Favorite Sally?

[suttonfoster]

Just curious, as there have been so many actresses to play the role of Sally Bowles on both Broadway, touring and regional productions- does anyone have a standout performance that was there favorite?

[icecreambenjamin]

Natasha Richardson, Jane Leeves, and Judi Dench.

[bwayobsessed]

I particularly like Susan Egan's interpretation.

[haterobics]

Meg Ryan.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Molly Ringwald was a fun choice.

[Alix]

Anna Maxwell Martin, in the 2006 London revival.


so great

[dreaming]

Natasha Richardson...

[Wilmingtom]

Elaine Cancilla, Mrs. Jerry Orbach, Melody Top in 1970 with Tommy Tune as the Emcee and Imogene Cocoa and King Donovan as Schneider and Schultz.

[Princeton Returns]

Anna maxwell Martin

[BobbyBubbi]

I saw Gina Gershon and Jane Leeves. Was impressed by both.

[Bettyboy72]

Kate Shindle was my first and my favorite.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Lea Thompson

[jayinchelsea]

Sorry, still would choose Jill Haworth over all the other Sallys. Would have loved to see Judi Dench's London performance of this.
And thanks to Youtube, here she is doing "Don't Tell Mama" in 1968:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=judi+dench+cabaret+video&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=D5F400E0CC473B583F9AD5F400E0CC473B583F9A

[disneybroadwayfan22]

I'm listening to Lea Thompson and her voice is so beautiful!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4_tTRRRH8E

[temms]

Dorothy Collins.

[TotallyEffed]

Beat me to it, temms.

[Jarethan]

Agree with Jayinchelsea. I saw the original production 3 times and I thought that Jill Haworth was perfect. I never understood why Walter Kerr gave her the most outrageous pan I think I have ever seen in an otherwise very positive review.

I thought Natasha R. was terrific, but i did not feel as sorry for her as i did for Jill H.

While I always loved Liza Minelli's singing of the title song, it was for the show business rather than Sally Bowles per se. I loved the way Jill Haworth did it.

I did not see Judi Dench, but I certainly remembering her incredible press when I had never even heard of her.

I think Michelle Williams is a wonderful actress, but I just did not like her interpretation of Sally. That said, I thought she did a great job on the title song and, in general, I might have loved her performance if they cut all her dialogue...just did not like the interpretation; it probably enhances my opinion of her overall as a risk taker, because it was a risky interpretation...it just missed for me.

Final comment: I love the Cabaret movie, but I had not seen it in several years when I saw it recently. I actually did not enjoy Liza M's performance other than in the musical numbers...I thought it was pretty much the same performance as in Sterile Cuckoo and a little too cloying. Otherwise, loved the movie as much as usual.

[JRybka]

I really loved Susan Egan. I saw her twice. I also saw Molly Ringwald once and enjoyed her too but was not as good as Susan. Now I didn't see her live but I have the DVD/Video of Jane Horrocks and she in my opinion is the most awesome. I just find her to be brilliant.

[JBradshaw]

Natasha Richardson
Susan Egan
Mary McCormack

Honestly all the Sally's were good in their own unique way.

The Sally I disliked the most was Andrea McArdle

[east side story]

I've only seen Michelle Williams and Heather Laws (2003) perform the role in this production. I know she is pretty divided around here, but I found Michelle Williams to be absolute magic in the role.

I've seen countless bootlegs from when this production was around the first time. From that footage, I would have loved to have seen Jennifer Jason Leigh and Gina Gershon. Janes Leeves came off too steely, and Molly Ringwald is an incredibly stoic actress in anything she's ever done. And how is there no video of Brooke Shields? (Again, this is not based on first hand viewing experiences.)

Regardless, I would sell my mother to the gypsies to go back in time and see Natasha Richardson.

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Did anybody see Katie Finneran in the role? How was she?

[brucebossa]

I know this is a minority opinion but I adored Jennifer Jason Leigh. I thought she was what Sally would be like. Not the greatest singer and a hot mess. I was mesmerized by her performance.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Mustang.

[SweeneyLovett]

I quite liked what I saw of Jennifer Jason Leigh. Seems like many who saw her live said her performance felt small, like she was still playing to a camera instead of a full audience. From the clips I've seen, I can see what they're talking about, but I think her performance really worked. Her singing was really no worse than many other Sallys I've seen/heard, but it fit the character rather well.

[blaxx]

I saw quite a few of them. Susan Egan was the best by far.

[IndyTheatreGeek]

Not on Broadway, but Lisa O'Hare was an amazing Sally in Reprise Theater Company's production in LA a few years back. If she leaves Gentleman's Guide she would be a great choice.