Who is the greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage?- Page 2

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 12:06pm

Categorically? The list probably includes Sutton Foster, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Mary Martin, Audra McDonald, Ethel Merman, and Bernadette Peters. 

Some of my personal favorites? Heather Headley, Laura Linney, Donna Murphy, and Mary-Louise Parker.

It's strange how hard it is to think of greatest all-time male performers aside from Nathan Lane. Why is this? 

[The Other One]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 12:43pm

"It's strange how hard it is to think of greatest all-time male performers aside from Nathan Lane. Why is this?"

It isn't.  Alfred Drake, Jason Robards, Jr., Zero Mostel, George C. Scott, Richard Kiley, James Earl Jones and Nathan Lane came to mind pretty quickly for me, but I don't think there is any way to pick one "greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage."  It's all much too subjective.

I'm surprised to have seen no mention of Pearl Bailey or Jessica Tandy among people's choices for women.

Why do musical obsessives never even consider actors who don't sing?  They run from them like anorexics from a calorie.

Great list by Jarethan a few posts above.  Even acknowledging the sentiment expressed in my above paragraph, I'm surprised she is the only one to mention Colleen Dewhurst.

I'm surprised to see only one mention of Gwen Verdon, for that matter.

Updated On: 12/17/17 at 12:43 PM

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 2:02pm

For me, Alfred Drake. Tremendous and appealing stage presence, beautiful (unamplified) voice, and the acting chops to go from Curly in OKLAHOMA, Fred in KISS ME, KATE and Hajj in KISMET to Claudius in Burton's HAMLET. Honorable mentions to Len Cariou and Raul Esparza. Strange that I am choosing musical theater people and not "serious" theater types.

On the distaff side, "Serious" theater types: Laurie Metcalf, Deanna Dunegan and Amy Morton. There are wonderfully talented women in musical theater but I have to say that their acting (for me) is sometimes a little disappointing. Honorable mention, though: Marin Mazzie.

And I have seen all of the actors I mention, just to make that clear.

 

Updated On: 12/18/17 at 02:02 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 3:33pm

It's worth considering that the notion of who does what well is tied to the role of music and drama in musicals. Turn of the century, the role of a musical number was to entertain the audience and sell sheet music, with encores and all. Park and bark was all the rage. 

Midcentury, the Richard Rodgers era was defined by the idea that one sings at grand moments: when speech is not enough to convey emotion, you sing. 

Post-Sondheim, we acquire the notion that music can convey psychology and atmosphere as much as emotion. Ever since then, these three notions of what a musical number can and should be have mingled: a song can be to entertain, to expand upon speech, or to give nuance speech alone might not.

Isn't it almost apples and oranges to compare performers from these eras? Al Jolson was a legend in his time, but his broad-strokes of one-dimensional emotion, joy or pathos might seem campy today. How does one compare him to Nathan Lane, a somewhat Jolsonesque performer famous for his ability to run rapidly through the highs and lows of emotion (often within a single song) or Michael Cerveris, who excels in unflashy performances full of tiny nuance?

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:18pm

I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous.

[youwillbefound2]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:33pm

Patti LuPone

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:35pm

HogansHero said: "I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous."

[Speed]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:38pm

This doesn't answer the question but my favorite musical theater performances of all time are Billy Porter in GREASE and Heather Headley in THE BODYGUARD. Stunning performances. Sexy, electric, and funny with powerhouse vocals. I'm 43. Seen Broadway shows since 1992, West End since 2000. Nothing comes close to those two performances IMHO.

[Mike66]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:40pm

HogansHero said: "I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous."

Yes and No

I limited my choices to people I've seen (except noting Jolson and Robeson from before my time).  But then. I;m an old guy,and I've had 60 years of Broadway under my belt.

I think it's fair to offer names you never got to see, because you know them from recordings, or their accumulated fame and awards.  If you "follow" Broadway -- you probably have at least heard Ethel Merman and Mary Martin and Alfred Drake  (I hope so -- they were extraordinary).

To "play this game" and say -- you've seen three shows, so it's going to be Platt and Mueller with honorable mention to SpongeBob -- would make this exercise very silly.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 5:56pm

Pia Zadora, obviously

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 6:00pm

Carol Channing

[binau]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 6:07pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Categorically? The list probably includes Sutton Foster, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Mary Martin, Audra McDonald,Ethel Merman, and Bernadette Peters.

Some of my personal favorites? Heather Headley, Laura Linney, Donna Murphy, and Mary-Louise Parker.

It's strange how hard it is to think of greatest all-time male performers aside from Nathan Lane. Why is this?"

I’ve made this claim before and I don’t know if anyone agrees with me, but I think it’s because leading musical roles are better for females. There are some amazing female roles with great songs and a range of different emotions. There are only a handful of equivalent male roles. 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 6:12pm

Nathan Lane, Cynthia Enrivo, Viola Davis, Audra McDonald, Lea Salonga, Cate Blanchett (her performance in The Present is one of the best I’ve seen in years), Jessie Mueller...

Seriously, isn’t it great that most of us can’t pick only one from so many amazing performers whose performances we are fortunate enough to witness?

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 6:12pm

-delete

Updated On: 12/17/17 at 06:12 PM

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 11:02pm

When I think of the Broadway greats I’ve seen in person over the last 11 years names that immediately come to mind are:

Sutton Foster
Audra McDonald
Jessie Mueller
Kelli O’Hara
Patti LuPone

As for males, I too find this a bit tougher. I’d say
Norm Lewis, Danny Burstein and Christian Borle.

[Feste]

Posted: 12/17/17 at 11:07pm

Barbra Streisand

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 12:14am

Mike66 said: "HogansHero said: "I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous."

I think it's fair to offer names you never got to see, because you know them from recordings, or their accumulated fame and awards.

Well, I don't think you can judge a theatre performer based on a recording, and I think it undermines the essence of the theatre to do so. And I certainly don't think an opinion is valid based on hearsay. I agree with you, of course, that opining based on a small sample size is silly. I just think all of us have a limited sample size. It's not like the movies where we can all watch all of the performances and reach an intelligent conclusion. 

[theatrefan18]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 12:22am

Of course there is no one answer to this question.  I have been going to the theatre for about 40 years.  On the male side, I am surprised nobody mentioned Gregory Hines.  He was my favorite performer going back to Eubie, Sophisticated Ladies and Jelly's last jam.  Brian Stokes Mitchell is another who should be in the mix.  Nathan Lane is currently the best male performer and does everything well.  On the female side, Patti Lupone, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Strich, Angela Lansbury and Sutton Foster are on a level all their own.  I never saw Mary Martin or Ethel Merman so I can't say, but I imagine in their day they were magnificent.  It's an interesting exercise but of course completely subjective

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:18am

Call_me_jorge said: "I know he’s only had one major role, but I think Ben Platt is up there.
I’d honestly say Marin Mazzie when it comes to musicals and Laurie Metcalf for plays."

This is one of the more ridiculous responses.  This is your answer to 'Who is the greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage?'.  I can only assume you started to attend the theatre about a year ago.

I apologize for being so snarky, but Marin Mazzie?  Laurie Metcalfe, based on a couple of appearances?  Ben Platt, based on ...one???

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:22am

HogansHero said: "I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous."

Totally agree.  I tried to express that in my post, but you did a better job.  Most of these posts are more representative to the question 'who are your favorite performers at the current time.'  The original post in more than a little pretentious.

[theater_tech]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 4:34am

The lack of Kelli O'Hara is killing me 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 6:31am

To be quite honest, I find these type of questions rather annoying.  There is no "one" greatest.  We have (had) any number of extremely talented and legendary performers.  I'll leave it at that.

[The Other One]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 7:11am

"I wonder how many people in this thread have "nominated" choices that they have never seen. Although this subject seems silly to me, to suggest someone you have never seen perform is preposterous."

I don't agree with you about this at all.  The question doesn't ask who your personal favorite Broadway performer is.  It asks "who is the greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage?"  Carrying on as though nothing that occurred on Broadway before your birth is of value to its history is narrow minded in the extreme and downright narcissistic.

If you truly love the theater, you research the history of the plays and musicals you audition for, you've heard the performers you admire pay tribute to the legends who've inspired them (have you ever heard Chita Rivera talk about Gwen Verdon?), you learn who originated the roles that someone else is starring in revivals of today, you listen to cast albums, you pay attention to filmed documents of their performances (if only there had been more, but Mary Martin, Ethel Merman and Lee J. Cobb are among those you can find).  Granted, this is not the same thing as having been there, but Broadway's legacy is informative and inspiring.  Why on earth would you want to ignore it?

Ben Platt??? Cynthia Erivo???  The greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage???  On the basis of one performance each???  Granted, these are each legendary performances, but give these performers time, and acknowledge what other people have accomplished over time.  Broadway history is bigger than them, and it's certainly bigger than you or me.

Updated On: 12/18/17 at 07:11 AM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 7:50am

"I don't agree with you about this at all.  The question doesn't ask who your personal favorite Broadway performer is.  It asks "who is the greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage?"  Carrying on as though nothing that occurred on Broadway before your birth is of value to its history is narrow minded in the extreme and downright narcissistic."

I agree with you 100%. My wife saw Katherine Hepburn on Broadway many years ago and said the play was nothing special but seeing her in person was a OMG moment. While she may have not been the greatest Broadway actress, she is a movie legend/icon and I would consider her in answer to this question the way it is worded.

[rangersrule132]

Posted: 12/18/17 at 8:17am

I'm surprised Brian Stokes Mitchell hasn't been thrown around