Men you would consider triple threats?- Page 5

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:05pm

Okay, I gotta chime in here again.

The term "Triple Threat" is gender neutral. If anyone asks me about doing A CHORUS LINE male or female I tell them that they have to be a triple threat. Same thing goes for dozens of shows/roles. Say the name Gene Kelly and I think triple threat. Say the name Ann Miller and I think triple threat. Plain and simple. If more females come to mind I think it is because there are more female leads that have to be triple threats verses male leads.

You can add Dirk Lumbard, Tim Curry, Joey McKneely and Scott Wise to your list along with pretty much any one that has ever been in heavy dance shows such as ACL, CHICAGO, JR's BROADWAY, WSS, etc.

Terry is not a dancer. He moves very well. Believe me, if you ask him he will laugh and tell you that he is really good at faking it. When Terry originated RTT in CATS he did very little dancing other than a small part of the opening, "RTT" and a small portion of "Jellicle Ball." The part changed once he left and Tugger was given more to dance but that part is not a dance heavy part. Yes, he was Larry in that dreadful film version of ACL but you see very little of him dancing in it. He spends most of the time with Allyson Reed eating a sandwich and drinking celery tonic.

When you think of a triple threat you need to say could so and so play so and so in A CHORUS LINE, etc. If the answer is no then they aren't a true triple threat. I hate to burst some peoples bubbles and as much as I like the performers, some of them are just not triple threats. Moving well and character movement is not the same as heavy dancing. It's also vice-versa as far as singing and acting is concerned too.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:09pm

"Yeah, while Millie "danced" I don't think of Sutton as a dancer. I see her as more of a comedic mover like Carol Burnett."

Wonderboy,

Her first professional job was as a DANCING chorus girl in the national tour of The Will Rogers Follies.
Updated On: 7/28/05 at 12:09 PM

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:18pm

That's great but I still can't see her pulling off Maggie in ACL. I'm not saying that she isn't a strong dancer but I don't feel that she has showed that on Broadway by any means whatsoever. I like Sutton but I don't see her as a dancer. Just my lira's worth.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:35pm

Well that role never did anyone any good. It has one shining moment in At the Ballet. Updated On: 7/28/05 at 12:35 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:38pm

No need to get defensive Tom, I'm sure WonderBoy isn't trying to diss Sutton's talent...

Susan Egan is a triple threat. She was a pretty solid Peggy Sawyer in 42nd STREET in Los Angeles.

[swami666]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:41pm

Norbert Leo Butz. I knew him personally when he was at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery and there was NOTHING that cat couldn't do.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:44pm

I LOVE me some Sutton. I would have to agree that she is PROBABLY a singer/actress who happens to dance extremely well, but I don't know if she is technically a triple threat. I might feel different if I saw her in a "dance" role. For example, I don't know how well she would be able to handle the dance requirements of Polly in "Crazy For You." That role requires a TRUE triple threat (e.g., Karen Ziemba is a TRUE triple threat). Polly is a role I'd like to see Sutton attempt, but I don't know that she would shine in that show.

Edit: To list the Will Rogers dancing as being a key to her being a triple threat doesn't count. The Ziegfeld girls mostly did posing and promenading. No fouette turns or anything that requires a TRUE dancer.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 12:44 PM

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:54pm

Zoneace,
My apologies to everyone who loves her, but I think Carol Burnett is terrible in the theatrically released version of "Annie." So much so that I can't stand watching it. (If my kids actually told me they wanted that version of it, I would let them have it, but it would be restricted to either hours I wasn't at home or times when I am not within earshot.) I also think that Lucille Ball made "Mame" unwatchable. Both incredibly talented women--icons even--but anyone can be miscast or give a bad performance now and then.

luvtheEmcee: Alan Cumming is Rooster in the made-for-tv version of Annie starring Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, Audra McDonald and Kristin Chenoweth. Kathy Bates is just great, and I have yet to see Victor Garber give a bad performance in anything. Once you can get past it's Disney and they've changed some of the story in that icky kind of Disney way, it's very enjoyable...ESPECIALLY ALAN CUMMING! He steals the show, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, IMHO, he can do no wrong!!!!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 12:57pm

And along the lines of Karen Ziemba -- Crista Moore is a triple threat. She showed her acting chops as Louise in GYPSY, her Singing chops in BIG and replaced Ziemba in the tour of CRAZY FOR YOU and recently played Cassie in A CHORUS LINE at Geva.

[justme2]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 1:37pm

ooooh...I forgot about her...where is Crista Moore these days? Time for a google search.

[chuckufarley007]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:02pm

swami666,
You really know Norbert Leo Butz or are you putting us on? What was he doing in Alabama?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:03pm

I think he went to school there, or something?

[KelRel]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:10pm

Jeremiah Zinger. I saw him in The Full Monty when it toured this year. He can sing, dance, and is a great actor. Watch for him. He is great!

[IveGottaBeME]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 2:37pm

Billy Porter! Norbert.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 4:49pm

First and foremost Tom1071, as Michael Bennett said I am not trying to diminish Miss Foster's talent by any means. I am just stating the fact that she is not what I would consider a "dancer" dancer. Also, as Hanna from Hamburg said, about the hardest dancing in WRF is staying on the damn treadmill in the opening. It's all very showgirl movement.
I just randomly picked Maggie out of the line as an example. Besides, that is a very hard role to cast due to the solid vocal range that she has to have, add on the acting and the dancing and that will show you what a true triple threat is.

I really like Norbert but a dancer he ain't. He moves well enough but I have an inkling that he couldn't complete a double pirouette if he had to.

Misspennywise, I am sorry that you prefer the Disney version over the film. There are so many classic talents in that film. I personally don't think you can find a better Miss Hannigan than Dorothy Loudon herself, God bless her soul!

Where IS Crista Moore?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:23pm

Wonderboy, I do agree with you. Dorothy Loudon was one of those actors who was superb in anything she was in...even when the material was mediocre. Her performance of "Easy Street" that is preserved on the "Broadway's Lost Treasures" dvd truly is a treasure. Another one of those instances where Hollywood went for a marketable "star" rather than the creator of the original role. How sad. My husband never saw Annie on Broadway so when he saw Dorothy Loudon on "Lost Treasures," he was completely blown away. (And he is NOT easily impressed.)

(Oh, and regarding the film: I do love Albert Finney and Tim Curry, but I just can't deal with Carol Burnett in that role. But that's just me.)

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:24pm

I hear ya babe!

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:49pm

Christina Applegate


Updated On: 7/28/05 at 10:49 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:54pm

I thought Ann Reinking was fabulous in the original Annie movie. Yeah Audra has the voice. But Ann had a special charm and chemistry in the original.

And now, now Chita. This thread wasn't meant to turn into a bash thread..

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:58pm

Thanks for the input on CATS. As I said, I never saw it. I only passed on the info I heard. However, I have seen Terrence perform many other times and can attest to his being multitalented.

Although I agree with you again that just moving well does not constitute a dancer; I also think acting well doesn't always mean being able to dance and sing too. Consider those actors/actresses in musicals that do not sing well at all, but they are cast because they might be able to put a song across anyway. They are not necessarily singers in the true sense of the word. Being able to put a song across, without actually being a great singer is similar to faking it as a dancer. It’s a talent. On the other end, there are many dancers and singers who really can't act well, but are cast because the show happens to be a musical.

I may be mistaken, but I thought the term triple threat only meant that the performer is able to do all three fairly well; with one or two of those things possibly being their true talent. It is very rare for a performer to be a “best” in all three.

If I am incorrect and the triple threat means the absolute best in all three, then many of the names that appeared on this thread (my own choices included) do not qualify. They may be capable of doing three things, but not necessarily doing them all well. Maybe the term triple "threat" should be changed to something else.

Or maybe if you are talented enough to fake it, you should be considered a "threat" because so many people can't even fake it.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:07pm

I understand and respect everyone who thinks that the original "Annie" movie has wonderful performances, and I don't disagree with you. My problem with "Annie" is Carol Burnett!!!! That's it.

I loved her tv show when I was a kid, and I have tremendous respect for her all around...I just found her Miss Hannigan putrid!

I'm sure a huge part of the issue for me is that I'd seen "Annie" on Broadway many times, and Dorothy Loudon was just so magnificent. I am a huge fan of hers. (Was terribly sad when she died.) But Kathy Bates didn't IRRITATE me the way Miss Burnett did. She was just all wrong in that part. (Of course, she did a better job than I would have...maybe.)

[BwayBoy25]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:38pm

thank you for your inclusion of kevin cahoon..he is a wonderful dancer!

as for male triple threat roles...lets not forget Tulsa in GYPSY

and since i take this personally...triple threat is GENDER NEUTRAL!!!!!!

lee roy reams is a very strong triple threat though i belive he has been mentioned

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 7/29/05 at 12:56am

How could I possibly forget someone I think is a true triple threat in every sense. The words, dancer, singer, actor, all apply to him...MARK PRICE.

Mark is also great at comic performances (does that make him a quadruple threat??)