First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#1First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 4:59pm
I'm guessing George M. Cohan
...or possibly Gene Kelly.
But, in the post-Oklahoma world, I'm thinking Gwen Verdon was an early triple threat and a game changer
musicaltheatreman2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/3/08
#2First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:18pm
Ann Miller
Gwen Verdon
Chita Rivera
Donna McKechnie
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#3First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:54pmNot many of us were around to see these performers live, so not sure if you will get a good response here.
Countdown til Jordan comes on raging about how much loves me! 3..2..1...
#4First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 5:57pmAbsolutely George M. Cohan, who was a star 30 or 40 years before Gene Kelly appeared on the scene. But I doubt Cohan was the first: there were triple-threat minstrel performers as far back as the early 1800s. We just don't remember their names because there were no movie cameras to film their work.
#5First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 7:34pmI suspect GavestonPS is right. Plus, it reminds me of a comment an actor made (in one of the "That's Entertainment" movies maybe?) where he said in the studio days MGM expected an actor could sing, dance and act. I would that that would be even more true for stage performers who needed to be ultra versatile to get work.
#6First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 10:30pmMickey Rooney
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#7First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/28/15 at 11:20pmThis came up because my daughter and I were talking about "Small House of Uncle Thomas" which has a dancing ensemble, a singing ensemble and one actor. I explained to her that this used to be the way most Broadway shows were written until the 1970s (with some exceptions). So, I was specifically wondering about people in Broadway shows- not film nor minstrel shows - (Rooney didn't make it to Broadway until 1979). And since I (nor likely any poster other than After Eight) have any idaa what kind of an actor Cohan was, Gwen Verdon was the first name which came to my mind of someone who did it all back in the Golden Age.
Curious3
Understudy Joined: 11/14/14
#8First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/29/15 at 12:33amPre-dating everyone other than Cohan is Fred Astaire and don't forget his sister Adele.
Broadwaylover2
Chorus Member Joined: 3/29/15
#9First Triple Threat Broadway Performer
Posted: 3/29/15 at 3:59am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Cohan
and I am sure after8 was joking so relax
