Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?- Page 2
Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
#25re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 3:52pmFreddy Benson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
<--- the set of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I was assistant stage manager for during the 2007 season at the STNJ outdoor stage.
-Dre- You must remember all the same that at the crux of every game is knowing when it's time to leave the table... And it's important to be artful in your exit. No turning back, you must accept the con is done... It was a ball, it was a blast. And it's a shame it couldn't last. But every chapter has to end, you must agree.
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
There's a special kind of people known as show people. We live in a world full of dreams. Sometimes we're not too certain what's false and what's real. But we're seldom in doubt about what we feel.
~Curtains~
It is a far, far better thing I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest I go to, than I have ever known.
~A Tale of Two Cities ~
~Dirty Rotten Scoundrels~
~Curtains~
~A Tale of Two Cities ~
Katie2
Chorus Member Joined: 4/10/06
#26re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 3:53pm
I would put the entire cast of ACL above the Wedding Singer in terms of dancing difficulty and stamina.
During the SF tryout, they were all backstage icing their shins after the shows and in a lot of pain. Chryssie Whitehead injured her neck, Nadine Isenegger injured her ankle (I believe) and was out pretty much the entire run, and they all had shin splints.
I think the amount of dancing (and dancing while singing) takes an incredible amount of energy.
Colle
Broadway Star Joined: 2/13/06
#27re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:02pmI would think that Kim in "Miss Saigon" would be difficult emotionally, it is a good thing that there is an alternate.
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#28re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:03pm
I don't think it's difficult, per se, but I think all actors (with the puppets) in Avenue Q.
I know it's really difficult on the back and shoulder to do that.
"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule
"I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178
#29re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:04pmCoyote in The Times They Are A Changin', I would not be suprised if Michael did not take the matinees off, he belted the crap out of all his songs, and I don't see how it is possible that he could do that 8 times a week.
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WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#30re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:04pm
Cunegonde
Aldonza
Eliza - all three are very rangy and all three often but not always, use matinee subs.
Mama Rose and King Lear are often spoken in the same breath as being very demanding. Hamlet is no walk in the park.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
Tir Na Nog
Stand-by Joined: 3/31/05
#31re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:06pm
Acting wise? I would say "Fosca" from "Passion" would take it's tole on your mind.
"Marie Christine" is also probably rough emotionally.
"One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music". - Stephen Sondheim
#32re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:14pmMargret from Light in the Piazza
#33re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:15pmLucky, NEVER GONNA DANCE
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#34re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:20pm
I'm not saying performing the role caused irreversible damage - merely that it reeked havoc on their voices while they were performing it:
Melissa Errico BURST A BLOOD VESSEL in her vocal chords doing the role of Eliza. I don't think that had much to do with the strain of her personal life.
Julie Andrews has said in many interviews that singing Eliza Doolittle for two years nearly ruined her voice and that she learned some unhealthy singing techniques "faking" to get through it.
Nancy Ringham and Christine Andreas both missed tons of performances due to vocal stress.
Nancy Ringham replaced an actress named Cheryl Kennedy at the 11th hour, after Kennedy suffered vocal damage while touring in the role.
Martine McCutchenson missed over half her performances as Eliza in London due to vocal strain.
The role is regularly referred to in theatre circles as the "Eliza Curse" - because it is so vocally demanding.
Updated On: 10/13/06 at 04:20 PM
snl89
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/05
#35re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:28pm
would put the entire cast of ACL above the Wedding Singer in terms of dancing difficulty and stamina.
During the SF tryout, they were all backstage icing their shins after the shows and in a lot of pain. Chryssie Whitehead injured her neck, Nadine Isenegger injured her ankle (I believe) and was out pretty much the entire run, and they all had shin splints.
I think the amount of dancing (and dancing while singing) takes an incredible amount of energy.
oooh I was actually def gonna say acl too! again, INSANE-seeming dancing, and yeah, dancing while singing is SO HARD. Not that I can sing for my life anyway or anything, but like, I try just singing along to stuff while cleaning my room and I practically start to get tired just doing THAT! lol. So yeah... I have SO much respect for people who can dance and sing like that
I don't need a life that's normal. That's way too far away. But something next to normal would be okay. Something next to normal is what I'd like to try. Close enough to normal to get by.
#36re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 4:29pmThe strain of dancing ACL isn't because the steps are so difficult, but because the dancers have to stand for long periods of time between dancing: hence the muscles get cold and are more prone to injury.
BNN
Broadway Star Joined: 12/12/05
#37re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 5:08pm
I remember Patti LuPone saying on the concert DVD that she doesn't know how Angela Lansbury did Mrs. Lovett 8x a week because she had so much trouble with it just in the concert.
Also, I would think Charity would be hard considering you never really get to leave the stage. Also, because I've heard Gwen Verdon would cut "Where Am I Going" from exhaustion. Yikes
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Isabella2
Broadway Star Joined: 10/6/05
#38re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 5:15pm
i say fosca as well. That role has gotta be tough.
Rapunzel from Into the wodds just from all the screaming.
#39re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 5:24pmI'd pretty much say any role in Piazza.
Wildcard
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#40re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 5:25pmI agree that Kim in Miss Saigon would be a difficult role to perform. She goes through so many emotions and some difficult songs. She is also onstage 80% of the time. I have seen and heard this role butchered in so many professional productions. (Although I'm not sure if this qualifies for 8x a week since there was usually an alternate)
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#41re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 5:49pm
"Julie Andrews has said in many interviews that singing Eliza Doolittle for two years nearly ruined her voice and that she learned some unhealthy singing techniques "faking" to get through it."
You can see this in her technique. She fell into the bad habit of speaking her lyrics rather than singing them.
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BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#42re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 6:23pmI'd imagine Roger in Rent is difficult to pull off eight times a week. I remember seeing a particular actor who cracked his way through it.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#43re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:01pm
Max in The Producers
Jekyll/Hyde in J/H
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Over_the_Moon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/22/05
#44re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:10pm
I'd imagine Roger in Rent is difficult to pull off eight times a week. I remember seeing a particular actor who cracked his way through it.
Don't they all?
"what have we learned? Don't smoke... don't do drugs and don't sing 'Defying Gravity'." -CATSNYRevival
Mattbrain
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
#45re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:12pmElphaba, Brooklyn, "po' chile Celie", "Frankie Valli", Jesus, Judas, Mary, and most likely most of the roles of the upcoming musical, "Spring Awakening." I imagine being in Rent must be a bitch for one's vocal cords.
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#46re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:32pm
Singing and dancing takes very specific technique and training. There are some who have that - coming to mind immediately is Karen Ziemba, who does both (flawlessly!) at the same time on the Leading Ladies DVD while performing I Wanna Be A Rockette.
It's truly exhilarating to watch.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Updated On: 10/13/06 at 07:32 PM
FoscasBohemianDream
Broadway Star Joined: 1/20/06
#47re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:36pmI highly agree, Rath. Ziemba's performance in "I Wanna Be Rockette" is truly impressive to watch and she seems to be having the time of her life on stage.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#48re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 7:36pm
Franki Valliin Jersey Boys
Peter Allen in BFO
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bwaylvsong
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/28/05
#49re: Most Difficult roles to perform 8x's a week?
Posted: 10/13/06 at 8:44pm
Mama Rose
Don Q and Aldonza
Elphaba and Glinda
Phantom and Christine
Margaret, Clara, and Fabrizio
Coalhouse, Mother, Tateh, and Sarah
Eliza
Curly and Laurey (especially if they do their own dancing)
Billy Bigelow
Franky Valli
Jean Valjean
Dolly
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