Unexpected Performances...- Page 2

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:48pm

I was terribly impressed with Gene Barry in the original LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. I knew George Hearn would be great; but I was surprised at the excellence of Mr. Barry's performance. I was delighted he received a Tony nomination, but alas he lost to his co-star, the glorious George Hearn.

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:44pm

I'd only previously known Carla Gugino as the mom in the Spy Kids movies but she blew me away as Maggie in After the Fall. I hope the Tony committee remembers her.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:56pm

Veanne Cox - Caroline, or Change
Bruce Vilanche - Hairspray

[stagestar130]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:07pm

Raúl in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I had heard great things about him before, but I didn't know he had such a great voice and was such an amazing actor.
JLT in Wicked. After seing KC, I didn't think she could be topped, but JLT blew me away.

[ozdustgirl2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:50pm

Idina and Kristin in WICKED, had heard of them but not a fan of either but was blown away during the show.

Drew Lachey in RENT, wasnt too sure I would like him but he was really great the day I saw him.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:52pm

Oh, stagestar. I wish you could've seen The Normal Heart. What he's doing up there as Caractacus is nothing in comparison. ::sigh::

[hannahshule]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:16pm

I know this is kinda late, but lovesclassics, I agree with you 110%! I hope Rachel York makes a "steal" g-d knows she deserves it, and g-d, the women is just sooooooooo TALENTED that she should be rewarded just for being her!
Back on topic, when I saw Rachel in Kiss Me Kate...Oh, My, God. if I'm ever half as good as that, then I'll be forever grateful to the heavens. I was so blown away by her power and performace overall. I can't wait for Summer of '42 to be released!

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 05:16 PM

[zippyjen]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:02pm

adam pascal - cabaret
norbert- drs
anika noni rose- caroline or change
veanne cox- " "

[got-a-light]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:18pm

i will second whoever said louise pitre, i was not a big fan of "mamma mia", but louise was amazing! i had never seen her before that night.

rachel york in "anything goes" (reprise) was another surprise. i wasn't familair with her work before. "blow gabriel blow: was wow!

michael cerveris in "hedwig" (LA)... again was not familiar with him before i saw the show. i will never forget that performance!

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 06:18 PM

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:36pm

Adam Pascal- Cabaret
Susan Egan- Had never heard of her before and i read she was the orgional Belle and thought she was gonna play Sally all coy and stuff. One of the most phenomonal performances i have ever seen.

[Kevo711]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:43pm

From hearing great things about kristin chenoweth in wicked, i was quite dissipointed that when i was going to see wicked she would already be gone... but then i saw JLT and she was absolutely amazing!

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:35pm

Christian Borle in Spamalot-I knew he was talented, but I had only seen him in the ebay commercial. He blew me away.
Norbert in DRS-I love him on the Last Five Years CD, but he put so much energy into that role and he was hysterical.
Harvey in Fiddler-I was very skeptical, but he made me believe that he was Tevye. The goodbye scenes with his daughters was heartbreaking.
Anika Noni Rose in Caroline-I didn't really know that much about the show when I saw it except that Tonya Pinkins was supposed to be amazing, which she was, but it was Anika that blew me away. What a voice she has, and she put so much emotion into that role
Euan Morton in Taboo-Wow. Thats all I could say about him. Too bad he was up against Hugh Jackman for the Tony, because that performance was Tony worthy
Raul in Rocky Horror-I had never heard of him before and his role wasnt that big, but I remember walking out of that theater and thinking "That guy is gonna be huge"

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:48pm

Back in March, Michael Cerveris shocked the crap out of me at Symphony Space for Wall to Wall Sondheim. His numbers were performed with such grace and feeling. Very moving.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:53pm

Don't know if anyone's heard of her, but Ma-anne Dionisio blew me away on the Les Miz tour (she was Eponine). A great, powerful voice. I hope she does some other stuff. And Sutton in Little Women. I went in expecting her to be great. She was fantastic. Brilliant. 'Nuff said. Can you tell I'm a Sutton fan? On a different note, Matt Caplan in RENT really dissappointed me.

[loudasthehelliwant]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 9:58pm

Christian Borle in Spamalot. I had no idea who he was before I saw the show. I heard all the hype about Tim Curry, DHP, Hank Azaria, and even Sara Ramirex, but after the show I just *had* to know who that actor was. He's so overshadowed by the 3 male leads and Sara Ramirez... I was thrilled to see his Drama Desk Nom. Totally impressed by him.

Also, the current Eponine understudy in the Les Miz tour (Marissa McGowan). I saw her twice and the regular Eponine (Melissa Lyons) once, and the regular isn't bad, but the understudy is amazing. Great stage prescence, really beautiful voice. I can't believe she's the understudy...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 4:45pm

I went to see Sandy Duncan in Chicago. She was absent that day and someone called Belle Callaway was playing Roxie....Hmmmmm.

Who is this Belle? Should I stay or come back for Sandy?

Well I decided to stay and was I glad. What a revelation! She knocked my socks off. What a great performer.

I'm glad I stayed. Belle is a star.

[aliceripleysnumber1]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 5:59pm

Jai Rodriguez in RENT tour
Ana Gasteyer in Rocky Horror Show (she was AWESOME! and soo funny)
and last, but NOT least....

Raul Esparza in Rocky Horror Show
This man is one of the most awesome performers I had ever seen. I would LOVE to see him in other shows..I want to see Chitty..BAD!

[Dawn2]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 6:47pm

At the Los Angeles STAGE benefit a few years back, Malcom Gets did a tremendous, scathing "Tradition/To Life". In the same show, the always wondeful Tyne Daly performed "If I Were a Rich Man." Oiy! The irony!

Unexpected in a roaringly funny way - during a production of "Anything Goes" at Lincoln Center, Howard McGillin didn't quite clear the "banquet table" as he leapt onstage and knocked a great deal of the tabletop knick-knacks all over the set and into the pit. He and Patti Lupone were laughing so hard, McGillin got completely lost in his lines. She had to "cue" him to pick up again. Hilarious!

And on the blown-out-of-my-socks category:
Douglas Sills - Scarlet Pimpernel: I went to New York specifically to see Terrence Mann as Chauvelin, and was totally captured by the wonderful time the entire cast was having with this show, and in particular with the pipes of Mr. Sills! Wow!

Hmm... now I'm thinking, and this could go on forever! What a terrific topic!

[Juliet2170]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 7:04pm

the Altar Boyz because i thought it was just about spoofing nsync. i completely missed the real premise but that was the best surprise!

unlike my other surprise of Brooklyn which like in "broadway abridged," i thought was about a girl who GREW UP in Brooklyn
Updated On: 5/3/05 at 07:04 PM

[vbplayer]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:16pm

Many (many) years back in Chicago, I saw "The Wiz" with Ren Woods as Dorothy. All I can say is Stephanie who??? Glinda was played by (it was either) Roz Clark or Roz Kelly. It's the one that didn't have a role on "Happy Days" lol. I remember that she had the entire house in the palm of her hand. I will never forget those performances.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 11:29pm

The only person I can remember questioning and LOVING is JLT--I had heard some clips and was worried--BUT SHE IS AMAZING!! omg..she was fantastic!

[andyf]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 12:42am

Michelle T. in Aida.



Did ANYONE else like her?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 12:57am

Raul in Normal Heart was definately a life/perspective changing, totally orgasmic performance... not that I expected less, but it blew me away.

Unexpected performance? I didn't think David Hyde Pierce was going to be as entertaining as he was. I was a little bit skeptical... but indeed, I was blown away by most everyone. Wasn't too impressed with Tim Curry's performance as a whole, but damn that man has pipes! Vocally one of the best male performances I've seen.

[Sant]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 10:16am

KEVIN RICHARDSON (The Backstreet Boy) - CHICAGO. He was actually very good! Having seen several Billy Flynns, he's one of the best ones. I hated Wet Wet Wet's Marti Pellow!

CHITA RIVERA - CHICAGO. Saw her as Roxie. I wasn't expecting anything special but she totally blew me away!!!! She's in the league of her own!

BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL - MAN OF LA MANCHA. Not only is he a brilliant singer, but he's an amazing actor as well!

Sadly I can't remember the actress's name who played Julie in SHOW BOAT in London. But she was unbelievable! She got standing ovation after singing "Bill"!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/4/05 at 11:33am

I almost forgot about Jason Donovan in Rocky Horror in London. He gave Tim Curry a run for his money.

Sant - Julie was played by Lonette McKee