Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types of characters...?- Page 2
Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types of characters...?
#25re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 1:14pm
Hmm, well I'm going to put my 2 cents in for Susan Egan. She went from sweet little ingenue while playing Bellie to a scheming Princess Leonide in the Triumph of Love to the mess that we lovingly call Sally Bowls and right back to perky Millie Dillmount. She has tackled a lot of areas, and her determination not to be pegged as a squeaky clean ingenue has certainly worked in my opinion.
Updated On: 8/7/05 at 01:14 PM
#26re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 1:18pmI would second (insert what number we are actually at) Raul Esparza and say Terrence Mann.
"Are you a theatre junkie?" -my boss
professor
Stand-by Joined: 7/3/05
#27re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 1:28pm
Already mentioned:
Cherry Jones
Bill Irwin
Donna Murphy
Not yet mentioned:
Diane Venora
Jeffrey Wright
Audra McDonald (who easily moves between straight plays (Shakespeare even) and musicals, something not many perfomers do)
"Inside every actor there is a Tiger, a Pig, an Ass, and a Nightingale. You never know which one is going to show up."
-John Michael Higgins in FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
grizzabella
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/05
#28re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:00pm
Yep, I toss my vote in with Donna Murphy. She has enormous range and is always believeable. Also not yet mentioned, Lynn Redgrave who has done plays, movies, tv, the lot.
On the male side, definitely Norbert Leo Butz, Jeff Goldblum, Daniel Davis, and without a doubt, the amazing Johnny Depp.
"And the postman sighed as he scratched his head, you really rather thought she ought to be dead..."
Ruth Sherwood
Leading Actor Joined: 10/4/04
#29re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:07pm
Donna Murphy- She's gone from playing the completely unattractive Fosca to the beautiful Helen to the quirky Ruth Sherwood.
Susan Egan- She was really harsh in "Cabaret", but was then very soft and sweet as Millie.
"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one."
-Stella Adler
wendy72
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/04
#30re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:12pmGotta agree with Norbert and Bill Irwin.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#31re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:13pmYeah gotta go with Norb on this esp whe u see his range of acting credits- ie Buicks, Saved, Juno & the Paycock then Emcee in Cabaret, Jamie in L5y, Fiyero Wicked and of course Freddy in DRS. What a range!
#32re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:18pm
Amen to Raul and Meryl Streep.
Jessica Lange. God I love her.
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#33re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:39pm
Idina, not so much. Her character type seems very specific to me.
Donna Murphy, yes. Sara Ramirez is also a very versatile actress, believe it or not. (Excellent classical actress!)
Non-Broadway, I want to mention Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu, and as far as Kate Winslet (example of some her roles in her AMEX commerical).
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BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#34re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 2:59pm
Rachel York
(Edit) i agree that Idina is a specific Charecter type
Updated On: 8/7/05 at 02:59 PM
CurtainUp
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/9/04
#35re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:11pm
Not the end all and be all of versatility, but I think Norbert's up there. For him to play an adorable schlub such as Freddy, a sexy leading man such as Roger and a realistic young guy such as Jamie takes a lot of talent. He must be an amazing comic and dramatic actor.
Oy, how could I forget Susan Egan! She's hit every end of the spectrum to the innocent and smart Belle to the risque and seemingly worldly Sally Bowles. She's amazing.
Rosencrantz: "Be happy - if you're not even HAPPY what's so good about surviving? We'll be all right. I suppose we just go on."
- from Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Updated On: 8/7/05 at 03:11 PM
#36re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:13pm
Cherry Jones, without a doubt.
(No pun intended)
#37re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 3:54pm
I disagree with Idina and Kristen..
Kristen always plays very blonde/bubbly characters (Sally in CB, Galinda in Wicked) and Idina seems to play characters who belt the hell out of everything, are people who want to prove themselves, are kinda disliked or hard to deal (Kate in wild party(lippa), Elphaba in Wicked, Maureen in Rent)
Definitely agree with Raul and Anthony Rapp
And I'm gonna add Norbert Leo Butz to the list
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
#38re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:05pm
Not to be mean or anything... but Norbert is already on the list.
The first person I thought of was Hugh Jackman
NIL MAGNUM NISI BONUM "No greatness without goodness."
RENThead, enLIGHist, Ozalot, Grobanite, Ringer, Pickwick LW, Wicked, Lost, American Dreams, West Wing
Lea S. Hugh J. Adam P. Idina M. Matt M. Taye D.
cserannie
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/1/05
#39re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 4:35pm
I would say: John Lihgow. That man could play anything 
Norbert Leo Butz quotes about John Lithgow: "He's really clumsy. One of the joys in life is to watch a great big huge man totally wipe out backstage. It takes John about three minutes to hit the floor. It's like watching a Great Sequoia falling gracelessly."
#40re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 5:30pm
"Not to be mean or anything... but Norbert is already on the list."
Oh, i'm sorry. then I agree with Norbert. :)
"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living
piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character
and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and
incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness.
Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish
it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a
rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the
real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get
along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small
unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings.
Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end.
But end it does. Another part of you vanishes.
That's show business."-Anonymous
#41re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 5:35pm
Did someone really say Adam Pascal? God, you all know I love the man, but really, I wouldn't exactly call him "versatile" and mean it the same way I would for most of the worthy people mentioned on this thread. His acting skills have expanded, and he's become more flexible, but his marketability is also very limited simply because of the way his voice sounds. He's not really someone I'd consider to be an actor who could do anything, by any stretch.
THAT said, Raúl Esparza. I think he's one of the most versatile actors we have, and truly believe that he can do anything, and make anything great.
playbill_signer_05
Leading Actor Joined: 1/23/05
#42re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 5:45pm
Tim Curry!
Leading Actor Joined: 12/31/69
#43re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 6:28pm
Ellen Foley
#44re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 6:53pm
Susan Egan (Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast, Millie)
Stephanie J. Block (Fanny Brice, Liza Minnelli, Elphaba)
"It breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a Taco." -David Sedaris
I love Les Miserables.
My new pic is me(on the left)at my last dance recital:(
I love Les Miserables.
My new pic is me(on the left)at my last dance recital:(
#45re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 6:55pm
Honestly: Harvey Fierstein. He also wins for most versatile Tony Awards!
Also:
Carolee Carmello
Norbert Leo Butz
Raul Esparza
Mandy Patinkin
BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"
Updated On: 8/7/05 at 06:55 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#46re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 6:57pm
Ruth Gordon
#47re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 8:09pm
Aigoo: Catherine Zeta-Jones is God. The end.
And as for Idina playing the same role... vocally they're similar, but acting wise they're different. Elphaba and Maureen are two completely different characters.
#48re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 8:26pmI would pay money to watch that woman wait for grass to grow.
This is my signature.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#49re: Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types
Posted: 8/7/05 at 9:24pmCatherine Jones should do every single movie available. She is that good! She is a goddess of cinema!
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