the winner of the Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical has always been a favorite among younger fans (Sutton, Marissa, and Idina). I feel that Victoria's well-deserved win this year didn't create a buzz around her by the younegr generation. I am 16 and have seen Piazza twice and I think it's a shame that other adolescents don't create a "following" for Ms. Clark as they did for Sutton, Marissa, and Idina just because her musical is not a big touristy show. It just pisses me off because she works her ass off on that stage every night and because she is not in a campy show, she doesn't deserve a following among the younger generation. Did anybody else notice this? Please post your thoughts.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 4:04pm

It's the way that Piazza itself is written. It's a very classical piece opposed to those shows that the former winners had starred in (Idina: Wicked, Marissa: Hairspray, Sutton: Millie).

Those shows are shows that generally appeal to a much wider audience, whereas Piazza is a musical that has a much more classical influence which some people find...well, boring. Most "younger generation" theatre-goers just don't find Piazza quite as appealing to them as Hairspray, Wicked, or Millie.

Even if Victoria doesn't have the huge teenage fanbase the former ladies have, she has a large fanbase within the Piazza-lovers. And at least all of HER fans are sane.

[Kicks8567]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 4:08pm

"And at least all of HER fans are sane."

That is priceless, but very true.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:02pm

"Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical has always been a favorite among younger fans"

Maybe the last three or four years, but before that people like Christine Ebersole (2001), Bernadette Peters (1999), Natasha Richardson (1998 ), Bebe Neuwirth (1997), Donna Murphy (1994 & 1996), and Glenn Close (1995), Chita Rivera (1993) and Faith Prince (1992) et al were hardly big with the teenagers.

Updated On: 8/14/05 at 05:02 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:04pm

What are you talking about? Chita Rivera is HUGE with 13 year olds!

[cindy013]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:08pm

Didn't you hear? Chita Rivera has a new show coming out on Nickelodeon this fall!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:08pm

Yeah, she reminds them of their great-grandmothers.

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:33pm

I love Sutton and Idina and Marissa, and they are all very talented. I love Piazza, but Victoria's voice really does nothing for me. I think the reason people are so captivated by ppl like Sutton and Idina is b/c they are fun to listen to. (now I realize that not everyone will agree with me), but Victoria's voice does nothing for me. She probably won the Tony for her superb acting ability.

And it does matter how old Bernadette gets, Ill always love her.

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:39pm

I think that because Piazza is such a classical show is the main reason why teenagers aren't creating such a cult gathering. It's okay by me, because I don't think Victoria Clark really needs it... she has talent enough to drive her every day. Her voice and acting abilities are amazing! I personally think that Piazza fans are more mature, as opposed to those who are obsessed with Wicked... no offense, but to see Piazza a couple of times is definitely different than seeing such a fun-driven show like Hairspray. That being said, I think that Piazza has a lot of funny moments from each character of the story.

--korenglish

[FosseBoi]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 5:51pm

Think of PIAZZA as a R&H show, do younger kinds these days like that kind of stuff? Nope! Thats why PIAZZA doesnt have that big of a following with the younger crowed. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the show, and I'm 15. Therefore, there ARE still some younger ppl that are into it.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 6:36pm

I think you're generalizing too much. Not EVERY young Broadway-lover follows Sutton, Marissa, AND Idina. I'd venture to say not even MOST do. I love Idina. I love Sutton. But Marissa does nothing for me. I haven't heard enough of Victoria to say whether I like her as much.

I really need to buy that OCR...

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 6:40pm

i don't know if broadway performers like victoria clark dream of having little girls screaming at her after she gets off work everynight. i know i wouldnt want that kind of attention if i were on broadway. i would want it if i were a backstreet boy though.

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 9:34pm

To me, the difference is that The Light in the Piazza and the characters in the show have more substance than say, more lighthearted shows like Hairspray and Wicked. Just because Victoria doesn't, to your knowledge, have a young following, doesn't mean she doesn't have one or have a lot of fans. I'm younger, and think Victoria is amazing. Just because there isn't a new thread about her every day doesn't mean there aren't people that appreciate her talent.

Piazza pays homage to the more classical genre of musical theatre, whereas Hairspray and Wicked appeal to the more mainstream music right now. That's the difference. Younger fans are attracted to shows that have music that they like, thus why they are attracted to singers like Idina, Sutton, and Marisa.

JMO

[broadway betty]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 9:44pm

I'd hate to see little girls shreik and faint when Victoria exits the stage door. They do that for Matt, lol. No signs, no 'Vicki rox my sox!' t-shirts, it's very civilized.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 9:51pm

Piazza is such a great experience, especially the stage door.

No screaming fans thankfully. I was probally the youngest one there, and I loved it. I can't stand those obcessed teen freaks. I try not to thinka bout my Wicked stage door experiences, especially the one I had on Idina's last week, it was ridiculous. And the fans are crazy.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 10:17pm

Piazza is just a much smaller show that not many people know about. And saying that about young people is generalizing. I love Sutton, but Marissa does nothing for me. And Idina is fine... But I also love Bernadette, Chita, and Julie Andrews. I like the fun stuff and the serious stuff.

I personally just don't know Piazza at all, but I wish I did. It is actually next on my OCR list. So soon.

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 8/13/05 at 11:38pm

Aigoo basically said it all.

But generalizing...maybe. I for one would rather listen to Victoria than Idina and I'm of the young 'uns... I never really though Idina fun to listen to. Not saying that she's not talented of course, but compared to Sutton...

Anyhoo I see what you mean

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 9:34am

"And at least all of HER fans are sane."

That is a matter of perception. You certainly should not judge ALL of her fans or ALL of anyone elses fans based on a few individuals you may have encountered.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 9:52am

I'm 14 and I LOVE The Light in the Piazza. It's one of my favorite musicals (my favorite after Cabaret) but honestly, as Jimmy said, Victoria Clark's voice does nothing for me. I enjoy listening to Sutton Foster (not really Marissa and Idina), and I love all the other singers in Piazza except for Victoria.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 11:12am

It's a shame that Victoria's voice does nothing for you, My Fair Lady. And as much as I do love the "young belters" that you seem to fancy, they're more "dime a dozen" than Victoria Clark. Not one could ever sing "Fable" at the end of Piazza the way Ms. Clark does. They just don't have the pipes. Period. Listen to her sing, "Love! Love! Love!" again toward the end of that song, and see if you don't agree with me. Those are golden God-given notes, rarely heard on a Broadway stage these days.

Updated On: 8/14/05 at 11:12 AM

[Jera]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 11:17am

I love Ms. Clark!

jera

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 11:30am

I like Sutton Foster. I think, given time and a chance to continue growth as an actress, she has a LOT more staying power than Idina or Marissa or a lot of other "hip" performers out there. A lot of them are good, but...

That said, none of them hold a candle to the quality of acting and singing that is going on at the Vivian Beaumont courtesy of Victoria Clark.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 11:42am

I feel guilty for saying that the "young belters" are dime a dozen (though nobody's criticized me for it yet!). Sutton, Idina and the rest are gifted and unique performers. But there are more musical actresses out there that can sing in that chozen "style." Everyone wants to be an "Elphie," the same way that every young girl wanted to be a "screaming Annie" back in the late-70s and early-80s. It's the popular flavor of the moment, and there are lots of wannabes as well as can-do's.

Victoria Clark has a voice with hidden jewels in it. She can sing sweetly enough, sometimes conversationally, sometimes lyrically, and even belt a bit. Then suddenly in her high register, she can hit dramatic notes that other singers only dream about. I personally prefer a voice that surprises me. Not someone who, in the first 10 seconds I hear them, I know exactly what I'm going to get.

Updated On: 8/14/05 at 11:42 AM

[Sant]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 12:07pm

Marissa, Sutton and Idina all got their Tonys for a character who the younger fans can identify with and can find things they can relate to.

Even though Victoria Clark was fantastic in her role as Margaret and her singing is absolutely superb, how many 18-year-olds can relate to the problems or the character of a mother who's got 26-year-old daughter and wants to get married?

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/05 at 12:29pm

These are Bobby-Soxer fans... without the proper attire. Just like Elvis had in his day, and Sinatra had in his. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great.

I don't think it has that much to do with relating to the leading characters though. As insanely popular as South Pacific was in its day (and I DO mean insanely popular with all age groups), and also The King and I, there weren't screaming fans of emotional teen girls & boys waiting at the stage door for Gertie Lawrence's autograph, or Mary Martin's. It doesn't take away from these Tony-winning actress's appeal or star power in the least. Just a different fan base, with a different way of expressing themselves.

Updated On: 8/14/05 at 12:29 PM