Most Demanding Broadway Roles- Page 2
Most Demanding Broadway Roles
PaigeByPaige
Stand-by Joined: 10/26/05
#25re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 9/3/06 at 12:48pmJekyll & Hyde, both roles
All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the author put on paper. That's what makes theatre live. That's why it persists.
- Stephen Sondheim
#26re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 9/3/06 at 1:19pmI'm sorry, but the Emcee in Cabaret is NOT a demanding role.
"You know just because you put a smiley face after it doesn't change the fact that it was an a-hole comment." ~ Sumofallthings
neddyfrank2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
#28re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 8:01pm
I disagree.
I can only see the possibility of Maria being demanding in terms of the music.
I'll be home when the morning comes.
BroomstickBoy
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/04
#29re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 8:22pm
"I'm sorry, but the Emcee in Cabaret is NOT a demanding role"
What makes you say that?
I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#30re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 9:32pmprinceton/rod- i tried running trough act one fully with a puppet on... for the ENTIRE first act that actor basically only leaves the stage for puppet changes
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#31re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 10:45pmThere is obviously some personal bias here, but I think that the title character of The Phantom of the Opera is one of the most challenging male musical theatre roles ever. Vocally, emotionally, physically, it seems quite difficult, but still a great role to play. Plus, you have to sit perfectly still backstage for an hour to get your makeup done, and run up and down several flights of stairs in heavy costumes over the course of the show.
Trekkie2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/7/06
#33re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 10:52pmLeads in Movin' Out, and all 3 puppeteers in Avenue Q, and Collins in Rent.
"I think of avant-garde as downtown shows where you rub waffles and chocolate on yourself."- Hunter Bell
#34re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:12pmI would say Fosca takes the cake by far. Emotionally, it is impossibly hard, and vocally, I think it's definitley one of Sondheim's three hardest women. It is a crazy, crazy score.
"We don't value the lily less for not being made of flint and built to last. Life's bounty is in it's flow, later is too late. Where is the song when it's been sung, the dance when it's been danced? It's only we humans who want to own the future too."
- Tom Stoppard, Shipwreck
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#35re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:15pm
"Full Cast - LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA "
Wow, it must be hard to stroll around a set and sing every once in a while.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#36re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:34pm
"vocally, I think it's definitley one of Sondheim's three hardest women. It is a crazy, crazy score."
I agree, but who would you say are the other 2?
Theatreboy33
Broadway Star Joined: 5/19/03
#37re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/23/06 at 11:39pmMax Bialystock. As Nathan Lane said, "that role was not meant for a human to play."
#38re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 3:08amYou think you're quite the Phan, don't you White Half-Mask?
#39re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 5:39am
"and run up and down several flights of stairs in heavy costumes over the course of the show."
CRAP!!!
There are about 4 chorus members dressed as the phantom, that man is not running anywhere!!
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
#40re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 5:45am
Mimi/Roger- RENT
Christine- POTO
Frederick- Pirates of Penzance
Caroline- Caroline, or Change
Jean Val Jean- Les Mis
Kim/ Chris- Miss Saigon
Peter Allen- The Boy From Oz
Full Cast- Movin' Out (dear god they have No break throughout that show)
Elphaba/Glinda- Wicked
Eva Peron- Evita
Mary- Mary Poppins
Now all I see are cute boys with short haircuts in a maze of their own...
TickTickAdam
Swing Joined: 5/2/05
bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#42re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 12:50pm
Tevye
Evita
Don Q/ Cervantes
Christine (POTO)
Freddy (DRS)
Sweeney Todd
Lilli/ Kate (KM,K)
#43re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 12:59pm
Narrator-Joseph
POTO-POTO
Jekyll =J&H
KIM-Saigon
EVA-EVITA
CHE-EVITA
JUDAS-SUPERSTAR
Those are the hardest vocally.
Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#44re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:08pm
Bobby from Crazy For You.
He's gotta dance exceptionally well, as well as sing songs that everyone knows and be charming. And make up some sort of accent.
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#45re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:20pm
Tracy Turnblad in Haispray.
She's on stage 90% of the show. There is a video interview with Kealla Settle on 'that sight' where she talks about how busted up her body is after doing the tour, poor thing.
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
#46re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:34pm
Mama Rose in GYPSY, as many others have already mentioned. Even Ethel Merman, who was known as being calm, cool and collected on stage, used to sit in her dressing room during intermission, utterly exhausted with her head in her hands, awaiting the 2nd act with her demanding 11:00 number(Rose's Turn) still to come.
I also agree with Bobby in CRAZY FOR YOU. He is onstage almost the entire time. Harry Groener was just wonderful in that role--an under-rated actor/singer/dancer IMO. Where is he now?
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#47re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 1:57pmWow, I just looked up Harry Groener. Apparently he's been busy. He was in Spamalot (maybe he still is, it's unclear) at least sometime in 2006, he was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, lots of other TV shows, Assassins off-broadway in 2003, and several other things. I'm glad to see he's been doing lots of stuff. I love him on the Crazy For You CD.
JB Fan
Stand-by Joined: 9/19/06
#49re: Most Demanding Broadway Roles
Posted: 11/24/06 at 10:30pmOf course, "The Music and the Mirror" is an emotional, physical and vocal workout, but I've read several posts that list Cassie as demanding, and for those 7 or 8 minutes, of course it's demanding, but she doesn't have all that much to do the rest of the show. Compared to almost the entire score Madame Rose must sing (as an example) that's not too much.
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