What Inspires You? — Page 2

Well, like BroadwayNYC, the city inspires me because it has so much opportunity that can be taken advantage of. My biggest inspirations on Broadway though are Bernadette Peters and Idina Menzel. I had seen AGYG from the last row about 4 years ago, and was still struck by Bernadette's performance. That's when I became a big fan of her, and that's been growing ever since. And Idina, I also had a really bad seat for Wicked, and when she came out and sang "The Wizard and I", I was blown away. I had never heard of her before I saw Wicked, and after I saw that show, began to listen to my "Rent" cast recording. I had never listened to it before, when I got it, and seriously, I don't know why. I got "Still I Can't Be Still" and "The Wild Party" for Christmas and that's when I realized what an amazing performer Idina is, and very versatile (which has already been established). She's also a very nice person. At the Wicked cd signing, she actually payed attention to what I was saying to her, about how much I loved her performance, etc., and seemed to appreciate it. Wow I wish I could be like those two women when I get older....

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Bernadette Peters
Stephan Sondhiem as well as Stephan Schwartz
My voice instructor/musical theatre director R. Ursan
Julie Andrews
Johnathan Larson *BIGTIME**

Idina Menzel. Period.

Also Jonathon Larson, Natasha Katz, Eugene O'Neill, and Stephen Sondheim, to name a few...

With all the various postings in the last 48 hours I thought this was an "oldie but goodie" worth bringing back up for discussion.

And at current, young broadwaystar2b inspired me today.

Broadway in general has inspired me. I mean, what other place is as exciting and memorable, that you also have to work your butt off to achieve in. I mean, Hollywood is basically all about glamour and beauty....talent is way down the list in their concern. Broadway, is the average guy's venue. People who have come from nothing to fulfill the dreams in a great show is awe inspiring. Broadway is what really made me want to be an actor/singer. Even if I don't make it to broadway, it will always be my inspiration.

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But, if we are diving into musical theatre itself, I would say my inspirations are:

PEOPLE: Anthony Warlow (Duh), Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jonathan Larson (Duh), and others

SHOWS: Phantom of the Opera, RENT, Parade, and so on.

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Any stunt casted actor that actually turns in a good performance consistently in a play/musical. Why? Because I believe in redemption and threatre is the one place where some of these allied artists can find it. Many wander over to theatre because it remains the one venue in which they can make an artistic statement of some sort, removing themselves from the banality of radio-friendly pop music and triteness of Tinseltown.

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Updated On: 7/8/04 at 02:49 PM

Desingers that inspire me:
David Rockwell
Bob Crowley
Heidi Ettinger (or Landesman)
Julie Taymor
Robin Wagner
Eugene Lee
Karen TenEyck

Composers/Lyricists that inspire me:
Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman
Jonathan Larson
Cole Prter
Alan Menken, Howard Ashman
Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
Frank Loesser

Composers/lyricists:
Jonathan Larson (he's my number 1)
Stephen Schwartz
Andrew Lloyd Webber
They're all incredible guys who have contributed so much to theatre.

I'm inspired by any person or show that people said would never succed, yet they went far. Or the people who started as nothing and worked their way up to lead or supporting, or even a Tony nomination or win.

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Idina Menzel and Sutton Foster, for their passion and incredible talent.

Cool! FIDDLER at Olympic Plaza? I had no idea -- this a ATP thing? And definitely, look for an email. That'd be great!

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Sean,

The company that is putting it on is called Summerstock Conservatory...Last year they out on Guys and Dolls in Olympic Plaza (floating stage built on the water). I designed the sets for that, and was actually hired as an actor to sing the role of Rusty Charlie, but that was more coincidence. This year I am more invloved in acting than in sets.

Hopefully see you there,
Akiva

what, or i should really say who, inspires me to want to be a part of the theater world are everyone who is involved with this business. i think that everyone works so hard to pull off what they do, and i just really respect that. everyone is so damn nice too.

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