The Greatest Triple Threats- Page 3

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 7:59pm

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Updated On: 11/9/05 at 07:59 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 8:01pm

We've been through this before, Norbert and Sutton shouldn't be considered triple threats. They can move well.

I doubt Sutton has the dance training of the real triple threats.

Number 1 in my book is ofcourse Verdon, and in a Broadway book I read they say Gwen defined the term "triple threat", and that she was one of the first to get that title.

oh and you can hear Gwen's vocal best on her solo album before her vocal tragedy in Charity. She sounds absolutely beautiful on the album. She was a great singr. Updated On: 11/9/05 at 08:01 PM

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 8:15pm

JUDY GARLAND

while not a professionally trained dancer, she was noted by Fred Astir as the quickest learn he had or will have witnessed. As anyone can atest to, if they have seen Easter Parade, she holds her own agianst Fred. That in it of itself is an accomplishment.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 8:16pm

I would consider Sutton a triple threat. She danced a lot in Millie (like, full-out dancing, not just swaying while the chorus actually dances around her). And she got her start in the chorus of THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. There was quite a bit of dancing in that, so I'm sure she has the training.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 8:19pm

Sutton's acting is quite wooden IMO.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 8:26pm

the ensemble dance numbers that she had in "millie" took her beyond the point of "moving well" in my opinon. i know she has been dancing since she was a child, so there has definitley been some kind of training there.

i wouldn't consider norbert one (although yes, he definitley moves well), but i really think that sutton has it.

[Horton]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 10:21pm

Charlotte D'Amboise
and BSM- dont forget, he was in Jelly's Las Jam so he can dance

[stage_door76]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:18pm

Ruthie gets my vote.

No question.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 11/9/05 at 11:38pm

MacLaine may be just OK as a singer but boy can she bring a BIG HOUSE like the Gershwin to it's knees with her show (I believe it was in 1984). All you needed was Shirley & Four backup dancers! I feel so sad for those who will never have seen her live in concert, She was truly a "Gem"

[NYC_or_Bust]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:16am

She may not be well known, but she did STAR in the role at one point; Nadine Isenegger as Peggy Sawyer

Superb vocals (much better than Kate Levering)
Solid acting (for me, she WAS Peggy Sawyer), if fact, Nadine is probably the first person I've seen in a role that makes me forget I'm watching an actor/actress

and as far as Dancing....well, I think Peggy Sawyer is up there to Dancing in a Broadway show, as what Rose is to acting/singing in GYPSY
Nadine was flawless.

She's my favorite triple threat

But my honorable mentions go to: Sutton Foster
Bernadette Peters
and David Elder

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:20am

the gumm sisters went to dancing school for years as children. she didn't take class at STEPS but judy garland was trained, and then trained by the studio. buddy ebsen himself was astonished at what a great dancer she was as a 13 year old and how fast she picked up steps. for me , she is the only person who danced with astaire where you looked at her and not him.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:27am

my best peggy sawyer ever was meredith patterson.

shirley gets the title. if you're willing to forgive charlotte damboise her complete lack of charisma and mediocre acting, i can forgive shirl a few weak notes, and as has been noted, she can sell it like the rent is due.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 9:30am

Well as long as we're talking about movie stars as well as former Peggy Sawyers...

Catherine Zeta-Jones can certainly hold her own in all three categories.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:04am

ann miller.
not famous in the states, but triple threat is defined by a few australians, first of which is a goddess named rhonda burchmore. she was in SUGAR BABIES in london and has been a staple on the scene in oz for 20 years. dances up a storm (ann miller gave her a pair of her shoes) built like juliet prowse, terrific voice (did FUNNY GIRL among other things) and character stuff like Adelaide.
also, a tiny teacup sized tinkerbelle named sharon millerchip. she played belle in beauty and the beast w/ hugh jackman, performed in new york with COMBO FIASCO and had done roles as diverse as Anita in WSS and velma in CHICAGO.

Updated On: 11/10/05 at 10:04 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:05am

She looks like Ann-Margaret.

Come to think of it... ANN-MARGARET!!!

[nydirector2]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:26am

I can't believe no-one's mention great performers like Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Dick Van Dyke, and also more recently Alan Cumming is pretty damn captivating on stage doing all three.

Also...I think that whoever started this thread must be a dancer or has some weird bias towards dancers, because of such weird stipulations. So many people mentioned in prior posts are great singers and actors but so-so dancers because they only starred in a dance show and didn't do the full out dances with the chorus? That's just silly.

Another thing is most of the women listed are one note sally's as far as acting is concerned...I've never seen Ruthie Henshaw play anything other than "Sexy Siren." Even her Fontine was "Sexy Siren about to die." This is SO different from say, Bebe Neuwirth who has done comedy, drama, sexy(Tony for Velma), smart/dull(Emmy for Lillith), etc. etc. etc.

Thoughts?

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:34am

nydirector2---Nicely put.

I think this thread got "jacked" away from the original poster's intentions a long time ago... but there were too many caveats up front.

I didn't like the so-so singing part myself (being the "Norma Rae" of singers apparently). That ain't a triple-threat.

[Nothatsmrt]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 10:54am

I second Danny Kaye completely.

"His fame began when he became the first man--at least the first in recorded history--to sing a song in which he named 54 Russian composers in 38 seconds. The song was "Tchaikovsky."

He literally stole the show from Gertrude Lawrence in his 11 minutes onstage. It's a great story, and he was a great man.

[changinandhow]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 2:56pm

My vote definately goes to Sutton Foster.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:05pm

There are obviously many varying ideas of what a triple threat is.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:14pm

I can't think of Ann Margaret as a triple - maybe a double at best - actor/dancer who can carry a tune. I wouldn't be able to listen to an album of only her singing.
Anyone ever see the tv special she did in the 70's where she has Bob Hope as a guest? A friend has a video copy of it and we've watched it over and over again - she sings a song with unintelligable lyrics - the chorus goes something like this:
"I'm gonna take that fat can and let him have it rat-tat-tat" = at least thats what it sounds like after several viewings. She is so unintentionally funny in this special - and when she TRIES to be funny, she fails miserably.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 3:23pm

Brenda Braxton is another one.

And she RARELY gets credit. What an underrated talent.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:04pm

What about Audrey Hepburn? She's not the best singer, dancer, or actress, but man what a presence! Same for Marylyn Monroe.

Another few we forgot...James Cagney, Jimmy Durante, and George M. Cohan practially did everything including producer and direct.

Here's the thing that I REALLY like about the guys I've listed. Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, etc. are all real men. Somewhere between that generation and now, musical theatre has become..well..for lack of a better word...sissy.

[Blonde]

Posted: 11/10/05 at 4:27pm

i saw both nadine and meredith patterson as peggy, and greatly preferred meredith.
sutton foster I do consider a triple threat, the dancing she did in millie was pretty extensive even though it was mostly tap, great voice, and I also think she is a charming actress.
as far as karen ziemba goes, i suppose it depends on how you look at it. her dancing is fabulous. I don't think there is much dispute on that. I've only seen her in a straight acting role, where she could not depend on her dancing or singing talent to make up for anything in her performance, and I thought she did a fabulous job and stood out as such despite the other talented performers in the show. Singing wise, i agree that she only has a "good" voice. But to me it's the characterization she brings to a song that makes her songs worthwhile. so from a purely technical standpoint, no, she would not be a triple threat. But if we add star quality into the mix, then in my opinion she absolutely is.