Top Ten PERFORMERS To Change Broadway

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:26pm

In any way-- revolutionary talent, draw value, creation of role, definitive voice or person of an era, etc. Who are in your top ten?

[broadwayboy81]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:45pm

1) Alice Ripley
2) Audra McDonald
3) Carolee Carmello
4) Mary Testa
5) Sheri Rene Scott
6) Brian D'arcy James
7) Victoria Clark
Kelli O'hara
9) Patrick Wilson
10) Tonya Pinkins

I did not include those that I think already have changed broadway (bernadette, patti lupone, jennifer holliday, etc)

[Ellie3]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:48pm

I'm going to plump with Bernadette, because there's no one like her!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:49pm

I disagree with a lot of those.

Rex Harrison
Fanny Brice
Mary Martin
...

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:50pm

Bernadette Peters, for one. I'm too tired to think of more. It's all a matter of opinion, anyway.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:50pm

I am not going to make a top 10, but some performers who I believe have changed Broadway or have the potential to include Sutton Foster, Hugh Jackman, Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, and Hunter Foster.

[juice23]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 10:50pm

for some reason Harvey F. jumps to mind..... im not quite sure why though.

[Mr. TN]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:37pm

Some great performers who were almost institutions in themselves:

Ethel Merman
Alfred Drake
Gwen Verdon
Julie Andrews
Zero Mostel
Bernadette Peters
Nathan Lane (more recently)
Carol Channing (I have to mention her)

That is my list. If I think of anymore I will post.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:42pm

I'm sorry, but I truely beleive Raúl Esparza is, and will continue to do so.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:43pm

David Hasselhoff

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:45pm

Oh, bronx! I am going to personally beat you down for that one.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:46pm

You didn't say what KIND of change.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 11:47pm

1. ethel merman -- invented the broadway belt
2. audra mcdonald -- brought legit subtlety to bway
3. bernadette peters -- brought cutesy to bway
4. jen holliday -- brought church to bway
5. harvey fierstein -- commercial AND political
6. hugh jackamn -- reinvented film star turned bway actor
7. fanny brice -- brought new look to leading lady
8. adam pascal -- brought a truly rock sound and vibe to bway
9. rex harrison -- lifted acting above vocal talent
10. rosie o'donnell -- like it or not, she revived bway and reintroduced it to masses.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:52am

I agree wit MrTN's list except I'd take out Bernadette Peters and replace her with a few more oldies like Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and Mary Martin.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 1:09am

In no particular order:

Rex Harrison
Nathan Lane
Bernadette Peters
Mandy Patinkin
Ethel Merman
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Donna Murphy
Gregory Hines
Angela Lansbury
Audra Mcdonald

[Jon]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 1:46am

Hell - here's ten without even geting to the 1960's!

George M. Cohan
Al Jolson
Marilyn Miller
Ethel Merman
Alfred Drake
Ethel Waters
Mary Martin
Gertrude Lawrence
Gwen Verdon
Carol Channing

[Phantom2]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 1:52am

Harvey Fierstein and Hugh Jackman

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 4:28am

How can you name 10? There are sucha wide range of talents who have contributed SO much.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 10:44am

I agree with SticktoPriest except about Nathan Lane. I've always thought he was overrated. But I do think Sutton Foster has the potential.

[geri loves wicked]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 11:03am

Hello matt!
My ten people are
1) kristin chenoweth
2) Idina Menzel
3) Kerry Butler
4) Matthew Broderick
5) Hugh Jackman
6) Eden Espinosa
7) Sutton Foster
Hunter Foster
9) Nathan Lane
10) Jennifer Laura Thompson

Bernadette Peters goes without saying and...david hasselhoff SUCKS. So does anyone who came from NKOTB, 'Nsync, or the Backstreet boys. Boy band has-beens need to go on the Surreal Life, NOT broadway.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 11:05am

I think that is STUPID to condemn someone just because they were ina boyband. Why don't we just go ahead and trash actors in theme park shows then. That is RIDICULOUS. Actors in theme park shows run teh range from poor to wonderful.. just like boyband members.

[Mr. TN]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:32pm

I cannot believe I forgot Fred Astaire and Geroge M. Where has my mind gone? Anyway, I think the biggest problem (well, not problem but I can't think of another word) is those who have been Broadway fans/actors/designers/anything associated with Broadway for a long time will have more and more people to sift through. As Jon said "Hell here's ten without getting to the 1960's" We can say that those performers we love today on broadway have changed it but only time will tell. Only when people rave about them thirty, fourty, fifty, even sixty years after they first appeared will their place be solidified. For those of you who are recent Broadway fans, remember these people that, in your opinion, have changed Broadway so when this thread is revived thirty years from now you can say "I remember when I saw ____(insert name here) in his first show."


Oh God! I forgot John Raitt and Mary Martin. Wow my mind is really going now. Thank you all for reminding me. (Goes back to read his Broadway Musicals: Show by Show Fifth Edition to refresh memory) Updated On: 10/30/04 at 12:32 PM

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:35pm

Who's George M. Cohan?

[AnothaPartofMe]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:38pm

Haha... I like when people say "who's George M. Cohan?". It's funny how the authors of GEORGE M! knew that when people say his name, they don't know who he was. The opening scene where the kid asks "George who?"... one of my favorites.

[Mr. TN]

Posted: 10/30/04 at 12:59pm

George M Cohan is the patron saint of Broadway. The musical George M tells the story of his life. If you've ever been to the TKTS booth on times square, a statue of him is on that island on the downtown side. There is a plaque that I believe reads "George M Cohan, may he watch over the lights of Broadway forever" or something on that line. I'll have to read it next time I go by.

Back at the turn of the century, he won fame as almost everything (actor, director, composer, lyricist, librettest, producer, playwright, etc.) I believe he is credited with (or in) 21 Musicals and 20 plays. Broadway wasn't quite what is was today in his day. In fact I believe all of New York once counted as Broadway since off-broadway is a more recent word.