Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man? — Page 2

#26

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/22/09 at 6:56pm

Except that Leslie Kritzer has actual roles. Also, when the recording of Rooms comes out it's going to be 50% her. Why does she have to be on TV or in a movie? I just don't see why your picking her to compare to Spencer Liff who hasn't been able to get out of the ensemble.

#27

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/22/09 at 11:59pm

BrodyFosse, every part of that made me laugh
thnxx
:)

#28

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/23/09 at 12:38am

i take that back. he MIGHT have been miked in crybaby. i honestly am fuzzy on that, but i KNOW he wasn't in wedding singer because i kept thinking "wow, he's amazing, i wonder why he doesnt have a mic"

#29

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/23/09 at 10:42am

Possibly for the same reason his buddies from Big the Musical way back then, Graham Bowen and Brandon Esposito, didn't quite graduate to the top ranks. Though Brandon is doing quite nicely right now as Riff in the superior West Side Story production at the Stratford Festival in Canada.

#30

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/23/09 at 11:13am

He wasn't wearing a mic in Cry-Baby? But I do recall he had one speaking line at the very end.

Wow, he had one line and they didn't give him a mic? What is happening to the theater? Everyone should always have a body mic, how else is the audience supposed to hear them? I would have asked for a refund!

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PEACE.

#31

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/23/09 at 9:41pm

He is miked currently in, Nine to Five.

#32

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/24/09 at 1:27am

He's not a leading man because this is NYC, not LA.

And who cares?

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I don't WANT to live in what they call "a certain way." In the first place I'd be no good at it and besides that I don't want to be identified with any one class of people. I want to live every whichway, among all kinds---and know them---and understand them---and love them---THAT's what I want! - Philip Barry (Holiday)

#33

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/24/09 at 2:09am

I think someone has a crush on Spencer...

#34

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/24/09 at 8:58am

1. Give him some time.
2. WE will never know why.
3. Brody -- the crack about Nick Adams was SARCASM.


There are plenty of talented people that never end up getting their lucky break to "star". I truly belileve that's why most b'way actors are such gracious folks -- regardless of how "big" they are. They are happy to be working actors -- which seems too be the GOAL of most b'way folks. So few are continuously working actors, and it must be incredibly humbling to after a year (or more) run on a b'way show to return to a wait job or temp work, etc if need be.

BTW....I found Liff to be beautiful in Equus.

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

Updated On: 8/24/09 at 08:58 AM

#35

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/24/09 at 2:03pm

Give him some time. Aside from being a terrific dancer he has a kind of "star quality" and stage presence that one cannot learn as it's inherent. Quite diiferent from Nick Adams who i find to be another face in the crowd, third boy from the left.

#36

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/24/09 at 2:15pm

If anything Spencer may crossover into television. He has the looks and charisma for nighttime dramas.

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"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal "I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello

#37

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/29/09 at 9:52pm

Let's hope that he stays in New York on Broadway. He's a treasure and I want to see more of him on stage and not on TV.

#38

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 8/30/09 at 11:14am

"Quite diiferent from Nick Adams who i find to be another face in the crowd, third boy from the left."

So true Trish. Especially when two no-name young ensemble actors who recently graduated college out-dance and out-act a TERRIBLE Nick Adams in a tiny Fringe show. He was far and away the worst thing about Far Out, but 2 of the ensemble boys were quite good I thought. And Spencer was fantastic. Too bad the show was miserable.

#39

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/17/09 at 12:06pm

Just a heads up to anyone interested, Spencer Liff is choreographing a Broadway routine on tonight's episode of So You Think You Can Dance. It starts at 8:00 on FOX.

#40

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/17/09 at 6:14pm

He got naked in Cry Baby?

#41

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/17/09 at 11:29pm

Hrmm well his routine for Think You Can Dance was moderately better than the typical Tyce Diorio Broadway dance, but was pretty lamely danced....

#42

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/18/09 at 12:09am

If you think about it, these days most B'way musical stars do not come up via the chorus. Most of today's biggest stars did not toil in the ensemble for several or many shows; they were doing featured (if supporting) roles from the start. At least once they got on B'way. Their earliest work, like in regionals, may have been ensemble. I think the "42nd Street" scenario is something of a myth now. More so than in the past, when ensembles were bigger.
Anyone, feel free to do some research to support or dispute this point. I'm just thinking of the first time I became aware of certain stars and it often wasn't in the chorus.

#43

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/18/09 at 12:43am

Shirley MacLaine,
that's one.

#44

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/18/09 at 5:49pm

Read carefully...I said "these days" and "today's stars." So got any answers?

#45

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/19/09 at 12:47am

^Sutton Foster was in the ensemble of "Millie" before she got bumped up.
And look at the ensemble of "The Who's Tommy." Yowza.

#46

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/19/09 at 6:07am

Matthew Morrison in the ensemble of Hairspray until Carpinello dropped out in Seattle to do a film role.

#47

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/23/09 at 11:39pm

Please name some stars who, as I wrote originally, toiled in the chorus -- i.e., did at least 3 or so shows in ensemble before moving up. If you start doing principal roles after one Broadway show in the chorus, you're damn lucky. And Matthew M. was in the role before it got to Broadway!
Really, it is rarer than people think THESE DAYS. Whether by the performers' own choice or casting directors' pigeonholing them, it seems most ensemble members stay there throughout their career. (At least in the B'way shows, they may do bigger roles outside NY.) And those who become stars were doing speaking parts all along.

#48

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/23/09 at 11:55pm

Well Morrison did FOOTLOOSE and ROCKY HORROR, then ensemble in HAIRSPRAY so I'd count that as 3. Though he did takeover the role before it got to Broadway. Perhaps you'd like an hourly countdown as well?

#49

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 12:07am

Kate Baldwin isn't necessarily a big name, but she's been doing ensemble/small featured roles for a long time...Finian's Rainbow is her first leading role on Broadway, though she's done larger parts out of town and on tour.

#50

re: Why isn't Spencer Liff a leading man?

Posted: 11/24/09 at 3:29pm

Don't forget Gwen Verdon. She was in several shows from 1947 onward (Alive and Kicking, Broadway Bound and I think several others) before she was "discovered" in Can-Can in 1953.

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BroadwayEd