The Best Male Voice on Broadway- Page 2

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:47pm

I could listen to/watch Norm Lewis sing anything anytime.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:49pm

"Best" is a questionable word choice, but whatever.

Raul Esparza is my personal favorite. I know his vocal stylings are definitely a love-him-or-hate-him deal, but I love his voice. It's so distinctive and emotive and he has incredible range.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/1/09 at 11:50pm

Right now on Broadway? Brian D'Arcy James hands down.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:02am

Yup, RENTBOY
On Broadway right now.
Brian d'Arcy James can't be topped.

It's a dream to hear him sing that Tesori stuff,
can't wait for the CD.
He makes it seem so simple and it ain't.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:14am

Definitely Anthony Warlow is the best "Male Voice in Musical Theatre" (Alive and Dead)

But on Broadway... I'd probably say Jason Danieley or maybe Howard McGillin (such amazing tone and quality) for more standard/trad Musical Theatre sound.

For Contemporary/Pop-Rock - Hands down, Drew Sarich!

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:18am

I second Howard McGillin. Personally, I feel he has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. He's hands down my favourite Broadway performer.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:21am

Oh frick, I forgot about Aaron Lazar! And Randal Keith is definitely up there, as are Brian D'arcy James and Norm Lewis.

Sorry, but I have to highly, highly disagree with both Terrence Mann and Raul Esparza (he needs to learn to control his vibrato better).

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:21am

White Half-Mask - Obviously you know his work from Phantom (at least I am guessing, lol).

Have you heard him on the recordings of Anything Goes and She Loves Me (his Easy to Love, All Through the Night and Grand Knowing You are unreal!)

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:22am

Howard McGillin does have a beautiful voice. I love him in The Swan Princess

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:29am

get back to ON Broadway now.

Brian and Norm for me.

[The White Half-Mask]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:31am

While I do love him as The Phantom, I own several other CDs with him as well, including his solo CD ("Where Time Stands Still"), the Anything Goes revival, & the Swan Princess soundtrack. Interestingly enough, the first time I ever heard his voice was from the Swan Princess movie that my sister & I rented when we were kids.

Have you heard his rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" on Carols for a Cure 2006? It's almost worth the price of the album itself!

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:34am

No, I have not-I'll def check it out...

Funny Howard McGillin trivia that most people probably wouldn't know, he sings the lead part of Viva La Resistance in South Park Bigger, Louder and Uncut (the South Park movie), hilarious!

But, "Grand Knowing You" from She Loves Me is def my favorite recording of him, from sincere tenor, to the over-exaggerated falsetto to the soaring high end... shows so much versatility to his voice.

[dayao]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:21am

Most of the men mentioned here thus far, with the possible exception of James Barbour & Brian Stokes Mitchell, are at the same disadvantage: take away their body mike and all you are left with is the equivalent of a 1990’s Boy Band Singer. Most of these guys would have not been good enough to make the chorus on the musical stage before 1980, much less featured and starring roles. The great male voices of today are not on Broadway but are on the operatic stage and/or performing American musicals in Europe and the Orient where their real legitimate voices are still distinguishable and appreciated. Really great baritone or tenor voices are a liability rather than a virtue on the Broadway of today where the sound designer is more important than the performer. This is a sad but brutal state of affairs. In such a hostile and ignorant casting climate, Broadway will never again hear talents such as Alfred Drake, Ezio Pinza, Howard Keel & Robert Goulet.

[Shannon Bo Dannon]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:34am

This topic is obviously subjective, but currently on Broadway I'd say Gavin Creel IMO. I can't get enough of his voice.

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:38am

Matthew Morrison, Norbert Leo Butz, Michael Cerveris, James Barbour, Cheyenne Jackson are a few of the great voices of the last few years. Many more are waiting in the wings but these come to mind immediately.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:38am

I completely agree with those who have said Stokes, Jeff McCarthy and Brian D'Arcy James. However, I have to add Brent Barrett and Marc Kudisch before any of the other names people have mentioned thus far. Stephen Pasquale is close as well.

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:41am

Excellent additions! All of the names you added are worthy of high praise for their singing and speaking voices. I have enjoyed all of their performances on Broadway.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 2:01am

Thanks, and Butz is one of my favorites as well.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 2:07am

Some great names mentioned here! The ones that stand out the most to me are Stokes and Raul Esparza, but I am a big fan of Terrence Mann and James Barbour, so I'm glad to see their names mentioned here as well as I wouldn't have thought of them at first but they're certainly wonderful. Hearing about Norm Lewis makes me think of Keith Byron Kirk, who I think has given some great performances.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 2:29am

I couldn't decide on the "best" but here's my top male voices on Broadway based on the shows I've seen:

1. Patrick Wilson
2. Jonathan Groff
3. Norm Lewis
4. Aaron Lazar
5. Cheyenne Jackson
6. Sean Palmer

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 2:36am

mt1 Though I don't agree with all of your "best"... thank you so much for mentioning Patrick Wilson! He completely passed over my mind and he has always been on the top of my list. He is one of the BEST

[BRDWYrobb]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:53am

i agree with WithoutATrace on John Raitt!

but also now id say Terrance Mann, Douglas Sills,& Matt Morrison

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:56am

Dollypop took my answer. I adore Brian Stokes Mitchell's voice. One of my favorites.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 6:39am

Have to say Norm Lewis. And it ain't just the best VOICE he's got...

But yes, I do love some Brian Stokes Mitchell. And my favorite voice in musical theatre in general is Michael Ball.

[dg22894]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 7:06am

Adam Pascal