Performers Who Grew On You

Anyone you originally disliked and later came to like?

For me, that would be Terrence Mann. Now, I've never seen him perform live, and I've heard he's terrible when performing live, but I'm solely judging off of audio recordings and videos. When I was little (well, about nine to eleven years old), I was fully obsessed with the musical "Cats," and when I got my OBC recording, I was really underwhelmed with the Rum Tum Tugger because I was expecting John Partridge from the film. Terrence Mann's delivery as the Tugger is really different. But then, about five years later, I discovered "Beauty and the Beast," and then "Scarlet Pimpernel," and then "Les Miserables," and then "Assassins," and I absolutely loved Terrence Mann on all of them. In fact, I'd have to say he's my favourite Broadway singer. When I dug up my old "Cats" album and discovered that the Rum Tum Tugger of my childhood was the same person as the Beast and Chauvelin and Javert and Czolgozs, I was floored. I gave the CD another listen, and I now prefer Terrence Mann to John Partridge as the Rum Tum Tugger.

Similarly, Patti LuPone is now my favourite Mrs. Lovett, but I originally didn't like her for the role at all.

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Patti LuPone grew on me. Then I went to a dermatologist and had her lanced.

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Stephanie J. Block. A year ago, I couldn't stand her voice. Then, I saw her in WICKED... now she is one of my favorite performers.

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"Then I went to a dermatologist and had her lanced."

What did you do with the removal? I'll give 100 bucks and a ticket to [tos] for it! PM me.

"Terrence Mann is my favorite male broadway performer too! I've seen him live in Beauty and the Beast, Scarlet Pimpernel, and Rocky Horror and thought he was great in all of those."

Luckily, you didn't have to see the horror that was LENNON.

Terrence was also excellent in RAGS.

Without A Trace-- I've only heard four songs from Rags, but Terry sang in two of them, and I absolutely love the song "Wanting." It only ran on Broadway for like two shows, right?

Gary Indiana-- James Barbour grew on me, too. I accidentally downloaded the song "Sirens" when I meant to click on something else, and originally, I just thought he was okay. But after I heard the song a few more times and a few more songs from Jane Eyre, I really started to like his voice. And now that I've seen some clips from BatB and Tale of Two Cities, I can't believe I ever disliked him. Though the whole perviness thing keeps me from being a real fan, I absolutely love his voice.

Also, Christian Borle. I originally didn't think much of him at all, but now I like him a lot. (He's the only reason I own the Legally Blonde CD!) And I also think he's cute in an odd, offbeat sort of way, which I definitely didn't initially.

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I'd second Patti Lupone

Patti, Raul, Norbert.

Norbert grew on me, too. I still don't love his performance on the Wicked recording... he sounds a little bit too... showy? Pop-ish? But now that I've heard more of him, I'm really starting to like him a lot.

Oh wow, this is extremely, extremely odd. Matt Bogart's vibrato and phrasing (though definitely not his tone) is really reminding me of a guy version of me. Don't ask how that's possible. I've actually never heard him before now. I can't decide whether I like him or not, because I don't really like my own singing. But I agree, 'intriguing' is a good word for his voice. It makes me want to listen to more and more of him to make up my mind about him.

Still not sold on Max von Essen, though. His voice always sounds kind of weak and wiggly to me... and I'm always really distracted by the fact that his last name means 'from food.' ^_^

But yeah, my friends all want to lock me in a room with recordings of Philip Quast, because I still prefer Terrence Mann to him. I don't know what it is, but somehow, Terry better fits my mental image of Javert from the novel (in looks, voice, and general demeanor), and his voice is, to me, more pleasant to listen to. I guess its the sort of rhythmic, measured quality his singing has-- a lot of people don't like that for the role, but I kind of feel like the preciseness of it better suits the character.

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Christine Andreas. Of all performers, she's one person that I love to hear more and more of!

Also: Luba Mason, Sebastian Bach (LOL), among others.

Terrence Mann is also my favourite Broadway male actor!

David Burnham in Wicked. The first couple of times I really didn't like him since he downright refused to touch Steph in ALAYM. She would have to take his hands and put them on her. I guess he was just nervous because towards the end other her run they were all over each other. I really started to like him towards the end of his run and I miss him. He is such a sweetheart at SD also.

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Updated On: 9/17/08 at 07:38 PM

I did not personally see Terry in Beast, but in just about every recording he's like opposite on stage. In 'The Scarlet Pimpernel,' one you'd think he'd be this absolute fierce, evil, wrenched character when he fact the entire time he looked bored and his keys or whatever were different live.

At the time of Beast, you have to remember he was around mid-forties if I'm correct. Obviously he's not going to look like a young prince, which is why they usually don't have the beast do the beginning anymore (maybe I'm wrong?).

Schmerg_The_Impaler, I use to think Max appeared amateurish and lacked something (maybe he's been cast in roles that aren't best suited for his voice?). But, I've seen him in enough concerts to realize he possesses a wonderful instrument! In one concert he did a lovely off-mike version of "Johanna" from Sweeney and later rocked his way through "Oh, What a Circus" and "High Flying Adored" from Evita. I was very impressed!

Updated On: 9/17/08 at 09:03 PM