We'll do one for Musical, and one for Play. Can't wait to hear your responses!
You should probably post your age too, cause obviously some people are going to be 16-18 years old and have only been seing shows a limited amount of time, while others are going to be 40-50 years old and have been seeing shows their old life.
I'm 19.
Musical: Norbert Leo Butz, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Play: Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
"I'm afraid this offer comes off the table... at midnight tonight."
"...maybe the worst bluff I've ever seen."
"Even the members of GOBIAS could agree on that one."
For a play, it would be Tovah Feldshuh in Irena's Vow. For a musical, I'd have to go with Donna McKechnie in A Chorus Line. Oh, and my age? I happen to be a mere...48 years old.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Their old life? Wow, I can hear the war drums now...
But mine would be
Musical: Daniel Evans/Jenna Russell, Sunday in the Park with George (Neither performance would have been the same if not for the other) Play: Kevin Kline, Cyrano De Bergerac
I'm 15.
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
I have a hard time deciding for musical, but probably LuPone in Gypsy, Ebersole in Grey Gardens, or Victoria Clark in Follies.
Play is easier. Geoffrey Rush in Exit the King.
and I'm 23.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Musical: EHHH, this is hard. Best PERFORMANCE was Patti LuPone in GYPSY for me, but I'm still blown away by the power Chita Rivera has on stage (I saw her in DANCER'S LIFE.)
Geoffrey Rush individually, but the cast of Journey's End was so brilliant from top to bottom. That was, hand's down, the most amazing evening of theatre I've ever experienced.
Musical - I enjoyed Hugh Jackman in Boy from Oz. Not world changing, but a fun night. The only standing O I've seen not at curtain call.
Musical ~ Alice Ripley in next to normal Play ~ Elizabeth Marvel and Norbert Leo Butz (because they totally fed off each other and worked so well together) in (We're allowed to pick from off-Broadway too, right?)
Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
haha, BroadwayBound, did you see Seth Rudetsky's deconstruction of Debra Monk in Curtains? he compared her to The Penguin. it was amazing. (as was she in Curtains)
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
Play: Judi Dench in Amy's View or Debra Monk in Picnic.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
It feels stupid because it was a small role in a less than perfect show, but for a musical, my very fondest memories are of Lillias White in The Life.
I'm tempted to echo Mister Matt on Janet McTeer in A Doll's House but think I'll go more recent and toss a nod to Deanna Dunagan in A:OC, even as I'm unsure I spelled her name correctly.
PLAY (MALE): Geoffrey Rush in Exit the King PLAY (FEMALE): Amy Morton in August:Osage County
MUSICAL (MALE): Norbert Leo Butz in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels MUSICAL (FEMALE): Patti Lupone in Gypsy
I am kind of tentative saying Norbert Leo Butz for Dirty Rotten Scoundrel but I thought he really embodied the character. He does not have the most spectacular voice, but his comic timing, commitment, and acting chops were incredible. If I was going to choose a male performance in a musical simply on their voice I would have to say Paulo Szot in South Pacific or Gavin Creel in anything.
Oh, and I am 22. I am so excited for the upcoming season! Sounds like there are going to be some really great shows/performances.
Musical - Natasha Richardson in "Cabaret" tied with Elaine Paige in "Sunset Blvd" Michael Crawford in "The Phantom of the Opera" tied with Hugh Jackman in "The Boy From Oz"
Play - Faye Dunaway in "Master Class"
It's so hard to pin point an actual favorite. There are so many favorites, for so many reasons. Updated On: 6/16/09 at 10:19 PM