Unsung theater heroes of 2008

These are my unsung theater heroes of 2008 --- the people who, by nature of their role or just by fate, didn’t seem to get as much attention as they deserve.

These are in no particular order – there may be spoilers in the descriptions below each listing.



REBECCA NAOMI JONES in PASSING STRANGE
De’Adre Aziza picked up the awards attention last year, but Rebecca Naomi Jones’s Desi gives humanity to the Youth character. And she sings “Come Down Now,” one of the best songs in the show, beautifully.


FRANCIS GUINAN AND SALLY MURPHY of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY
While everyone’s watching Amy Morton, Rondi Reed, and Deanna Dunagan go at it onstage, Francis Guinan and Sally Murphy were quietly giving 2 great performances in very difficult parts. Francis Guinan projected decency and groundedness in the craziest house that you’ve ever visited, and Sally Murphy’s performance was incredibly layered – on seeing the show a second time, watching her reactions, particularly “pre-reveal” when a certain relative’s name is mentioned, was a joy.
(I know August is a 2007 production, but I did not see it until 2008.)


THE DESIGN TEAM for LIZA’S AT THE PALACE
Sure, Liza Minnelli makes or breaks the evening. But Halston’s clothes and the subtle changes in lighting and backdrop by Matt Berman and Ray Klausen help make it as wonderful as it is.


LAURA-LEIGH in BOYS’ LIFE
Is she crazy, or is she just making everything up? Laura-Leigh’s off-kilter Girl doesn’t even have a name and only appears in one scene, but her performance is the one I still remember the most from that production.


CASSIE BECK in PRAYER FOR MY ENEMEY
She takes what could be a stock character and makes us understand the character’s complexities and contradictions.


JENNY DARE PAULIN in DIVIDING THE ESTATE
Yes, I know that some people think she is terrible, but I think she portrayed a spoiled but naive girl who doesn’t understand what is going on around her beautifully.


KAREN OLIVO in IN THE HEIGHTS
and
LEIGH ANN LARKIN in GYPSY
I am a little bit saddened I need to include either of these performers, since in other circumstances and with a different structure to the season, both of them would have gotten the awards and media attention they deserve. Karen Olivo makes you see why Usnavi falls for her. And Leigh Ann Larkin gives a hilarious performance, but also one that makes you understand how deeply unhappy she is – June runs away because she just has to. (I know Karen Olivo won the Astaire Award, but under other circumstances, I think she would have at least been nominated for more.)


J.D. WILLIAMS in STREAMERS
It is hard to portray the “good guy” and get attention for it – playing the colorful villain is probably a lot more fun. But as with Francis Guinan in August:Osage County, J.D. Williams projects the wish to do good, which is not an easy feat.


PAUL RATTRAY in BLACK WATCH
Black Watch is truly an ensemble effort, but if Cammy, who is as close to a central character as there is, doesn’t work, then the play would fall apart. In Paul Rattray’s hands, Cammy works just fine.


Any comments would be welcome. And who are your unsung heroes of 2008?

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Updated On: 12/31/08 at 12:01 PM

I love Karen Olivo. She is beautiful and at the same time she is incredibly talented. I hope WSS is only the beginning for her.

Also, I know its not highly looked upon on here but I think Bailey Hanks should be recognized. It is hard for a girl to come into a Broadway show replacing a very good actress after winning a reality show. I don't think she was drop dead amazing in the role but she certainly was enjoyable to watch and I loved every minute of the show when I saw her. So I think she should be given a nod because she blended right into the role.

Natalie Toro... Tale of Two Cities!!!!

The Set and Light design team of Sunday in the park with George. They deserved 2007 Tony.

Kahtryn Hann in BOEING-BOEING, gave the most hilarious, scene-stealing performance on that stage.
Karen Olivo in IN THE HEIGHTS, deserved a Tony nod.

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Tyler Maynard and John Treacy Egan in The Little Mermaid. Small supporting roles, but they really stood out to me.

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“I agree with Leigh Ann Larkin. Whenever there were interviews with Patti, she never mentions Leigh Ann and only mentions Laura and Boyd.”

I have to say Leigh Ann Larkin too. I think her performance as June was wonderful. Sure Patti, Boyd, and Laura get all, if not most, of the attention, but Patti and Laura, as far as I know, do acknowledge Leigh Ann in interviews too. Patti always talks about what a great company she is working with and once she mentioned “especially Leigh Ann, Laura, and my beloved Boyd.” And Laura talks about singing “If Mama Was Married,” with her and stuff like that. But yeah, Patti, Boyd, and Laura share the most scenes together, so they mention each other the most.


I also must say Christopher Fitzgerald. He and Andrea Martin were the saving grace for me during Young Frankenstein.

Everyone in the RSC's Hamlet who wasn't David Tennant. He was excellent, but his magnetic stage presence didn't really benefit the rest of the company, who are truly superb but couldn't shine until the production was brought back down to a real ensemble piece.

Edward Bennett deserves particular praise for the daunting job of "going on as Hamlet the night before press night when there are hundreds of people in that theatre waiting to see Doctor Who". I mean, he did actually get praise, but he deserves more.

In fact, December has been an interesting time for understudies. Praise to all the 2nd and 3rd covers in La Cage aux Folles who actually went on when those before them in the chain called out sick, and bravo to Graham Norton for having the balls to go onstage three weeks before he was due to start after the internet has been complaining so fiercely about his casting; that's one heckuva dress rehearsal!

And bra-freakin'-VO to Norbert Leo Butz for stepping into Speed-the-Plow. Again, he's had praise, but what a monumental task! He deserves every good word he gets.

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I second Sierra Boggess.

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I think she's just plain bogus.

I also agree with Leigh Ann...terrific! But Patti does mention her time to time, ...I believe Patti said her favourite part of the show (that's not her own) is when she gets to watch Dainty June & her Farmboys! Anyway...

I truly think Jill Santoriello, composer of ATOTC, and the long-standing producers/investors are as well. After 9 (or 16, depending on how you look at it!) years, never giving up and finally making it to Broadway in bold fashion (Big budget.., James Barbour casting.., maintaining several principles from past readings/workshops, etc.) to have those 9 years thrown to shreds by most of the reviews (and having people say that it was sold out didn't help either but shh!). I don't think most people understand that Tale wasn't just thrown together in a year, but has been worked for many many many years...If there were no producers or writers like Tale had on Broadway anymore, could it really be hte same place?

Going by this definition "the people who, by nature of their role or just by fate, didn’t seem to get as much attention as they deserve" and NO disrepect whatsoever to Bailey Hanks. She cannot possibly be on this list.

How did Bailey not get enough attention? She appeared in all the major media (print, radio, tv and web); she headlined a Broadway show; she was the subject of several press releases and "headlined" Paper Mill's HSM.

Again - nothing against her - but she definitely was NOT ignored...

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Not that she wasn't recognized; I just didn't think she was given enough credit for giving a really good performance once she stepped into the role. Yes she got attention through the TV show but a lot of people thought she was not very talented and couldn't hold up the show and she did a lot better than people expected. Not particularly unsung, just underestimated I guess? And unsung in the fact that she was very, very good in the role and was the first really successful reality show winner --> Broadway transfer.