Posted: 9/6/16 at 1:19pm
Who do you think are some of the most under rated actors or actresses on Broadway? My top 2 would be Mara Davi and Krysta Rodriguez, Most under rated meaning, people who don't get cast on Broadway near as much as they should, or don't get recognition through awards or reviews.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 1:59pm
Anneliese Van Der Pol is the one that springs to mind with me. Her voice is incredible and I can never understand why she doesn't work more.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 2:04pm
Jeanna De Waal, it's a shame she hasn't transferred with either of the two shows she did at ART, though I think she left on her own terms. I hope she can original a role on Broadway soon.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 2:32pm
Jennifer Damiano. She has a gorgeous voice and a wide acting range. She should be on Broadway every season
Posted: 9/6/16 at 2:34pm
Rachel York
Posted: 9/6/16 at 2:36pm
Another one I would add would be Jenn Collela
Posted: 9/6/16 at 2:37pm
Whateverjsays said: "Jennifer Damiano. She has a gorgeous voice and a wide acting range. She should be on Broadway every season
"
Yes!
Posted: 9/6/16 at 4:29pm
Whateverjsays said: "Jennifer Damiano. She has a gorgeous voice and a wide acting range. She should be on Broadway every season
"
I AGREE. Her voice is so beautiful and her acting is great too. I would also add in Rachel Bay Jones, Ciara Renee, Amber Iman, and Sarah Stiles!
Updated On: 9/6/16 at 04:29 PM
Posted: 9/6/16 at 4:37pm
I agree with Jenn Colella, Julia Murney, and Rachel York 100%!
Posted: 9/6/16 at 4:55pm
Jenn gambatese
Posted: 9/6/16 at 5:17pm
Laura Bell Bundy. She seemed on a hot streak with Hairspray and Legally Blonde. Hasn't been back since. But has such a killer voice and acting ability. I'm dying for her to come back
Posted: 9/6/16 at 5:25pm
Laura Bell Bundy has worked a lot on tv since then though. I believe that she has a role on Scream Queens in the coming season.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 6:40pm
I agree that Jennifer Damiano's singing and acting are both wonderful. But is she really underrated? By the age of 25, she has already originated principal roles in four Broadway shows, having been nominated for a Tony Award for one of them. So while I will happily and eagerly go and see her in whatever show she's in next, I won't cry too hard over her impressive career trajectory to date!
Updated On: 9/6/16 at 06:40 PM
Posted: 9/6/16 at 6:49pm
For me it would have to be Jennifer Laura Thompson, who is returning to B'way this season in DEAR EVAN HANSEN. She was a stunning Glinda (first take over) in WICKED, and although she originated Hope in URINETOWN, she has never had the leads that I would have expected somebody with her looks, voice, charisma and killer comic timing to have. She was terrific in NICE WORK managing to be hilarious with some iffy material, and she found comedy and pathos in the NPH/LuPone NY Phil COMPANY that I didn't know was in the role of Susan. Am a big fan.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 6:51pm
Underrated is just a such a relative, subjective term. One could argue that Jennifer Damiano is underrated in the sense that she hasn't had the opportunity to play any roles that really showcase her talent besides Natalie. Also, you could argue that ANY actor is underrated, so long as you believe that person deserves more praise than they are getting already - even if it's a lot of praise.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 7:41pm
JBroadway, fair enough, but Jennifer Damiano seems to be on a trajectory of only originating roles in new shows (at least so far), similar in a way to Idina Menzel's trajectory. Idina has said in interviews that she prefers originating roles and chooses to work less frequently in order to wait for original leading roles rather than go into revivals, or work as a replacement. Maybe Jennifer has made a similar decision to only choose original roles, or maybe it is just what has come along. But Jennifer is only 25 (i just looked it up on ibdb), and has already originated 4 roles on Broadway. Idina was 1 month shy of her 25th birthday when she debuted on Broadway in Rent (ibdb again). So Jennifer's biggest leading roles might well be still ahead of her. But to have already played Natalie, plus made a big impression performing some very emotional songs in the other three shows, puts her in a very good position of being likely to be offered other original roles.
I will agree with the poster above who mentioned Jennifer Laura Thompson. I also found her performance in Nice Work hilarious and charming, and was recently quite surprised that she was playing a mom of a teenager in Dear Evan Hansen (she looks much too young for it, but emotionally she certainly pulled it off).
Posted: 9/6/16 at 7:52pm
Rachel Bay Jones really is a wonderful underrated actress. I think she has a serious shot at a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen however.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 8:23pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Jeanna De Waal, it's a shame she hasn't transferred with either of the two shows she did at ART, though I think she left on her own terms. I hope she can original a role on Broadway soon.
Unless she's improved a lot since American Idiot, I'd say she's rated just fine.
Posted: 9/6/16 at 8:37pm
Lilli Cooper. I saw her as elphaba in wicked and she was outstanding. I don't think she's had any roles besides that and Martha in spring awakening
Posted: 9/6/16 at 8:38pm
hork said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Jeanna De Waal, it's a shame she hasn't transferred with either of the two shows she did at ART, though I think she left on her own terms. I hope she can original a role on Broadway soon.
Unless she's improved a lot since American Idiot, I'd say she's rated just fine.
"
She has improved. American idiot was 5 years ago.
Updated On: 9/6/16 at 08:38 PM
Posted: 9/6/16 at 10:19pm
Loretta Swit
Posted: 9/7/16 at 9:18am
Rob McClure
Michael Arden
Carolee Carmello
Posted: 9/7/16 at 10:14am
Are we talking about under rated actors/actresses in any medium or just theater?
I think that Lesley Ann Warren is underrated. I wish she would come back to Broadway in something...
