Where have all the Broadway stars gone?

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:41pm

Here's an interesting thought. And let me preface by saying I am not trying to anger ANYONE. I remember reading an artice in the Times maybe a year or so ago about Broadway stars. I was thinking about it a little bit lately and so I decided to see what people think.

It seems to me that Broadway is in need of true stars again. Today, people don't get hired unless they can "American Idol" their way through songs. It seems they just have to look pretty and be able to wail their way to God knows what note. Where have all the Ethel Mermans, Carol Burnetts, Julie Andrews, and Angela Lansburys gone? The last of a dying breed of true Broadway stars seem to be Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone.

I'm not saying I don't appreciate the performances that some of these phenomenal young women are giving on Broadway eight times a week. But what used to make people a star now gets them cut at auditions - originality. None of the women I mentioned above are perfect singers - most of them do the exact things we're taught NOT to do in every theatre class we take. But people like Liza don't need to loose their habits onstage because those habits are what make them mind-blowingly brilliant. It the kind of stuff that makes us love to watch Bernadette sing "Rose's Turn" - she can't sing that role, but BY GOD what a moving performance!

Let's see some more of these individuals on Broadway! I would love to go see someone who just had IT rather than someone who has the perfect voice. There are so many technicaly good singers out there that I can't tell who is who anymore. Is the same girl in WICKED and BROOKLYN the Musical AND RENT? Mind you, it's not all their fault. Shows aren't being written like they used to be.

What happened to the musicals that used to let the stars shine? There's something about Michael Jeter in GRAND HOTEL that doesn't happen anymore. Mr. Tune knows how to work a musical number. We don't see Willamanias on stage anymore. We see Dancing Queens. (Sometimes literally.) Gregory Hines in JELLY'S LAST JAM comes to mind. Utterly brilliant. They wrote that show for him and you couldn't tear your eyes off of him. Not because he was singing so brilliantly, but because whatever he did was amazing.

I regret that I was not old enough to have seen Jennifer Holliday and the original cast in DREAMGIRLS. There was a star performance. (And it has already been discussed in another thread, but): yes, she's over the top and she makes crazy facial expressions and strange body movements. And my god, she vocalizes while she's inhaling!!! AND EVERY LAST MINUTE IS SO RIVETING AND AMAZING AND WONDERFUL THAT YOU CAN'T BEAR TO LOOK AWAY!

But I digress. I wish performances like these existed today. I wish that theatrical producers would stop giving us the same star with a different name in every show. All of them good and amazingly talented, but most of whom have lost their individuality in an effort to get cast versatilely. All of whom sound like they just got done competing on "American Idol."

I make it sound very dismal, and I don't really find Broadway to be in THAT sad a state, but it's something I've been tossing around in my a while and I thought I'd see if anyone has an opinion about it as well. Feel free to agree, to disagree, or to INTELLIGENTLY challenge any of the above.

Thanks!

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:50pm

Yes, Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, Audra McDOnald, Kristin Chenoweth and Sutton Foster all sound like they just came off of American Idol.

And your description of a person with imperfect skills, but quirks and personality that makes one brilliant couldn't possibily describe Idina Menzel at all.


Now, I DO see what you're saying, but I think you're talking more about the state of SHOWS that are being created rather than their stars. People are writing shows today with the intention of keeping them running. The show is the star now, not the person.

You are also looking back into the past. Of course it's easy to see that the people you mentioned are legends and stars because they already HAVE become legends. You shouldn't keep your eyes closed while the process may be happening for some of todays stars.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 12:50 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:53pm

I do agree with you, however, the fault isn't in the talent of the performers these days, but in the theatregoers and pop culture today.

Back when Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, and Barbra Streisand, etc. were all huge stars thanks to Broadway, American pop culture had a place for them. That was a time when film studios and television shows and record labels looked to Broadway to find their next big thing.

If the climate were still like that today, you can bet that we would have some huge stars. We do have Ethel Mermans today...it's just that the general climate is so different.

We can now look to people like Victoria Clark, Kristin Chenoweth, Carolee Carmello, Tonya Pinkins, Laura Benanti, Rebecca Luker, Audra McDonald, Marin Mazzie, Bebe Neuwirth, Heather Headley, Christine Ebersole, Donna Murphy, Faith Prince, Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye, Beth Leavel, La Chanze, and even Sara Ramirez to inspire us on stage, even if they may not be the Ethel Merman's of tomorrow.

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:55pm

Great point! I love Ms. Clark and Miss O'Hara. And it's true, I do believe that it is the mostly to blame on the show and not the individual. I think everyone has that little bit of originality, or star quality, or IT factor, or whatever inside them, I just think it gets supressed and I want to see more of it.

I would love to challenge producers to create a show that will run AND create a star at the same time. Like I said, I'm not that upset about it, it's just an interesting question. Thanks for your insight.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:01pm

You won't find a producer nowadays willing to risk all that money and have a show written FOR a single performer that isn't a guaranteed sell.

Sure, backstage things happen that force people like Sutton Foster into the spotlight to become virtual overnight sensations, but the days where mediocre shows can run with amazing stars is gone.

Back in the 50's, REDHEAD had a healthy run AND won a Tony for star Gwen Verdon. No, the show is not very good - it was simly a vehicle for Verdon - and people ate it up. Today, we have great people in mediocre shows - like CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER'S LIFE.

In 1997, producers tried to create a new triple threat sensation in Karen Ziemba via STEEL PIER. WHile Ziemba was quite good in the show, the show was mediocre and flopped.

Audiences want different things these days. They don't want to pay $100 to go see a dancer perform brilliant choreography - and we have television, video games, and falling chandeliers to thank for that. People's expectations just keep getting higher - not as far as material - but certainly as far as visual stimuliation.

It's the audiences that don't want to see shows like the ones you mention. Sure, us theatre people would, but a family of 4 coming in from Nebraska isn't going to want to shell out almost $400 to see a show with a star they've never heard of.

[AngusN]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:14pm

All I can say is Thank God we don't have Ethel Merman on Broadway today, how would she possibly cope in a musical like Wicked? There are 2 female leads, she'd make someone find a way for her to play both leads at the same time.
Just kidding!
BroadwayGirl107 you're absolutely right, it because shows are written to stay open and that they are what it is all about these days, not the star vehicle. (although they do help)
We must embrace and support the wonderful young performers we have and remember that they are learning and developing their craft and maybe in years to come will be remembered as one of 'theatre's greatest performers'. Kristin Chenoweth (youngish), Sutton Foster, Kelli O' Hara, Laura Benanti, Steph Block to name but a few.

[mathewbrock]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:18pm

Karen Ziemba is the little star that just wouldn't happen. She works ALL THE TIME, and she's really wonderful, but for some reason she just can't be a star. She's like everybody's favorite first replacement.

It's true. No one wants to shell out $100 a seat for a mediocre show with a star they've never heard of. No one wants to shell out $100 a seat for anything. But that's a different thread. Somone else can post the "How to Fix the Financial System that Makes 99% of Broadway Shows Close" thread.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:20pm

Hey, I'm all for bad shows closing.

Karen Ziemba baffles me. She's good, but she's never BRILLIANT. She was good in CONTACT, CHICAGO, STEEL PIER, and NEVER GONNA DANCE. I'm still waiting to see her big break...

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:21pm

I agree with a lot of what you are saying mathewbrock, but Broadway is a different beast nowadays. The Golden Age of the Great White Way is gone forever I am sad to say. The "American Idol" casting drives me NUTS. There are so many talented actors out there who aren't working because there is a pop star in the role who MIGHT draw in the crowds.

Every once in a while, however, there is a performance that makes you really believe you are seeing a Broadway star. Such was the case of Heather Headley in Aida for me.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:26pm

I`m not just saying this because I like him but Nathan Lane is one of broadway`s biggest stars now!

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:34pm

I wish 'stars' would stay with their shows longer. At one point, Adam Pascal was in 'Cabaret' while 'Rent' and 'Aida' were still running. I saw 'Spamalot' just a year after it opened, and virtually the entire original cast was gone. Can anyone be a 'star' doing a short run? Would Carol Channing have been a 'star' if she had only done 'Hello Dolly' for three months???

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:38pm

To your point madbrian, there was Hugh Jackman. Aside from being SEXY as hell, I understand he didn't miss one performance in his year stint in the boy from oz. I think he is incredibly talented and should be commended for his dedication.

Then...there are people like Donna Murphy...whom I LOVE, but girl needs to not miss so many performances!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:48pm

Let's not bring up Donna Murphy again. Apparantly, she has undisclosed health problems.

Hugh Jackman only missed a week or so of performances when he was on vacation - and for that week, the show closed down.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:50pm

I was not aware of the Donna health issues, so I take it back! :) But, it's not just her...it seems like whenever I go to a show someone is out. When I went to see Chitty, FIVE principles were understudies. Is that just something I notice??

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:54pm

Oh, I agree. Thank god for people like Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, etc.

[Baine]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:02pm

I have only been seeing shows live for a few years now, so I haven't seen as many of the greats as many on this board have--the closest I've come is Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Joanna Gleason, etc.

That being said, I think the most ENJOYABLE stage presence of a "non-great" would have to be the times I've seen Sutton Foster or when I saw Hugh Jackman. Both of these people just had this...overwhelming charisma and stage presence. They had a way of sucking me into the character that they were playing so completely that I forgot I was watching a show--they WERE their characters. They had so much energy that you FELT it as you watched them on stage. It isn't often that I feel that, but they had IT. Not to mention, Sutton IS a triple-threat. I truly think that she will be the next big thing. Besides, she's been prominent in three shows, winning a Tony for one and being nominated for the other two. How often does that happen?

Other great actors in today's theatre that I've seen include Michael Cerveris (who is amazing at everything, not just Sweeney, though his portrayal is brilliant in and of itself), Neil Patrick Harris and Kelli O'Hara. They all have vast amounts of the IT factor.

We don't have big stars on Broadway too like we used to because, as someone mentioned, there is no place for them elsewhere in today's world. Most of them aren't in a bunch of movies, etc. and the musical itself doesn't draw audiences to the theatres the way that it used to. Neither does Broadway itself, especially with the rising ticket prices, which pull people even further away. The same thing could be said about cast recordings themselves. They aren't huge money-makers anymore and we're seeing more problems arise because of this.

So our Broadway Stars.....they're still HERE, they're just not here in the way they used to be. Because of today's society, they can't shine as brightly as they would have if they were born in another lifetime.

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:09pm

Triple threat wise, Charlotte d'Amboise has the quality of the triple threats of the Golden Age. Especially the ORIGINAL triple threat, Gwen Verdon.

And then we have the triple threats who have the ability of legend status - Ann Reinking and Bebe Neuwirth.

And then we have one of the last Golden Age legendary triple threats still standing. Chita Rivera. We are so lucky to still have her.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:15pm

Charlotte d'Amboise ROCKS and once ACL opens, people will really notice her. Her Roxie in CHICAGO is the BEST Roxie ever. And she danced her tail off in CONTACT.

Bryn Dowling, Aaron Lazar and Norbet Leo Butz have proven themselves and will only grow.

[Baine]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:16pm

*thread-jacks*

Haha, speaking of Chita Rivera, I am listening to "Kiss of the Spider Woman" as we speak...type?...right now at work!

*/end thread-jack*

Oh, and EponineAmneris, how could I forget Norbert? He is one of my favorite actors out there! I'm so happy to see him getting so much more attention than he used to...I'm so glad that he's done so well! (Also wishes Adam Pascal would come back to Broadway.....)
Updated On: 6/20/06 at 02:16 PM

[AshleyBrownFan123]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:20pm

the next Merman/Rivera/Andrews will be Eden Espinosa and Ashley Brown with Poppins and Wicked(see my picture on side)
<------------

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:26pm

Um...it's a tad premature to deem Brown and Espinoza the next Broadway stars.

I am willing to bet that they will not be. They still have a lot to proove...both only have two Broadway credits to their name. I don't see anything special about either of them.

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:29pm

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that movie stars are overwhelmingly the superstars of our time, and their personas and performance styles are quite different from the old Broadway model.

And, madbrian, you make a good point about actors not staying with shows very long, but Adam isn't perhaps the best example. He was with Rent for two years and Aida for over three years of its four and a half year run.

[Baine]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:39pm

Yeah, Adam tends to go with shows from Workshop to long into their runs. Weren't he and Anthony Rapp the only two cast members to open the show overseas, or am I just imagining that in my memory? lol! Our boy tends to stick with a show...and even comes back to close it or do an anniversary show!

And I definitely agree with Chloe about the movie stars being the big "Stars" of our time...thanks in part to the tabloids, Access Hollywood, internet, etcs. of the world......much of which comes in part from today's mass technology.



*sidenote* Mmmm, you know what other actor I love? Hunter Foster. I'm so sad that he always seems to be overshadowed by his sister, amazing as she is. */end*
Updated On: 6/20/06 at 03:39 PM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:44pm

Adam Pascal is loyal and stays for long runs. I was lucky to see him in RENT and AIDA LOVE him. He needs to come back to the Broadway stage... Yes, he and Anthony were the only two to open overseas.

Baine, your icon is cool

[Chloe]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:47pm

Actually Wilson and Jesse were also in the London production with Anthony and Adam.