Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

#1

Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:08pm

Who would you say are the top 10 theatre people of all time? Actors, dancers, directors, designers, producers, whatever.

To you, this could be most important, favorite, best personalities, etc. - but in general: THE TOP 10.

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#2

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:08pm

not to appease you, but mary martin...

as for the other 9, i am too tired to think - but she really kept me interested in theatre (after Les Mis drew me in)

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 02:08 PM

#3

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:11pm

Here they are:
1. Idina Menzel
2. Bernadette Peters
3. Hugh Jackman
4. Kristin Chenoweth
5. Adam Pascal
6. Taye Diggs
7. Judy Garland
8. Ethel Merman
9. Michael Crawford
10. Sarah Brightman

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"There will always be women in rubber flirting with me" ~Maureen, RENT

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 02:11 PM

#4

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:13pm

I'll stick to musical theatre..it's a much smaller scale.

Ethel Merman
The Nederlanders
Richard Rodgers
Stephen Sondheim
Jerry Orbach
Hal Prince
Liza Minnelli
Bob Fosse
George/Ira Gershwin
Jerome Robbins


I did that without too much thinking..I'm sure I'm forgetting some HUGE people

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But I won't live alone in a house of regret.

#5

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:59pm

Ethel Merman
Jerome Robbins
Carol Channing
Bob Fosse
Mary Martin
Carol Burnett

I'm blanking out too.

IDINA MENZEL? TAYE DIGGS? PASCAL? We are talking about the Top Ten Theatre People! Menzel did...what...three shows????

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#6

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 3:01pm

menzel, taye, KC, hugh are all great performers etc...but yeah, they haven't done many shows...sorry

#7

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 3:06pm

Richard Rogers
Oscar Hammerstein
Michael Crawford
Jonathan Larson
Mary Martin
Stephen Sondheim
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Leonard Bernstein
Jerome Robbins
Bob Fosse

#8

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 3:52pm

Elpahaba4:

Please. Just, no.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#9

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 3:54pm

Elpahaba4's post was a joke right?

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"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!"

#10

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:10pm

Florenz Ziegfeld
Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein II
David Merrick
Hal Prince
Irving Berlin
Ethel Barrymore
Helen Hayes
Jerry Orbach
Lorenz Hart

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scooter3843

#11

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:20pm

Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein
Ethel Merman
Jules Styne
Stephen Sondheim
Joel Grey
Andrew Loyd Weber
Bernadette Peters
Jerry Orbach
Fosse

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Deet: Shira, I Love You!

#12

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:40pm

Ethel Merman
Stephen Sondheim
Bernadette Peters
Bob Fosse
Carol Burnette
Nathan Lane
Susan Stroman
Irving Berlin
Kristin Chenoweth
Julie Andrews (i cant believe i almost forgot her!!)

#13

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:49pm

Elphaba4:

I don't mean any disrespect but you must be young and new to Broadway to have listed the folks you listed below..

1. Idina Menzel
2. Bernadette Peters
3. Hugh Jackman
4. Kristin Chenoweth
5. Adam Pascal
6. Taye Diggs
7. Judy Garland
8. Ethel Merman
9. Michael Crawford
10. Sarah Brightman


What about those that built B'way up to what it is today???

Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, etc etc etc

#14

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:59pm

Sondheiem, Julie Andrews, Mary Martin, Fosse, Kander and Ebb. THat is all i can think of at the moment.

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"At the opening night party, they had clowns on stilts, jugglers, a chocolate fountain, popcorn, hot dogs. [My son] looked at me like I had been holding back. Like, 'This is what you do?' I had to tell him, 'No, no, darling. Opening nights don't usually look like this.' It's usually a dark bar with a bottle of vodka." ?Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Jan Maxwell plus i proudly share the title of the shortest member over the age of 10 with wickedrentq!

#15

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:27pm

I'll stick to performers. In alphabetical order:

Julie Andrews
Matthew Broderick
Kristin Chenoweth
Sutton Foster
Joel Grey
Ted Keegan
Nathan Lane
Idina Menzel
Liza Minnelli
Bernadette Peters

And of course Judy.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 05:27 PM

#16

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:50pm

01. Mozart
02. Wagner
03. Verdi
04. Rossini
05. Puccini
06. Donizetti
07. Tchaikovsky
08. Bizet
09. Sullivan
10. Sondheim

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"What the hell happened to you? You look like a Make-A-Wish Kid. You know, I just knew you were gonna bring shame on this new family of ours, and it just figures you had to go make yourself over into some heroin-shootin skate board chic on the only day E! could interview you!" - Cherry Cherry, on her daughter Mary Cherry

#17

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:53pm

ahhh, how can we pick just ten? Kander and Ebb, Rodger and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Fosse... and all of the TRULY legendary actors. *head spins*

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#18

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:09pm

oh dear. I'll try, but it will be difficult.

1. Leonard Bernstein
2. Stephen Sondheim
3. Kander and Ebb (Am I allowed to pair them up?)
4. Rodgers and Hammerstein (well, I'll just pair them up too)
5. Florenz Ziegfeld (thanks Feodor for reminding me)
6. Ethel Merman
7. Jerome Robbins
8. Hal Prince
9. Bob Fosse
10. Jonathon Larson

For some reason, its a lot easier to think of the behind the scenes people. They influence so much more though, in my opinion.

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HROK?

#19

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:25pm

In no order...I just can't decide an order.

Leonard Bernstein
Stephen Sondheim
Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein
Jerome Robbins
Michael Bennett
Jonathon Larson (I know, one big show, but I think it has some major contributions)
Bob Fosse
Jule Styne
Hal Prince


Edit: I chose behind the scenes people as well, because I feel they have a stronger influence...I suppose.

Updated On: 1/5/05 at 06:25 PM

#20

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 6:33pm

a top ten theatre list is not compete without gwen verdon, ann reinking, sammy davis jr, and gregory hines....maybe not ALL on the list, but at least ONE deserves to be up there, I mean come on. Taye Diggs? are you JOKING!?!!

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awkward.

"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912

#21

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 7:10pm

That's tough to combine writers, directors, choreographers, producers AND performers, but I'll try...

1. Richard Rodgers
2. Hal Prince
3. David Merrick
4. Stephen Sondheim
5. Cameron Makintosh
6. Mary Martin
7. Bob Fosse
8. Michael Bennett
9. Jerome Robbins
10. Florenze Ziegfeld.

Those aren't in any order, by the way.

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Eeeeeeyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaannnnnddddd aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiyyyyyyaaaaaammmmmmmm teeeeeeeelllllliiiiiinnngg yyyyooooooouuuuuuuwwwaaaahh...

#22

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 8:15pm

Richard Rodgers
Jerome Robbins
Stephen Sondheim
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Flo Ziegfeld
George M Cohan
Bob Fosse
Hal Prince
Leonard Bernstein
Mary Martin

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Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.

#23

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 9:35pm

Wow, this is TOUGH!

Richard Rodgers
Oscar Hammerstein II
The Shuberts
Bob Fosse
David Merrick
Ethel Merman
Stephen Sondheim
Jerry Orbach
Florenz Ziegfield
Harold Prince

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Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!

#24

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 9:49pm

Oooh this IS hard!

Ethel Merman
Florenz Ziefeld
Stephen Sondheim
Kander and Ebb (can I count them as one?)
Rodgers and Hart (them too?)
Al Jolson
Cole Porter
Fanny Brice
Irving Berlin
George Gershwin
Jerome Robbins
Leonard Bernstein
Marilyn Miller
Oscar Hammerstein

I am WAY over 10 here and not close to finished. While like everyone else I have my favorites I don't feel any of them yet qualify for a list like this.

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"The theater is my life. I live it. I breathe it. I fondle it till it falls asleep." Jack (Will And Grace) http://feathah.blogspot.com

#25

re: Top 10 Theatre People of All Time

Posted: 1/5/05 at 9:50pm

Dammit! Bob Fosse! I left him off my list! See? 10 is impossible.

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"The theater is my life. I live it. I breathe it. I fondle it till it falls asleep." Jack (Will And Grace) http://feathah.blogspot.com