What makes a good/great musical theatre performer?- Page 3

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/15/03 at 4:59pm

Again, from MY sources, it seems that the more abhorrent the behaviour of an actor during a certain run, the more likely they are to be offerred other opportunitues. In other words, from what I've heard, some people are SO awful to deal with and so belligerent and not even that well received, yet are given chance after chance and show after show.

This is yet another unfortunate case of casting directors feining ignorance to an actors reputation, if/when it suits their needs. It's very unlikely that poor behaviour will keep one from the job/role if someone on the creative team wants that performer badly enough.

[jo]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 2:01am

To what extent can a great stage performer enhance the performance of other cast members ( sort of like a theater Pied Piper) - or is the focus completely his and leaves the others fading in the background?

Whom would you consider as great musical theatre stage performers, past and present ?

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 9/16/03 at 12:25pm

Well, I think that a great performer can enhance the performance of other performers tremendously. If a certain performer is generating a lot of energy and is really on any particular night, fellow cast memebers might also absorb that energy and it can be infectous. Also, if an actor is really on one night, one of two things can happen....it forces the other actors to try to get to that level of performance, or they end up being outshined. But most likely in this case, the performers end up gravitating toward the same level as the actor/actress that is on that performance.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[sharon1]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 11:52am

I think you are correct. Most of the time they bring the other performers along with them for the ride. But, that brings another question to thought. Do the good/great ones sometimes make it look to easy. Are they sometimes so in tune with their respectful roles that it might seem easy? What do you think?

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 12:03pm

Great actors do make it look easy. Acting is not easy at all, and a lot of people look at an actor or actress and simply state that they can do that, but what they don't realize is that there is so much involved with acting, and performing numerous times a week. I also feel that acting on the stage is much more difficult than acting in a movie. From my experiences, at least.

Cheers,
The Balladeer

[sharon1]

Posted: 9/17/03 at 12:32pm

You are dead-on about theatre acting being more difficult than movies. My gawd in film you can have a million takes to get it right. On the stage, it is right now. As an actor you get an immediate response. You know how your're doing. I think the great ones do make it look easy and therefore open themselves to more criticism because it all looks so effortless. The become the character and we the audience forget how hard they worked to get the line, the song, the choreoraphy, etc.