best acting ever in a musical- Page 3

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:17pm

When I saw Heather Headley in Aida, she mumbled nearly all of her dialogue to the point where I gave up trying to make out what she was saying and I found her acting very immature. She and Adam reminded me of most students in college productions. Her singing was awesome, but for that alone, I could not understand why she got a Tony, beating out Audra McDonald in Marie Christine. Audra's performance in Marie Christine was astonishing.

[marebare]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:19pm

That's how I feel about Tonya Pinkins' performance in "Caroline, Or Change" this year...just goes to show that these awards should be taken with a grain of salt!

[NBRISBY]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:40pm

or a pillar of salt

[jayem1968]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 1:55pm

Recently? In the last 10 years or so, I'd have to say: Alan Cumming in Cabaret.

[ProducerJeff]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 2:05pm

I would have to say:
Patti LuPone in Evita
Zero Mostel (Fiddler and Forum)
Angela Lansbury in Sweeney
Nathan Lane in whatever...

And everything else Margo lists.....she's completely on target with all of her choices.

[Jung Woo Park]

Posted: 9/1/04 at 11:43pm

CHRISTY ROMANO IN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST! I <333333 Christy! She's so tallented and she's the most bestest actress in the world!

[unnaturallygreen]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:25pm

i'd haveta agree with strathmore... Marla Schaffel in Jane Eyre was amazing! i've seen her do other stuff too and she is very trained as an actress,singer,and dancer... for her best performance though, it'd haveta be jane eyre

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:39pm

Joanna Riding in CAROUSEL at the RNT in London.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 6:59pm

Joanna Riding as Eliza was perfection!
Bernadette in Gypsy,
Niklas Andersson was a phenomonal Chris in Saigon!

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:06pm

Donna Murphy in Passion...well best I've seen (though I've only seen about 12 professionally done musicals to be fair). She completely transformed herself. I'm the type of person who gets upset when they choose beautiful people to play unattractive characters (there are enough talented actresses out there we aren't knockouts, and especially in musical theater, those actresses aren't commonly given a chance to shine) but upon seeing her performance (granted on dvd, as I was only 10 when it was on Broadway) I had no doubt she fully deserved that role %100 percent.

I'd have loved to see Pinkins in COC, Donna in Wonderful Town, ect because from what I have heard they completely transformed themselves into the role. And aside from my small critism, I have heard Audra was a force to be reckoned with in Marie Christine. I would kill to have a time machine to go back and see it.

Sorry, I have a Bosnian drama teacher...he goes over and over how important physicality is to a role, and something I didn't even really think about until a few years ago. It's some thing I'm just beginning to really work on myself. It's performances like Murphy's I find myself studying over and over again, each time seeing more and more nuances. I think that is tremendous.

Of course, all this is subjective.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:10pm

I haven't seen it - obviously..

But Roz Russell as Ruth in WONDERFUL TOWN is considered one the greatest performances EVER in a musical. I've read that she most likely got the best reviews EVER for a performer in a musical.
One reviewer said she should be elected president. Updated On: 7/28/05 at 07:10 PM

[gymman]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:15pm

Performances I have seen:

Gwen Verdon Sweet Charity
Angela Lansbury Mame
Angela Lansbury Sweeney Todd
Georgia Brown Oliver
Barbra Streisand Funny Girl
Inga Swenson 110 in the Shade
Bea Lillie High Spirits
Mandy Patinkin Sunday in the Park...
Bernadette Peters Song and Dance
Donna McKechnie Chorus Line
Dorothy Collins Follies
Melba Moore Purlie
Sammy Williams Chorus Line
Hugh Jackman BFO
Robert Lindsey Me and My Girl
Chita Rivera The Rink
Irene Ryan Pippin
Richard Kiley Man of La Mancha
Tyne Daily Gypsy
Angela Lansbury Gypsy
Nell Carter Ain't Misbehavin
Anthony Newley Stop the World...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:18pm

I remember hearing Sondheim thought Georgia Brown's performance in OLIVER was one of the greatest he ever saw.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:21pm

*falls to the floor*

GYMMAN! How was Gwen in Charity? My God - you are so lucky you saw that. It's very rare to find here someone who has seen Gwen in Charity. There are quite a few who saw her in CHICAGO, but not many who have seen her Charity.

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:30pm

Veanne Cox in Caroline blew me away, as did Tonya.
My number one best acting performance in a musical was John Dossett in Gypsy. I believed every single word. He's a natural. For all I knew, Michelle Pawk was married to Herbie.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:34pm

The best ACTING in a musical that I have seen live:

Tonya Pinkins CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Veanne Cox CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
Brian Stokes Mitchell MAN OF LA MANCHA
Rachel York VICTOR/VICTORIA
Betty Buckley SUNSET BLVD
Norbert Leo Butz DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
Rob Maitner BASKETCASE... (yes, seriously)
Kristin Chenoweth WICKED (I can't believe I just typed that! lol)
Millicent Martin WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?

I have to say that some of the best acting I've ever seen in a musical has been by performers who are not famous and whose names I unfortunately can not recall.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 07:34 PM

[gymman]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 7:50pm

I have to be honest--I really wanted Verdon to win the Tony that year, but it went to Lansbury in Mame...

But how do you choose?

The power of theater is that I remember her performance so vividly, and I was only a grade schooler! I knew nothing about Fosse, but I just knew that this was a great performance, since I literally had goose bumps watching her.

How could I forget--

Bea Arthur Mame
Dorothy Loudon Ballroom

BTW I did see Christina in SC recently; of course, she's no Verdon, and never will be. But she was rather fine in the acting, and an OK singer. No one--not even McLaine in the film--will ever erase Verdon, though, for me.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:21pm

Sorry, if this a cheat, but my vote is

Elaine Paige in Evita (London)

I couldn't breathe for 2 1/2 hours. Amazing performance.

[superstarjpp]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 8:29pm

Idina would be my choice for one of the best vocals, but not acting. She just acts stereotypically in the role of Elphaba I feel. Stephanie J Block was by far just amazing in Wicked, I was so surprised. And Kristin Chenoweth is a tour de force in any role. And Christina Applegate's acting is amazing in Sweet Charity, she really makes you feel for her character. I don't know any older performances since my first show was Lion King.
Updated On: 7/28/05 at 08:29 PM

[WorldEpcot]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:13pm

Ultimately, Tonya Pinkins in Caroline, or Change. Best performance ever, simply put.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:17pm

From what I've seen live...

Hugh Panaro- His final lair in Phantom is utterly brilliant and moving.

Norbert Leo Butz- DRS

Jennifer Laura Thompson- Wicked

[gymman]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 9:42pm

World--How can you say best "ever"? Have you seen many of the other classics????

[gymman]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:14pm

AARRGGH!

I forgot

Jennifer Holliday Dreamgirls
Bebe Neuwirth Chicago
Kelly Bishop Chorus Line
Larry Kert Company
Ben Vereen Pippin
Colm Wilkenson Les Mis...
Douglas Sills Scarlet Pimpernel
Ellen Greene Little Shop.. (OK OB)


and John McMartin, in Follies, Sweet Charity, and High Society, surely one of the most undervalued musical actors ever.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 10:58pm

I love Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity, she is heartbreaking and quite comedic.

[cindy013]

Posted: 7/28/05 at 11:56pm

Stephanie J. Block as Elphaba in Wicked. I personally feel I'm not in the obsessed/annoying teeny-bopper category before you stereotype me for posting about Wicked in the first place, considering I usually like more serious musicals like Les Mis and Phantom, but I've never witnessed such a strong character portrayal; you just couldn't take your eyes off her. She included so many little nuances that just seemed so right and made the character come to life in a way I've never experienced before and I've seen my fair share of musicals/plays. Definitely the most memorable performace I've ever seen.

Aside from that...
Colm Wilkinson as JVJ in Les Mis..duh
Rachel York as Kate/Lilli in Kiss Me Kate was hilarious IMO.
And probably a million others that I'm ignorant to. Honorable mention to Cheno as Glinda, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, and Rebecca Caine as Christine in Phantom.

Updated On: 7/28/05 at 11:56 PM