Unsung Heros of Broadway — Page 2

Oh, well, if that's what your post was about then you really ARE off the mark! lol! Techs, house staff, etc. tend to LOVE the theatre, live & breathe the theatre; it's not just performers. Yes, there are some for whom it's just a job, I will agree w/ you wholeheartedly there. And their bent is not thought highly of by their co-workers. I work in theatre & am not a performer & could not imagine NOT doing it. I tend to attract people to me who feel the same way, so perhaps my view is somewhat skewed because of it. But, I can confidently say that I know literally hundreds of house & tech staff members who do NOT view this as "just a job" & many, many performers who feel that it is. Rather than questioning their passion or commitment, one (not necessarily you, but one) might be envious of their ability to make a healthy living doing something they love. And, yes, I agree 100% that teachers & community theatre members w/ a passion are unsung heroes as well. (Wish there were more!) Cheers! (Interesting exchange, BTW, thanks!)

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um, LC, i think you were addressing my post. And in no way did i question anyone's commitment to their craft. Of course it's "more than a job", anyone with a real career treats their profession as "more than a job." i was just saying that there seemed to be some logic out there that techies and other staff were more "unsung" than performers, that's all. i was pointing out their similarities, celebrating them all, and meant nothing derogatory. Sorry if any of my posts implied anything negative to you.

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Robbo - concerning your question about Beauty & the Beast and The Lion King. I though B & the B was delightful with a wonderful score. I'm afraid the LK bored the ass off me. I admired the theatricality of it and Julie Taymor's inventive direction - but after a short while the novelty wore off and it became boring. Essentially it is a musical in serach of a score - apart from the handful of Elton John/Tim Rice songs which are excellent (especially Can You Feel The Love Tonight?), it is filled up with a collection of songs by other writers that are instantly forgetable. I play the CD of Alan Menken's fab B & the B songs often. I did not even bother buying the LK CD!

BTW, I saw Steve Blanchard in B and the B when I saw it on Broadway - and he was great. In London I saw John Barrowman - and he as always was fantastic. He is very much an unsung hero who has not received the mega stardom he deserves. He has done most of his work in the West End (currently in Anything Goes and he is super in it) but was in Sunset Boulevard on Broadway as well as London.. I saw him in The Fix at the Donmar some years ago and that was an awesome performance. I also saw him in Matador in London and Putting It Together on Broadway. Unfortunatelty I never got to see him in Miss Saigon in London but heard that he was outstanding in that too. In fact, he is consistently outstanding in every role he plays.

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Ok, I know I'm setting myself up here but I honestly don't know--what is a speedo? How can I bring something when I don't have clue what it is?

D

Ok--thanks. I take it bling blings are optional?

D

The unsung heros are the unrecognized writers, composers, lyricists, librettists, actors, actresses, singers, dancers, directors, designers, and other creative talent who continually look for a means to practice their art and share their talent with theatre audiences, getting little renumeration and respect. Despite the odds they continue, battling a world of "not interested" and even faith in themselves sometimes, to create magic...for audiences with so little respect for what they're seeing onstage or all the blood, sweat and tears that makes the magic happen that they see nothing wrong in wearing their jogging outfits to the theatre.

Broadway Bulldog.

I think that James Barbour is a great performer! He was a wonderful Beast, as well as an amazing Edward Rochester in the Broadway cast of "Jane Eyre".

See Ya!

Phantom05

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I have to agree with you, Sheekala. Steve Blanchard gets my vote.

By the way, a good friend of mine just told me that Steve will be taking a few months off from "B & B" and starring in "Johnny Bravo" (previews start in March). Can't remember where she read this. Should be great fun! I am definitely going!

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The unsung heros of Broadway are the DANCE CAPTAINS of every show. They are responsible for maintaining the quality of what the audience sees every night on that stage long after the glow of opening night has faded. The are constantly putting new cast members into the show and rehearsing all the swings,understudies and covers. They deserve much more praise and $ then they ever recieve.

Chuck Wagner - an amazing talent who understudied the Beast for how many years? Also Fuschia Walker - How did she get passed up for Effie? Not too mention every AD, SM and ASM for every show on and off Broadway - the backbones of every running show.

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Same goes for Summer Rognlie (great Donna and Tanya) and Sandy Rosenberg (great Rosie).

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Douglas Sills. Hands down. He has the voice of a god.