What Do You Think Is The MOST DEMANDING Role in Musical Theater?- Page 3

[apdarcey]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 3:14am

um... jean valjean... so emotionally and vocally draining... doesn't need the dancing though, but neither do a lot of the ones mentioned...

[Sant]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 7:40am

Norma Desmond of SUNSET BOULEVARD.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 9:01am

I totally agree with you gherbert. People on this board are showing their severe lack of knowledge of American musical theatre by acknowledging the the 'most demanding' roles currently on Broadway. That's my problem with this board. There are some good shows out now, but seriously.....nothing on Broadway now can truly compare to the old hits!!!

[Sant]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 9:24am

So what you're saying is that there are no demanding roles on Broadway today? That 'the golden oldies' were much more demanding? Well, I think that just shows YOUR severe lack of knowledge of musical theatre!

Being on stage most of the time does not mean the role is challenging one! It all depends on what you DO while you're there. I wouldn't call the role of Dolly a really demanding one, though she is on stage quite a bit. But I'd say the role of The Phantom is a demanding one (though he's on only about 45 mins of the whole run of the show) because it's demanding vocally AND emotionally!

So even though there are a really great and tough roles in the golden oldies - like Mama Rose - there ARE great and demanding ones in the contemporary productions as well. Maybe your 'dwelling in the past' prevents you from seeing the great performances on B'way today...

[Jon]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 9:33am

"From This Moment On" was added for the recent revival of KISS ME KATE. In every other production, Kate goes nearly an hour without any singing.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:02am

Oh please Sant....get a grip. I am a musical theatre actor who does this as a profession. I am highly knowledgable on the subject of musical theatre. If you noticed my first post, I said one of the most challenging roles in musical theatre is Charity in Sweet Charity. Having done the show, I know what a demanding role it is.

I agree that roles of today are indeed challenging, but do you see Elphaba having to sing, dance, and act while being onstage the entire show? Nope. Sure...Tracy Turnblad may be physically demanding, but is she onstage the entire show...dancing Fosse choreography? I think not.

And, I'm not saying only the 'golden oldies' contain challenging roles. I just feel that in order to be considered a 'most demanding' a role must requires an actor to use more than one (preferably all three) of their 'threats'.

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:06am

Maybe not the most demanding, but certainly challenging for an actress, is Eliza from My Fair Lady.

nycdncr - I would assume that the role of Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz fits your criteria.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:10am

I think probably yes. Having seen the show....I was blown away by Hugh! The material he was given to work with wasn't the best, but he took it and ran with it...making it a stellar performance. Demanding...yes. Most demanding? I'll get back to you on that.

I think one of the most demanding male roles in musical theatre is the Emcee in CABARET.

[PleaseChangeMe]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:17am

"...nothing on Broadway now can truly compare to the old hits!!!"

I agree, but with two exceptions: Caroline and Rent. The only two intelligent shows on Broadway. TWO. Sad.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:19am

We probably should have put some criteria on this to begin with. Should "demanding" only be limited to triple threats? Mama Rose is a difficult role to sing, but the character has no dancing. Nycdncr is correct in referencing Fosse choreography because his choreography can be extremely difficult to execute. So it really depends on what the criteria of demanding is.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:25am

I agree with the original RENT. Now the show seems to be a sell-out. Does it really need 'stars' like Mr. Lachey or some washed up Spice Girl? RENT is all about not selling out, and that's exactly what it's producers have done...

But....I digress. This thread is about demanding roles.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:43am

Hugh Jackman as Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. Singing, dancing, acting, schtick...only an exceptional performer can carry it off.

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:46am

Alright, all things considered I have to drop this in. I don't know how many of you have seen Elaine Stritch: At Liberty but it's AMAZING and she's OLD. She sings, she dances, she does the whole show and she fantastic. I know it's a one woman show and I think it would be fair to say that one person shows are generally strenuous... you ARE the only person up there. But this one stands out in my mind...

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 10:52am

At pushing 3 hours, Elaine Stritch's show is possibly the longest solo show in recent times, possibly ever, surely?

[Kris2]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:17am

"I'm not sure how valid of an example Aida is. I *know* that I have biases about that show and about stunt casting and I don't want this thread to become another battle about that issue, but before you use that as an example, I think you need to look at those two things in cotext with one another. The only people who did not do all eight performances a week were the "pop stars" who played the role. Up until Toni was cast, that sort of scheduling wasn't the case. Yes, it's a demanding role, but there *were* plenty of people who could handle it.

*steps off soapbox*"

Luvtheemcee, you are quite right. I apologize =D

I don't believe the most demanding roles in musical theater should be limited to triple threats because I don't really think anyone can say that Mama Rose shouldn't be counted. It may take different types of "skill" to perform certain roles or aspects of a role, but I feel the emotional and vocal demands of something like Mama Rose are as demanding as dancing for 2 hours on stage. Elphaba seems to be extremely demanding vocally, but not so much in other areas. A lot of her solos or duets, she just stands and sings. Emotionally, it's not as well developed as it could've been. I still enjoy the show though. So even if I wouldn't rank Elphaba and Tracy Turblad among the MOST demanding roles ever, I still think they're hard because of the amount they have to do in relation to their shows.

[nycdncr]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:33am

I agree that counting only triple threat roles is not the way to determine the 'most demanding' role. Of course Mama Rose is one of the most demanding roles in musical theatre. Nearly every role created that's worth it's weight has demanding moments.

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:48am

I agree with most of the roles already mentioned. The emcee, Guido, Mamma Rose, Caroline...
I dont know if its the MOST demanding role, but the Leading Player in Pippin is a really hard role. He is on for almost the entire show, sings about half the songs and dances up a storm. If you watch the DVD, you can see the sweat dripping off of Ben Vareen's face by the end of the show.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:49am

Hi Gothampc,

Momma Rose DOES dance--"You'll Never Get Away From Me" number.

Plus, she performs entire "Dainty June and Her Farmboys" number SHADOWING her daughter Dainty June. :)

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:53am

Yes Mamma Rose dances a little, but it is in no way the extent of Charity or George M.

[magruder]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:55am

Has anyone mentioned Annie Oakley? Not a big dancing role, but the original version has something like 10 songs for Annie, comic songs, wistful songs, belting songs, ballads. Sally Adams in Call Me Madam is no picnic either. Between those and the aforementioned Rose, Merman really had some tough, demanding roles throughout her career.

Two Gertrude Lawrence roles, Liza Elliot in Lady in the Dark and Anna Leonowens in The King & I are a bit of a workout. (Lawrence performed in King & I up to three weeks before she died. Take that, Donna Murphy!)

Tevye really does it all too, ... comedy, poignancy, quite a bit of singing, and dancing Jerome Robbins choreography...no small feat.

I agree with others who have mentioned Eva Peron, Effie White and Caroline Thibodeaux. Those roles are voice destroyers - truly, a superhuman task to sing eight times a week.

Another role that hasn't been mentioned...Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along. Sondheim does a subtle thing by having the keys move higher and higher throughout the night, so that the actors sound younger as the show goes back in time. After a long show, "Our Time" has Frank singing some really punishing notes.

[beans]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 11:59am

most demanding role? being strapped with fifty pounds or wire and material or more and being told to act like an animal for the lion king. i'd say that would be pitiful. (fun but hard)

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 12:03pm

Dgrant,

Eliza Doolittle? Yes!!!

What other role demands that you transform from Cockney flower girl with childish emoptions to mature British upper class woman; have a FULL-BLOWN soprano range; be able to dance ("Wouldn't It Be Loverly?") and pull off SHAVIAN dialogue--some of the MOST DIFFICULT in THEATER--hands down.

Julie Andrews did it when she was 20--what a MAGNIFICENT ACHIEVEMENT!!!

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 12:05pm

"Another role that hasn't been mentioned...Franklin Shepard in Merrily We Roll Along. Sondheim does a subtle thing by having the keys move higher and higher throughout the night, so that the actors sound younger as the show goes back in time. After a long show, "Our Time" has Frank singing some really punishing notes."

Not to mention that "Franklin Shepard, Inc." is probably one of the most difficult songs Sondheim has ever written, so it can't be easy to play Charley either. Updated On: 10/9/04 at 12:05 PM

[Princeton78]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 12:06pm

Along the same lines as Eliza Doolittle...I'd say Bill Snibson in "Me and My Girl" is a doozie of a part. Quite demanding..have to be a triple threat and a stellar physical comedian.

Bobby Child in "Crazy for You" also comes to mind...

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/9/04 at 12:11pm

Margo,

You are RIGHT about SWEET CHARITY. Gwen never sang "Where Am I On Going?" during matinee performances.

Re: THE ACT. Liza's choice to "synch" some numbers made role LESS demanding and caused a BIG STINK. Theatergoers were OUTRAGED to find out they had paid $60 (in those days) to see Liza in person and then were treated to a recording! Even Liza found "lip-synching" role TOO DIFFICULT and started doing ONLY SEVEN performances a week!!! :)