I have no idea what his name is, but in the last revival of LA MANCHA, there was a member of the corps that, when he came on stage, I forgot about everything else. Gorgeous man, more solidly built than your usual dancer. Even now, years later, I can still vividly see him.
Broadway/theater in general: Zeyn Ali (RIP) Scott Bridges Max von Essen Todd Fournier Joshua Holden Ted Neeley (in my defense, I was a kid, and I'd only seen the movie; now that I've seen him so much on the Farewell Tour of JCS, he's more like a kindly great-uncle) Daniel Radcliffe Tony Vincent
And finally, special mention for a show whose 2011 tour produced a crop of fine men indeed...
Hair: Larkin Bogan Marshal Kennedy Carolan Matt DeAngelis Tripp Fountain John Moauro Paris Remillard
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
Well. Back when I was about 13 I went with my accordion school (yes, accordion school!) to a Broadway matinee performance of 1776. My brother, a friend and I were seated in the first balcony, situated directly above the stage. A young Betty Buckley played Martha Jefferson. At one point she stood singing directly below where I sat. As my 13 year-old eyes stared straight down the top of her dress, I fell in love forever.
I have had an enormous crush on Ben Wright and Robert Westenberg since I was a little girl, obsessively watching my Into the Woods VHS. Mandy Patinkin in Sunday in The Park STEPHEN SONDHEIM YES YES YES A MILLION TIMES YES.
Vivian Nixon (dancer...she was in Memphis...those of you who watch "Smash" can see her in some of the choreographed numbers) runs a VERY close second. Not a star but an electrifying dancer...yum.
Right now, definitely Nina Arianda...she was so sweet and gracious and hugged me several times and kissed me twice at the stage door. And just as the added perk, she looks amazing on stage, eh?
the list would be endless, but Gavin Creel, Jonathan Groff, Aaron Tveit, Aaron Lazar, Andrew Rannells (after hearing him sing "Music That Makes Me Dance" at this year's Broadway Backwards, wow!) would all be right up there.
And always and forever, Steve Sondheim, whose work changed many of our lives.
Jeremy Jordan. Aaron Tveit is a very close second though.
"You have two kinds of shows on Broadway – revivals and the same kind of musicals over and over again, all spectacles. You get your tickets for The Lion King a year in advance, and essentially a family... pass on to their children the idea that that's what the theater is – a spectacular musical you see once a year, a stage version of a movie. It has nothing to do with theater at all. It has to do with seeing what is familiar.... I don't think the theatre will die per se, but it's never going to be what it was.... It's a tourist attraction." Stephen Sondheim