#1
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:11pm
In your opinion, who is/was the most talented person, male or female, to have ever appeared on Broadway? Without a doubt, my answer is Liza.
#2
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:17pm
George M. Cohen.
David walked into the valley
With a stone clutched in his hand
He was only a boy
But he knew someone must take a stand
There will always be a valley
Always mountains one must scale
There will always be perilous waters
Which someone must sail
-Into the Fire
Scarlet Pimpernel
#3
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:21pm
Jason Robards
"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"
#4
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:22pm
"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."
#6
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:36pm
I can't answer this conclusively, because I'm not old enough to have seen a lot of the greatest performers (by reputation) live on a stage.
Even of the many performers I've seen in my lifetime, I can't quite pick a "most talented" out of the roster.
I can, however, share with you the theatrical performances that have moved me the most.
Donna Murphy in PASSION. She made me weep openly, night after night. I couldn't stop attending that show, I saw it over a dozen times. She never failed to make me cry, walking down that endless staircase singing "I Read."
Betty Buckley. First in DROOD, where her singing gave me literal goosebumps all over. Then, in CARRIE, and GYPSY. Later, in concert. She has the most startling voice, when she sings it's like she's slapping you across the face. But in a good way.
Alison Fraser in ROMANCE, ROMANCE. When she sang "Now" in the second act, I sat so far on the edge of my chair I'm surprised I didn't fall over into the orchestra.
Pattie Darcy (now Pattie Darcy Jones) in LEADER OF THE PACK and BEEHIVE. Her voice always electrified me, her version of "Look of Love" slayed me. I can still hear it in my head today.
Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner in SIDESHOW. The entire, devestating peformance.
Donna Lynn Champlin, during the final performance of FIRST LADY SUITE. She broke my heart.
Idina Menzel, during "Defying Gravity." I got almost high watching that WICKED sequence, and my companion spent intermission putting my jaw back into my face.
Even of the many performers I've seen in my lifetime, I can't quite pick a "most talented" out of the roster.
I can, however, share with you the theatrical performances that have moved me the most.
Donna Murphy in PASSION. She made me weep openly, night after night. I couldn't stop attending that show, I saw it over a dozen times. She never failed to make me cry, walking down that endless staircase singing "I Read."
Betty Buckley. First in DROOD, where her singing gave me literal goosebumps all over. Then, in CARRIE, and GYPSY. Later, in concert. She has the most startling voice, when she sings it's like she's slapping you across the face. But in a good way.
Alison Fraser in ROMANCE, ROMANCE. When she sang "Now" in the second act, I sat so far on the edge of my chair I'm surprised I didn't fall over into the orchestra.
Pattie Darcy (now Pattie Darcy Jones) in LEADER OF THE PACK and BEEHIVE. Her voice always electrified me, her version of "Look of Love" slayed me. I can still hear it in my head today.
Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner in SIDESHOW. The entire, devestating peformance.
Donna Lynn Champlin, during the final performance of FIRST LADY SUITE. She broke my heart.
Idina Menzel, during "Defying Gravity." I got almost high watching that WICKED sequence, and my companion spent intermission putting my jaw back into my face.
Updated On: 11/14/04 at 05:36 PM
#7
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:39pm
Raúl Esparza, and I'm not just saying that because I always do. This man is so versatile and heartbreaking, no matter what he does. He can do ANYTHING, and I truly believe and hope he'll be around for a long time.
"The stage is where I live and come alive and act out all the things that go on in my life. It's not just what I do for a living, it's my shrink and my love affair. No one in my life has ever or ever will kiss me on the mouth like this lover called my relationship with my performance."
#8
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:48pm
Nathan Lane or Joel Gray- they have done so much for theater and are both really talented.
#9
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:53pm
Bernadette Peters
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#10
Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:58pm
Bernadette Peters! She has such stage presence...it's incredible!
~Rosalynn
~Rosalynn
#11
Posted: 11/14/04 at 6:35pm
George M. Cohan couldn't really sing all that well, could he?
#12
Posted: 11/14/04 at 6:51pm
Sammy Davis, Jr.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#13
Posted: 11/14/04 at 7:02pm
Man: Nathan Lane
Woman: Angela Lansbury
Woman: Angela Lansbury
Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on."
- from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
#14
Posted: 11/14/04 at 7:06pm
Sian Phillips.
" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."
#16
Posted: 11/14/04 at 10:26pm
Nathan Lane!:)
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
#17
Posted: 11/15/04 at 8:47am
Hugh Jackman has to get my vote
or Terrence Mann (since he's been in soooo much more as leading man)
or Terrence Mann (since he's been in soooo much more as leading man)
#18
Posted: 11/15/04 at 9:21am
Undoubtedly - Nathan Lane.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be...unless that's mine in the first place.
#19
Posted: 11/15/04 at 10:04am
If we're talking musicals...
Female - Helen Gallagher. The woman could do ANYTHING and do it well.
Male - Alfred Drake. His voice and acting were just superior.
If we're talking plays...
Female - Helen Hayes.
Male - Jason Robards, Jr.
Female - Helen Gallagher. The woman could do ANYTHING and do it well.
Male - Alfred Drake. His voice and acting were just superior.
If we're talking plays...
Female - Helen Hayes.
Male - Jason Robards, Jr.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#20
Posted: 11/15/04 at 12:21pm
Out of the people I've seen:
Sutton Foster
Sutton Foster
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#21
Posted: 11/15/04 at 12:27pm
Hugh Jackman (even though boy from oz was a crap show)
NYC's Most Retarded Drag Queen
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#22
Posted: 11/15/04 at 12:53pm
I don't want to be forced to choose just one. But if we're talking the current crop of Broadway performers - I'd have to say the Carolee Carmello gets my vote for most talented female - mostly becase she can play anything...lovely voice, look, and great acting chops. I've seen her take the worst scripts available (Scarlett Pimpernell) and make them work because of her character development. She gets my vote.
"I don't really get the ending,all i can go with is when after several months,Judith saw Pat sang,and later she kissed him on the toilet,after that the story back to where Pat went down from the stage after he'd sung,and he went to the italian lady.I just don't get it,what Judith exatcly meant when he kissed Pat that she had seen,and did Pat end up together with The Italian Lady?Please help me,thank u very much!"
Quote from someone on IMDB in reference to a movie he/she didn't understand. Such grammar!
#23
Posted: 11/15/04 at 2:25pm
I can't name one here' my two: Betty Buckly and Jerry Orbach
#24
Posted: 11/15/04 at 2:31pm
I absolutely WILL NOT answer this question. It's impossible for me to answer.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
#25
Posted: 11/15/04 at 3:31pm
I also am too young to have seen some of the true legends, but from what I have seen I would say Sutton Foster is one of the most talented actress and Raul is hands down the most talented actor Ive ever seen on Broadway.
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