Musical Theatre Performers who don’t dance?

[MargaretCrawford]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 1:31pm

Im working on compiling a list of musical theatre performers from the last couple of decades who werent triple threats in the traditional sense - People who were incredibly talented actors and vocalists, but who were not dancers in the way we think of them now. Someone like Idina Menzel comes to mind - she does a bit of choreography here and there, but she is hardly known for her tight 8 counts. Who would you suggest for the list?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 1:55pm

I think you'll find that MOST Broadway musical theatre performers are (at best) good at 2 of out the 3 elements (good actor/singer but not a dancer, good dancer/singer but can't act, etc.).  Very, very few TRUE "triple threats."

[MargaretCrawford]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 3:58pm

JSquared2 said: "I think you'll find that MOST Broadway musical theatre performers are (at best) good at 2 of out the 3 elements (good actor/singer but not a dancer, good dancer/singer butcan't act, etc.). Very, very few TRUE "triple threats.""

Definitely a fair point, and one I agree with! I’m compiling a list of the Actor/Singer’s then, under that train of thinking. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 8:26pm

In her younger years, was Patti LuPone a dancer?
Also, I recall that Norbert Leo Butz mentioned that he hadn't thought of himself as a dancer before he started Catch Me if You Can. (He did a great job - and again in My Fair Lady last season (although they were doing a lot of dancing around him in that)

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 8:32pm

JSquared2 said: "I think you'll find that MOST Broadway musical theatre performers are (at best) good at 2 of out the 3 elements (good actor/singer but not a dancer, good dancer/singer but can't act, etc.). Very, very few TRUE "triple threats.""

This just makes me want to turn this thread on it's head and ask who are really good examples of triple threats.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 8:42pm

In my mind, the two female performers who come closest to being a real triple threat are Sutton Foster and Patina Miller. Their dancing may be the weakest of the three major skills, but it’s stronger then most performers of their caliber.

[LLW2]

Posted: 4/29/19 at 8:53pm

DoTheDood said: "JSquared2 said: "I think you'll find that MOST Broadway musical theatre performers are (at best) good at 2 of out the 3 elements (good actor/singer but not a dancer, good dancer/singer but can't act, etc.). Very, very few TRUE "triple threats.""

This just makes me want to turn this thread on it's head and ask who are really good examples of triple threats."

Many years ago, I remember John Travolta telling Oprah he was a triple threat. (Obviously he's not known for his Broadway work though.)

Updated On: 4/29/19 at 08:53 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 7:59am

I think John Travolta can make that claim. We have plenty of proof.

Somebody needs to define "singer", etc., especially with regard to stars. Nobody ever thought Gwen Verdon was a "singer", really, but she sure used what she had and a large number of us came to find her "rasp" utterly charming. The same may be said, but even more so, of Angela Lansbury. So were/are these ladies triple threats? I'd say yes, because both of them sang their way through rather demanding scores.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 8:34am

I think Tony Yazbeck can be counted as a triple threat. He's primarily a dancer but he can also sing decently enough. Would say the same about Corbin Bleu and Sutton Foster. 

In the past, Chita Rivera, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. 

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 8:37am

oncemorewithfeeling2 said: "In my mind, the two female performers who come closest to being a real triple threat are Sutton Foster and Patina Miller. Their dancing may be the weakest of the three major skills, but it’s stronger then most performers of theircaliber."

I actually think Foster’s acting is the weakest of her three skills, but she’s definitely one of the closest things to a real triple threat. 

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 9:04am

GavestonPS said: "I think John Travolta can make that claim. We have plenty of proof.

Somebody needs to define "singer", etc., especially with regard to stars. Nobody ever thought Gwen Verdon was a "singer", really, but she sure used what she had and a large number of us came to find her "rasp"utterly charming. The same may be said, but even more so, of Angela Lansbury. So were/are these ladies triple threats? I'd sayyes, because both of them sang their way through rather demanding scores."

singing means being able to make sound on pitch. That’s the definition of singing. Some people think that singing means ‘making a beautiful or impressive sound’ and it doesn’t. A specific score dictates it’s own needs, some characters and scores are created to be sung in a way we would call ‘beaituful’ others are not. I wouldn’t call Gwen Verdon any less of a singer than Patti Lupone. It’s just a completely different instrument. The skill is in how you use it and how you tell the story. 

 

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 10:02am

Loopin’theloop said: "singing means being able to make sound on pitch. That’s the definition of singing."

ooooh... I hope not!

That would be similar to, "dancing means being able to coordinate the movement of your arms and legs. That's the definition of dancing." 

Updated On: 4/30/19 at 10:02 AM

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 10:32am

John Adams said: "Loopin’theloop said: "singing means being able to make sound on pitch. That’s the definition of singing."

ooooh... I hope not!

That would be similar to, "dancing means being able to coordinate the movement of your arms and legs. That's the definition of dancing.""

Well exactly.

Singing is being able to sing in tune, that’s all. Genre defines what the technical needs are. Opera singing is different from the sort of singing you might here from a group of indigenous people but it doesn’t mean the latter isn’t singing. A child singing a nursery rhyme is singing. 

Likewise Dance is defined by moving your body as a form of expression. If you see a four year old child waving their arms and wiggling about in reaction to music, are they not dancing? Of course they are. Again it’s the genre of dance that defines what the rules are. That child isn’t doing ballet or tap, no but they would be dancing. 

 

[Rainah]

Posted: 4/30/19 at 10:33am

I'm getting a flashback to Nik Walker's "Brandon Victor Dixon can't dance. You go and ask him. He's got three moves. Three! He's got this shimmy, he's got this little step, and he's got this... I'm not acutally sure what this is but he's been doing it in Room Where It Happens lately. You go and you tell him that Nik Walker said he can't dance."

He also had some great stories himself about always being in dance heavy shows but in a non dancing role, and having to be clear that no he is not a triple threat.