Daphne - Rent
Michael Crawford - Phantom of the Opera
Broadway Star Joined: 1/4/06
I wish there was a full recording of Linzu Hately in Les Mis. I've seen the video of her singing "On My Own" in the "Stage by Stage" documentary, and I can't bear to listen to the OBCR.
There was a time when I liked the revival cast of "Little Shop" better than the off-Broadway cast, but after doing the show, I prefer Ellen Green over Kerry Butler (the rest of the revival cast is certainly much better than the off-Broadway cast, though).
I also wouldn't mind a recording of Gary Mauer and Beth Southard performing some "Phantom" songs (I love the OLC, but they were my first live POTO experience, and to have them even singing a few of the songs on a recording would be awesome).
when i first heard the OBC of Rent i thought that Mimi was being sung by a drag queen
For me it is Charolette d'Amboise on the revival CD of ACL.
after I saw Idina in Aida I cannot listen to any songs with amneris on the soundtrack....sherie is just bad, the show was too mature for her sound...Idina owns the role of amneris
plus the whole recording of wicked...don't get me wrong, its an amazing album that is entirely well sung, but it does not even hold its own now against the live version or hearing all the cool riffs and stuff that people add...its a totally different experience now
Swing Joined: 10/7/06
"I completely agree with the nightmare otherwise known as Frances Ruffelle. She actually won a Tony for whining through that score? Her acting was nothing special, either. Judy Kuhn should have won that year for playing Cosette."
Frances sounds vile on the OBC. She shines on the OLC though and she was superb in the original London cast and when she returned to the role years later.
I'll eat my hat if ANYONE ever wins a Tony for playing Cosette!
As for Lea being the best Eponine, matter of opinion. She can't nail the top notes in On My Own and she plays the part a bit too angry and determined. It's like watching Kim in Miss Saigon play Eponine.
To each his own though.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/25/04
Colle, I agree with you re: Frances Ruffelle---her voice almost sounds like a dog whistle. The rest of that OCR is wonderful---
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