TV/Movie Celebs who have translated well (or not) to stage

[sctrojan65]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:21am

Started to ask this on another thread but didn't want to derail the thread from its topic.

Which "stars" who are known to have gotten their start in TV or movies have proven to do a good job on the stages of NYC? Who hasn't fared so well?

For example, what's the jury's take on Brooke Shields? Even though I've never considered her work stellar (outside of the Susan show she did), she seem like a likable person. How does her talent translate onto stage?

I know numerous TV and film celebs did have some (or significant) stage experience before moving to L.A., but of those who are mostly know for TV/movie work, who's good on the stage, and who, not so much?

[dreaming]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:24am

Julia Roberts did not translate well in Three Days of Rain. Bradley Cooper, on the other hand, did. He was the one I walked out talking about.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:28am

Angela Lansbury has been the patron saint of those who have moved effortlessly between movies, tv and the stage. I think she did a bit of early stage work, but by the time she came to Broadway she was known more as a movie actress.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:34am

Neil Patrick Harris has done pretty great on the stage so far.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:45am

TV Celebs who didn't translate well to stage: Lauren Graham is the first person to come to mind. She couldn't have been worse in GUYS & DOLLS.

TV Celebs who translated well: Lauren Ambrose.

Updated On: 11/25/14 at 11:45 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:52am

I think a lot of television stars, particularly stars of sitcoms, do well on the stage. Stage-acting is more similar to sitcom acting than it is to movie acting. Over the years we've seen tons of actors who do both Broadway and TV, and do both well.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:58am

Brooke Shields wasn't taken to seriously until Wonderful Town, where she received rave reviews. She was also excellent in Chicago, and just fine in Addams Family, which was an awful show. It's a shame that her shots at originating roles always fall through pre-Broadway.
Updated On: 11/25/14 at 11:58 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 1:38pm

It's a shame that her shots at originating roles always fall through pre-Broadway.

In her own words, here is Brooke openly explaining the difficulty she experienced with LEAP OF FAITH in its pre-Broadway Los Angeles incarnation and why she prefers to be a replacement over originating a role:

Of her time working on the tryout of Leap of Faith, Shields (whose Broadway credits are for replacing other stars in Grease, Wonderful Town and The Addams Family) told Playbill magazine recently, "I was so intent on [originating a role] for the longest [time], but after that experience, I'm acutely aware now it has to be perfect for me to go out on that limb."

She added, "If you replace, you have nothing to lose. It doesn't rest on you. They're just hoping you can keep it open. With a new show, you must be clear and know what you're getting into. I was a bit naïve about that. I'm able to keep coming back to Broadway because I do all of it well enough — but it's everything. If you take out one of those things and just compare me to the best in that field — whether it's dancing or singing or acting — I'm not going to win that battle. Take away two out of the three and leave me just singing in the spotlight, I'm going to lose. The role [in Leap of Faith] had virtually no dancing, no humor. I'm proud of what I did...but I think what they wanted was somebody above the title with Raúl. The show is all him, and he's so extraordinary in it, but what he needs around him is not just someone to get them in the seats. I felt fenced [in] through the whole thing, but I learned it's better to have learned that out of town. Shields is looking for new work, she said.

"I'm always on the lookout. Maybe a straight play is the next thing that I should do after this. It might make sense to take a little bit of a breather from musicals. I sorta agreed to do The Addams Family because I wanted to come back to Broadway to experience what I know and love about it. I needed to go back into something where I knew that hard work can be directly proportionate to my enjoying it."

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 2:05pm

I don't think Harry Connick's talents translated too well to B'way. He pretty much played himself in Pajama Game, and he was eh in On a Clear Day you can See Forever

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 11/25/14 at 11:15pm

To be fair to Harry Connick Jr., On a Clear Day isn't the best material to work with. On the other hand, he did look like he was physically in pain when singing that show.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 10:45am

Eric McCormack was astonishingly good in THE MUSIC MAN but Susan Lucci was a disaster when she took over the title role in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN a few years ago.

Does anyone want to discuss how bad Mrs. Antonio Bandaras (I just can't remember her name!) was when she played Roxie Hart in CHICAGO?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:00am

It's BANDERAS...and her name is MELANIE GRIFFITH. Y'know, Tippi Hedren's daughter.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:26am

Ah, yes. Melanie Griffith. After seeing her performance I easily forgot her name.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:59am

FORMER Mrs. Antonio Banderas.

After 18 years of marriage, Melanie Griffith filed for divorce from Antonio Banderas this past June 2014.

She will continue to be Melanie Griffith and Tippi Hedren's daughter.

Also of note, regardless of how and what has been said by the public about her run in CHICAGO over a decade ago, she was highly praised when she was reviewed by The New York Times.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 12:06pm

The Hoff

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 12:06pm

I thought John Stamos was quite good in The Best Man. John Laroquette, as well, was great in both The Best Man and How to Succeed.

[The Other One]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 3:08pm

I second Stamos and Laroquette in The Best Man, and I'll add praise for Kristin Davis. Cybill Shepherd was not at home in her role and/or on stage, unfortunately.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 3:23pm

I enjoyed Jane Leeves & John Stamos in Cabaret as well as Lou Diamond Phillips in The King and I.

[Feste]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 4:34pm

For the most part, I find that stage actors transition to the camera more easily than the other way around. Though, there are instances where they're too much for the camera!

[little_sally]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 5:40pm

Cybil Shepherd was a disaster in The Best Man.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 5:51pm

I find that most--though, of course, not all--actors who achieve success on the stage after becoming famous through a different medium have some background or training in theatre. Whether it's college/grad school or early career experience, there's usually some theatrical connection in their past. Of course, this isn't true of all: Daniel Radcliffe, for example, came to the stage after beginning his career in film. But many others (like Denzel or Bradley Cooper, to name two) trained and started out as theatre actors before gaining fame and fortune on film and television.

[Feste]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 6:48pm

I agree, LarryD2

[RW3]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 7:13pm

I think Keke Palmer has translated well to the stage.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 7:49pm

Kelsey Grammer

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 11/26/14 at 11:42pm

I think Tom Wopat has done quite well on Broadway after becoming famous on TV show "Dukes Of Hazzard". I saw him in "City Of Angels" ,"Annie Get Your Gun" and "Catch Me If You Can" and thought he was quite good.