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Which sex has better roles in theatre

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#1

Which sex has better roles in theatre

In your opinion, which sex has the better roles? Just who do you think has the best overall parts in broadway theatre?

I think that women get better roles.

Updated On: 7/16/09 at 01:01 PM

#2

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I agree that women get better roles. If you look at the nominees from this year, it clearly shows.

"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.

Updated On: 7/16/09 at 01:04 PM

#3

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I find that depends on if you ask a boy or girl. The grass is always greener...
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
#7

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I do think that men often get meatier roles. Yeah you get your occasional awesome women roles but they are few and far between which is why the biggies for women always stand out more because they're not the norm. There are more male playwrights/screenwriters in the world which is a big reason for this. Let's face it, most male playwrights can not write a convincing role for a woman, they're either the madonna or the whore and very two-dimensional. And believe me I'm not in favor of all women playwrights either, some of them aren't great. I actually tend to like more male playwrights but as an actor myself, the roles offered for women aren't that varied.
#9

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I totally agree that as a general rule...with obvious notable exceptions on both sides....(Shakespeare, anyone?) men tend to write better roles for men and women tend to write better roles for women. African Americans tend to write better roles for African Americans and homosexuals tend to write better roles for homosexuals and aliens from another planet tend to write better plays for aliens from another planet. As a writer, you tend to write what you know, build on your own personal experiences. There have been remarkable plays written by men for women, and women for men, but I think the general rule is still valid. Therefore, it depends on the season. If the season is dominated by male writers (and that includes revivals), you'll probably have better roles for men. Same is true in reverse.
#10

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

Women get much better roles. For me I am always more interested in the women as opposed to the men's role. I normally think the guys are boring (excluding Hair). For example in West Side Story there are two great roles, Maria, and Anita. They are both women roles and then there is Tony, an extremely boring and wimpy role if you ask me.
#11

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I disagree.

If we're talking musical theatre, just making a list of some of the most famous composers will make it obvious that most tend to write shows which showcase males.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#12

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

>>Women get much better roles. For me I am always more interested in the women as opposed to the men's role. I normally think the guys are boring (excluding Hair). For example in West Side Story there are two great roles, Maria, and Anita. They are both women roles and then there is Tony, an extremely boring and wimpy role if you ask me.<<

Yet, in WSS, the men have Tony, Riff, Action, Bernardo, Chino, Doc, Krupke. The women get Anita, Maria and "Anybodys". Anita may be the "better" role, but there are more roles for men - so "lesser" talents may fill those roles, while only the "best" can be Anita. Tony doesn't have to be boring/wimpy. I don't understand why he constantly is played that way - he's the former leader of the Jets - the best fighter - the one with the rep - he beats Riff in a wrestling tussle. He's turned his back on that life - which takes a lot of strength. He doesn't have to be a love sick puppy wandering around the stage.
#14

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

"If we're talking musical theatre, just making a list of some of the most famous composers will make it obvious that most tend to write shows which showcase males."

Seems most of the composers have better roles for women, just listing some of the more recent ones who have the most works there: Lloyd Webber (Eva Peron / Grizabella (Well for Cats!) / Norma Desmond / Christine) and Wildhorn's (Lucy / Marguerite / Even Mina in DRACULA, the musical) best roles tend to be women, but then again people like Sondheim tend to have an equal male & female role (Sweeney / Lovett; George / Dot/Marie) which could be debated which is better...but I'd put the same that Scarywarhol did:

Straight Plays-Men
Musicals-Women
#15

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

^^^^
I agree!

Women get the better roles in musical theatre.

There is a downside though for women. You have a shorter "shelf life" in the entertainment industry unfortunately.

A fairly unknown man could probably get cast as Tevye...but you have to just about be Patti LuPone to play Dolly Levi.
#16

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

Uhh, you do know that the shows are written to showcase the males when the male role IS the title?

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#17

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

"Uhh, you do know that the shows are written to showcase the males when the male role IS the title? "

Haha Well clearly Wildhorn doesn't know that! Any songs people remember from his shows are usually the female ones ... "Bring on the Men," "Someone Like You," "A New Life," "In His Eyes," with .. ONE male song people generally remember "This is the Moment," maybe "I Need to Know" if it's even inthe production you see... Pimpernel, was a Marguerite-o show. DRACULA was a horrible example, my bad! With Phantom though, I guess it could go either way: I always like the Christine more, maybe that's something to do with WHO the character actualyl is ...
#18

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

in regards to musical theater... i always thought that men had better roles but women had better songs to sing
#20

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

I think the real questions here shouldn't be "Which sex has better roles in theater..." it should be either:

"Which theater role has the best sex?"

Or:

"Take roll: Have YOU ever had sex in a theater?"

I'm nominating Stacee Jaxx and Donna McKechnie's Company character for the first question, and No, but i'll bet most of you have for the second one.
#21

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

Women, duh. At least in musical theater. Name me a male equivalent of a Mamma Rose, or an Evita? Nothing.
#23

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

Jesus, Judas, Nathan, Sky, Billy, Emcee, Harold, King of Siam, George, Seymour, Guido, Phantom, Quixote, Max, Albin, Valjean...
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#24

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

All good as well. I didn't include Phantom though because he's only on stage for about 30 minutes and half of that is pre-recorded anyway so... I dunno.
#25

re: Which sex has better roles in theatre

Still, the dude takes that final bow, he's the star.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

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