Unsung Heros of Broadway- Page 2

[lc1965]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:47am

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!)

[janine29]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 10:07am

James Moye- currently in Urinetown formerly of The Full Monty. He is an u/s in Urinetown but has an AMAZING stage presence, incredible voice and is not hard to look at either. I'd like to see some of the career u/s out there get a break in a major role more so than seeing a t.v. "star" as a guest for a limited engagement. I bet there are tons of u/s who deserve a shot!!

BTW, I am new today!!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 6:49pm

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.

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 6:51pm

So Tx--how do you suggest we go about that calandar?

D

[bob8rich]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 7:08pm

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.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 7:16pm

DOBbie, i think the first step is an open call at a rehearsal studio in NYC. Much like when Jack and Karen hold "auditions"...i'll bring the tape measure, you bring the speedos for fittings. We may find some weiners...i mean winners!

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 7:21pm

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

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 7:22pm

Speedos.... the little bitty tight swim suits that male swimmers wear.. they look like briefs..

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 7:24pm

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

D

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:13pm

So... these two guys are walking on the beach wearing there speedos! One guy is getting tons of ooos and ahhhs. The other, nothing. One says to the other " Hey, you want to grab some attention, stuff a sock down your speedo!".

The next day on the beach, the same two guys stroll. The people on the blankets and chairs are staring, giggling, some are falling out laughing.

"I don't get it" says one guy. THe other guy says, "Hey, stupid, next time put the sock down the front of your speedo!"

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:22pm

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.

[InspectorJavert]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:35pm

while he hasnt been in anything since les miserables this past spring, i think one of the unsung heros of broadway is terrence mann. the man's been nominated for the tony twice, and is one of the best actors on broadway.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:44pm

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

[DofB5]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 9:46pm

LOL, PB! As I've said before, this board is an education.

I agree with you Bulldog but I'm just having a bit of fun as well.

D

[Michelleruth]

Posted: 1/10/04 at 2:53pm

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!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/10/04 at 7:41pm

I totally agree about two guys I saw mentioned, James Barbour and Bernard Dotson. 2 very thrilling performers and super great guys to match!

[nyup]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 11:29am

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.

[LloydStamps]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 12:30pm

Among performers, I would think Gregg Edelman would be one of my choices. Saw him this past Sunday in "Wonderful Town," in 1986 in second cast of "Anything Goes" (Leslie Uggams was the lead) and possibly a few times in-between, but I rarely hear anything about him otherwise. Always does an excellent job, yet his billing is not that high. I'm curious why. Not enough films and TV? Not enough scandal?

And, no, I don't know him personally, have never met him, nor am I related to him :)

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 1:04pm

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.

[pitrepower]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 11:03pm

i'm naming an understudy...Carol Linnea Johnson of Mamma Mia! She's great as Tanya and amazing as Donna!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 11:07pm

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

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 11:17pm

David Ayers and Adam Monley were great as Sky

[jsargent]

Posted: 1/13/04 at 11:33pm

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

[lc1965]

Posted: 1/14/04 at 12:48pm

My current favorite unsung hero of Broadway is DONNIE R. KESHAWARZ who went on for George O'Dowd in Taboo last night. He did what George cannot do: act the role movingly & sing it in the right key. George is a performer & he can be wonderful when he connects directly w/ the audience, but he can't act & always throws off Question Mark by singing in the wrong key. Donnie shone last night & should be very proud of his work. He is a pro.