Who is the Current 1st Lady of the American Musical?- Page 3

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:26pm

"But wasn't it something like 18 years between Broadway musicals for Patti (Anything Goes '88, Sweeney Todd '06)?"

Had it not been for that tramp Glenn Close and that troll Andrew Lloyd Webber, we would have enjoyed her in Sunset Boulevard.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:31pm

Ah yes. But life, and big-willied Lords (thanks a lot for THAT image, Brightman) can deal cruel blows!

[Weez]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:34pm

Robbiej! I did NOT need to know that!

Christ, that's another one on the list of "I'm looking at you, but I'm seeing your penis"...

*adds ALW just below Daniel Radcliffe and Roger Bart*

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:36pm

Oh...my personal experience was running into Justin Kirk backstage at a theatre complex where we were both performing. All I could think was, 'I've seen your penis...TWICE!'

[WestVillage]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:43pm

Bernadette Peters, without a doubt. She's got the career history to support it. The other ladies (Audra, Donna, Christine, Patti) are all wonderful and may one day be considered the 1st Lady of the American Musical Theatre, but they're not there yet. Bernadette is the only one of the current generation of leading ladies that I would put in the same category as Merman, Channing, Martin ... all those grand 1st ladies of the past.

[mortgageguy79]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:45pm

"Patti F'ing LuPone.

That's who.

And if you don't like it, she'll beat you up."

I am afraid to say anything after that comment! HA! But I would say Ebersole right now. Love me some Patti, Audra and Donna too!

[Weez]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 2:46pm

Actually, the last time I was on Job Seeker's Allowance, I did spend most of one of my "and are you looking for a job this week?" interviews chatting about "the queen of Broadway!". So Steve from my local job centre would probably put in a vote for Bernadette.

[pc1145N2]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:00pm

Since there is no way to arbitrate this fairly, we will never come to a group decision.

Having said that...are ya nuts about Bernadette Peters? I've seen her twice this year while she's been touring and I've seen LuPone 3 times this year while's SHE'S been touring and it's not even a contest.

TEAM LUPONE!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:13pm

What was controversial about the Bernadette Peters GYPSY? It was a decent bare bones production of the theatre's greatest musical. Peters was good, but not great, IMO. I wish I could see the Patti Lupone production next month. Having seen all the others, it will be the only "Broadway" production of GYPSY I will have to miss.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:33pm

'Peters was good, but not great, IMO.'

And in my opinion, it was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen in a musical...even with Ebersole and just below Natasha Richardson's Sally Bowles (which remains the best performance...musical or non...I've ever seen).

And the reviews spanned both what I and you think...plus a few outright pans. People were all over the map on that performance...that's what I mean by controversial.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:38pm

"And in my opinion, it was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen in a musical..."

I'm with robbie on this, 100%.

[auggie]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:39pm

Count me as another one who thinks in the near future that Sutton Foster will be in the discussions.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 3:40pm

I was also there the night Brantely saw it...so he and I are simpactico on the topic.

Honestly...it was a heartbreakingly human performance. Galvanic and intimate at the same time. I'll never forget it.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:00pm

audra mcdonald is the reigning 1st lady.

I think Ebersole is currently the toast of Broadway, but Audra's had a reign of smash hit performances over the last few years, and shows no sign of letting up.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:02pm

I once asked Miss Patti (in an email) this question:
Why is it that gay men who follow musical theatre adore you?
Her response: from 8-12-03
"How about you have taste!", Love, Patti

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:06pm

if Cheno actually stayed with musical theatre projects in the future, that quintuple threat would definitely be in the discussion right now. MT voice, Opera, Dance-(tap, jazz), POINTE, and a fierce actress to boot... but TV and Movies are calling...

and Chita.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:11pm

Elaine Stritch has to be on the list simply because she put the "broad" in Broadway.

Her musical credits include:

ShowBoat (revival)
Company
Sail Away
Goldilocks
On Your Toes (revival)
Pal Joey (revival)
Call Me Madam (Merman standby, finally got to peform it on tour)
Angel in the Wings

ETA: Also forgot that she was Hattie in the Follies in Concert

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 04:11 PM

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:13pm

Sweet Christine!!!!!!!!!!! My Broadway Angel!

Updated On: 6/16/07 at 04:13 PM

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:24pm

Had it not been for that tramp Glenn Close and that troll Andrew Lloyd Webber, we would have enjoyed her in Sunset Boulevard.

Amen.

I once asked Miss Patti (in an email) this question:
Why is it that gay men who follow musical theatre adore you?
Her response: from 8-12-03
"How about you have taste!", Love, Patti

Hahaha.

I also agree that when the five main ladies we've mentioned in this thread are past their primes (which, praying to God, won't be soon) Sutton Foster will take the title.

[raphael06]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:30pm

Right now I think that it is Bernadette Peters. She has been around for sunch a long time (and will be for quite a while hopefully!) and has done nothing but wonderful work to garner her such a huge fan base.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:32pm

Gothampc: I was glad to see your including 1958's GOLDILOCKS as one of Elaine Stritch's shows. It is one of the best flops ever and is still available on Amazon.com. Stritch is wonderful on the album and has many songs, including the blues # "I Never Know When to Say When". I got to see the show twice when I was a teenager. I loved it, although I don't think Stritch did, according to her AT LIBERTY. Choreographer Agnes deMille said that she could be very difficult at rehearsals.

[Buck]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:36pm

>"Christine Ebersole has been climbing the ladder for 10 years."<

LOL. I remember seeing Ms. Ebsersole in the chorus of "On the 20th Century" back in 1978 - almost 30 years ago!!!!! That's a pretty high ladder she has been climbing all these years.

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 04:36 PM

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 4:51pm

idina menzel!!!!!!!!!!

lol

i'd say audra, peters... Lupone?? uh no!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 5:13pm

"I was glad to see your including 1958's GOLDILOCKS"

I had heard a rumor one time that the writing team won't release this for performance. That's such a shame because even if it is bad, I'd like to see it from someone like Encores.

"Choreographer Agnes deMille said that she could be very difficult at rehearsals."

I worked with Stritch once (and once was enough if you get my drift). She was "difficult" on her good days. But people have said that deMille could be very difficult as well.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/15/07 at 5:18pm

"Christine Ebersole has been climbing the ladder for 10 years."

She was Ado Annie in the 1979 Oklahoma and Guenevere in the 1980 production of Camelot. That was 27, 28 years ago.

Updated On: 6/15/07 at 05:18 PM