What Are Great Musical Roles That Don’t Sing Much- Page 2

[helvizz]

Posted: 7/16/20 at 3:42pm

The grandmother in Pippin. She pretty much only sings her solo, and is out for the rest of the show (except for a few times where she' ontage, but doesn't even sing or talk at all). It got Andrea Martin a Tony.

The role of the buttler in La Cage aux Folles. Robin de Jesús and Michael Benjamin Washington stole the show in that tiny part and had the audience roaring with laughter, myself included, when I watched the productions of La Cage they were in. Robin even got a Tony nomination (granted, it was a very weak season). The role pretty much only sings chorus parts (except for a few lines in Cocktail Counterpoint).

Herr Schultz in Cabaret only has a few lines in Married and duets It Couldn't Please Me More, but gosh, that character can break your heart. None of those numbers are 'big', the strength of the role is in the book. It got Ron Rifkin the Tony. I never saw him, but I saw Danny Burstein and loved the character.

The drunk lady in Promises, Promises. She's only onstage for one song, which is a duet, but it can be exquisite. Katie Finneran stole the show in the (dull) 2010 production of Promises, Promises in the role. She also walked out of the show with her second Tony.

Maybe Anatole in The Great Comet. I'm not a fan of the show, so I don't really listen to the cast recording, but I remember Lucas Steele's character was what caught my attention in the show, and, if I recall correctly, he didn't have much to sing either, he only sang a few lines in the big numbers.

Updated On: 7/16/20 at 03:42 PM

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 7/16/20 at 3:43pm

Higgins didn't sing much when Harrison played him. I've heard others sing the hell out of it.

[Hot Pants]

Posted: 7/16/20 at 4:14pm

Anatole doesn’t count. He never gets a number completely centered on him, but I’m fairly certain only the two leads sing more than him.

[David10086]

Posted: 7/16/20 at 10:39pm

qolbinau said: "It will be hard to find a better example than the one you posted but I suppose Desiree in A Little Night Music?"

 

Thats the first character I thought of! And Madame Armfeldt - she has a solo, but what an important song it is! 

 

[sabrelady]

Posted: 7/16/20 at 11:57pm

Herbie in GYPSY!  ( had a song but it was cut) sings a lil bit in Together.

Nathan in Guys & Dolls  'shout/sings" Sue Me.

Both bcause the originating actors could carry a tune only in a basket.

[DooWahDiddy]

Posted: 7/17/20 at 3:20pm

What about the King in Once Upon a Mattress? I don't remember how big his role is outside of that one song, but he definitely doesn't sing in it.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/18/20 at 11:18am

Helvizz, really good ones.  And indeed Marge in Promises is a great (tony winning in both Broadway productions) role.  Seeing Finneran''s Marge  - arguably a slight exaggeration - like seeing God.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/18/20 at 11:35am

Miss Hannigan in ANNIE. Only one solo number with “Little Girls” then shares “Easy Street” with Rooster and Lily St. Regis.  Dorothy Loudon took home the Tony Award for creating the role in 1977. 

[C.Jack]

Posted: 7/20/20 at 1:41pm

Dimitri Weissman from Follies never sings. Characters like Aunt Eller and Andrew Carnes in Oklahoma don’t sing that much in particular except for off hand lines in group numbers. Ali Hakim from that show also doesnt sing very much, even his solo number he only talks in.

[C.Jack]

Posted: 7/20/20 at 1:41pm

Dimitri Weissman from Follies never sings. Characters like Aunt Eller and Andrew Carnes in Oklahoma don’t sing that much in particular except for off hand lines in group numbers. Ali Hakim from that show also doesnt sing very much, even his solo number he only talks in.

[C.Jack]

Posted: 7/20/20 at 1:41pm

Dimitri Weissman from Follies never sings. Characters like Aunt Eller and Andrew Carnes in Oklahoma don’t sing that much in particular except for off hand lines in group numbers. Ali Hakim from that show also doesnt sing very much, even his solo number he only talks in.

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 7/25/20 at 5:21pm

DooWahDiddy said: "What about the King in Once Upon a Mattress? I don't remember how big his role is outside of that one song, but he definitely doesn't sing in it.

That's a great one! Although I wouldn't really say he's a very major role, he definitely has a huge part considering he only has one line but is in like 3 songs besides the group numbers.