True Triple Threats- Page 3

[Jon]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:32pm

Anyone who saw Charlotte D'Amboise in CONTACT (live or on TV) after seeing Karen Ziemba can tell you that Ms. D'Amboise is a TERRIBLE actress. She absolutely ruined the final moment of "Did You Move?" KZ just sat there, a single tear ran down her cheek, and she won a Tony. C D'A did some weird, twisted face and groan. Totally phony.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 7/31/11 at 7:44pm

Anyone, huh?

I did see d'Amboise and Ziemba both many times and never saw a "weird, twisted face and groan" and I certainly don't agree that d'Amboise is a "TERRIBLE" actress. State your opinion, fine, but please don't state it as fact and insist that anyone who saw them both in the role would conclude that Charlotte is terrible.

I've never understood why people sometimes find it necessary to put down one performer in order to laud another.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:03am

The obvious/classics:
- Chita Rivera
- Ben Vereen
- Liza Minnelli

For the West End:
Triple Threats (pretty much the Roxies & Mary Poppins haha):
- Ruthie Henshall (dancing the original Roxie choreography AND THEN doing one of the most iconic Fantine performances, COME ON!)
- Sally Ann Triplett
- Caroline O'Connor
- Josefina Gabrielle
- Rebecca Thornhill
- Laura Michelle Kelly
- Scarlett Strallen
- Elena Roger
- John Barrowman
- Steve Webb (oh so oh so underrated!)

2.5 Threats (for performers that can sing & act wayy too well but dance good enough but not extremely outstanding):
- Linzi Hateley
- Jo Riding
- Emma Williams
- Luke Evans
- David Thaxton
- Adam Cooper (sing & dance really well, lacking abit in the acting department)

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:18am

I'd add Summer Strallen to that list too ^^

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:36am

Like someone mentioned in this thread. There are many True Triple Threats who work in the Ensembles of Broadway shows who are exceptional talents that equally excel in all three areas.. But they may lack the star power..


From the "RANDOM" names that I have listed All of them are True Triple Threats. They are not stars or household names unfortunately. In regards to E .Clayton Cornelius I have actually seen his work and it started way before Wonderland and Scottsboro Boys. He has starred on the West End, and appeared in Lead Roles in numerous Major regional houses in Musical Theater and Legitimate Theater.. I actually saw him back in 1998 in Holland doing a show at the Carre Theater and also caught him as the Scarecrow in the national tour of The Wiz.


And the Random names like Eugene Fleming has been on Broadway & The West End in Numerous roles dating back to the Original Company of Dreamgirls.

I have two more to add to the list Eric Anthony & Jamie Patterson.. I bet you have no idea who Jamie Patterson may be
right?... He has appeared in original companies of Dreamgirls, Cats & Street Corner Symphony and was the one that introduced Michael Bennett to Jennifer Holiday he appeared in numerous Broadway, regional and touring shows in leads of supporting roles... Do your Homework. Your question was whom we all thought were true Triple Threats.

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 4:37am

In my previous list I forgot to list one of my Favorite Triple Threats The Late Great Gregory Hines.

Updated On: 8/1/11 at 04:37 AM

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:48am

In all of the discussion about Charlotte D'Ambosie, no one mentions her husband, Terrence Mann. I don't know about his dancing skills, but he was in Cats, so he certainly knew how to move.

[Q]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 9:50am

When I think triple-threat, I think Judy Garland and Sammy Davis, Jr. After that, it's pretty much all downhill.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 10:10am

Sahr Ngaujah

[manaboutown]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 11:10am

Karen Ziemba....

Shannon Lewis and Megan Sikora.

[canmark]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 12:09pm

I always thought a triple threat was someone who was good enough in all three talents that they could be hired just for one.

For example, they are a good enough actor/actress that they could be hired for a straight play (above people who were 'just' actors). A good enough singer that they could perform in a musical review (over other singers). A good enough dancer that they could be hired in an all-dance show (above other dancers). And thus they were a "threat" to actors, singers and dancers.

Of course, they may exhibit all their talents at once, such as Bebe Neuwirth in Chicago. But you might also hire Bebe as just an actress (I first knew of her from Frazier; I didn't even know she could sing or dance), or as a dancer (in Fosse, say), or as a singer in a review (although admittedly, singing is her weakest of the three).

On the other hand, Patti LuPone may be as good as any other singer or actress out there, but you wouldn't hire her just for dancing skills.

And then you also need that star quality (as Evita would say). That would be what makes Bebe a bigger star than Charlotte D'Amboise, who has similar talents (although admittedly, I'm not familiar with her acting). The Chitas and the Bebes get to originate the roles, and then the Charlottes and the Brenda Braxtons come in as the replacements. It may not be fair, but that's show biz.

----------

Did anyone see the Canadian reality show Triple Sensation that was on a few years ago? Its premise was to find young performers who were triple threats. It wasn't easy. There are plenty of people who are strong at one or two, but few who are top level in all three.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Triple-Sensation/6589583225

Updated On: 8/1/11 at 12:09 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 12:44pm

One of the reasons I said it's a rather old fashion term is because almost all the talented, hard working ensemble actors working in musicals are triple threats, they have to be. There was a time when dancers were hired just to dance, they didn't have to sing or speak a word. And singers didn't have to know a time-step or a two-step. As the chorus got smaller the dancers had to sing and the singers had to dance. Then when casts got even smaller the dancers and singers had to understudy and act. So the term "triple threat" became equal to ensemble. The idea of a triple threat refered more to the stand-outs, To threaten is to incite harm, do some damage on the stage and make people go WOW! It had nothing to do with moving on to straight plays or standing out in one area.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/1/11 at 1:17pm

True she's never done a show on Broadway but Ann-Margret is a true triple threat.

[FanofGreen]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 4:05pm

Gene Kelly

[moncruzz]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 8:13pm

How about Catherine Zeta Jones

[philly03]

Posted: 8/2/11 at 8:39pm

How about Lauren Kennedy and Jill Paice? Both aren't immediately labeled as the best dancers, but are more than serviceable.

Two actresses I always think of for triple threats: Patina Miller and Jane Krakowski.

Janet Dacal is also a triple threat, but hasn't had the right role to work with in New York, but what they had her do in Wonderland in Tampa made me realize how talented (& underrated) she is!


For guys, I always thought Jose Llana and Darren Ritchie are both triple threats as well. Updated On: 8/2/11 at 08:39 PM

[wickedpurple]

Posted: 8/4/11 at 5:08pm

I agree, Ruthie Henshall definitely is, so is Jane Krakowski.
I also happen to think Teal Wicks is and she's only bound to get better.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 10:46am

Bebe!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 11:47am

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Michael Berresse. I think he's fantastic.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 12:37pm

Seriously, there are more nominations here for the triple threat title for Nick Adams than there are for Matt Morrison ??? To me, Matt is the definition of a modern Triple Threat !!! I know that his success in Glee has turned some (snobbish) people off him, but...Nick Adams ??? Really ?

[Leia947]

Posted: 8/5/11 at 3:11pm

Christopher Walken. He's done two musicals on Broadway, he's a classically trained dancer and fantabulous actor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7rseCwM9mU

Despite the bad lip-sinc job, it's him.

[staunchcharacter]

Posted: 8/6/11 at 10:46pm

Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera.