Judy Kuhn

[Soaring29]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 11:11pm

Judy Kuhn is such a gorgeous singer- Her beautiful, crystal clear tone and her perfect phrasing make her one of my favorite singers of her generation.  The only complaint I would have for her is that she isn't as expressive acting wise as I would like, but her voice is so good it makes up for it.  What are your thoughts on her? Do you think she should be more famous then she is?  Why do you think she never got as big as one would think, even though she was the voice for Pocahontas? 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 11:21pm

I adore Judy Kuhn.  Her voice is simply beautiful and I've always thought that her acting is every bit as wonderful as her singing.  Maybe her "big break" hasn't really happened yet. She may become a bigger star after Fun Home.  She deserves to be a bigger star than she is.  Hopefully a composer somewhere agrees and writes a major role for her that will gain her more recognition. 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 11:21pm

Double post

Updated On: 8/16/15 at 11:21 PM

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 8/16/15 at 11:44pm

Its crazy how she isn't that notorious to the general public as she is to the theater community, because she deserves to be. I definitely think her performance in Fun Home in Tony Award winning-worthy

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 1:29am

I LOVE THIS WOMAN

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 3:16am

Do you know what NOTORIOUS means? Oy. (It means to be known for negative reasons; even the secondary meaning isn't what you meant.)

I always wonder why so many on this board think the goal of all performers is to be huge.  I think/hope most actors what to perfect their craft and create a decent living for themselves.

Updated On: 8/17/15 at 03:16 AM

[jpbran]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 11:22am

After Fun Home, I kept wondering what she would have been like as Diana in N2N. (Don't THINK she's ever done that role.)

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 11:24am

My fun Judy Kuhn encounter: I was volunteering at a luncheon in May and she was in attendance. I went up to her and I said (truthfully), "Hi. I was looking forward to meeting you because I was curious about your speaking voice. I've only heard you sing!"

And she laughed and said, "Come see Fun Home. I do a lot of talking in that!"

[Balthazar Chasen]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 12:23pm

I adore Judy Kuhn.  Similarly, Stephanie J. Block.  Both should be bigger names.

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 12:26pm

I feel like she chose to focus on raising her family, no? I am hoping that she continues to act on Broadway post-Fun Home. She deserves a Tony! Would love to see her take on a classic revival...

[indytallguy]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 1:11pm

Love her in Fun Home and she is one of my favorite Foscas.

[Pasdechat]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 1:35pm

I adore Judy Kuhn's voice and can't get tired of any of her recordings. I first discovered her through Chess and love her rich belt and chest voice qualities in it. Then her Betty in Sunset Blvd and I was amazed how different her singing is there and how much younger she sounds. I always thought she was an alto/ mezzo singer and when I then listened to her Cosette in Les Mis I completely fell in love with her voice all over again. She is so versatile and sings through the ranges and materials so effortlessly. Can't think of anyone else who comes close. Have missed her for some time and wondering where she was and was so happy she "came back" with Fun Home; her Days and Days is so touching. Hope she will stay visible and audible after Fun Home!

Updated On: 8/17/15 at 01:35 PM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 1:36pm

Judy is a fantastic singer and actress and has incredible stage presence.  I'm glad that FUN HOME is giving her the recognition/exposure that she deserves and I hope that she will be more in demand once she leaves the show.  I'm sorry we never got to see her in THE WOMAN IN WHITE back in 2006 since the show closed before she was scheduled to begin, but I'm certain we will see her in many roles to come - both original and revival.  Thank you, Judy, for allowing another generation of theatergoers to experience your brilliance. (I'm sorry I was too young to experience RAGS, CHESS and LES MIS live)

PS: I agree that her Fosca was excellent.  I'm a fan.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 2:00pm

I've seen everything she's done except (alas) her Fosca. Even saw her Betty in the LA SUNSET.  She has never given a bad performance, and consistently lifts material (CHESS) that doesn't quite work. Her acting in FUN HOME is remarkable; she has the most challenging role, and makes every moment of stage time (Watch the wary, guarded way she first looks at Joel Perez's character when Bruce glibly introduces him; ripples of anxiety register as the alarm bells go off in her eyes).  

[tombomb31]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 3:02pm

How long do yall expect her to stay with Fun Home? I'm planning to see it on June 5 and am hoping she and Sydney will still be around. 

Every time I listen to Days and Days I end up in tears. 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 3:08pm

Has Legend Kuhn discussed whether she will pursue more roles in the future? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 3:44pm

It' is unlikely that either will still be with the show next June.  Kuhn likely has a one year contract and word here is that Lucas' contract is up soon. (Not uncommon with kids, as their voice changes and physical growth tend to be unpredictable.) Is  it possible that Kuhn will extend?  Sure, but I don't know how likely.

 

Why wouldn't Kuhn "pursue" more roles....that's a pretty safe bet. Unless an actor mentions s/he is officially retiring, I think its pretty safe bet they are always looking for their next gig.

 

Updated On: 8/17/15 at 03:44 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 5:44pm

First time I ever heard her glorious voice is when she sang "Rags" from the musical RAGS on the 1987 Tony Awards broadcast.  Her performance made my jaw drop.  (I've linked to that performance.  If you don't want to watch the whole thing just skip to the 3 minute mark.  The last note she sings is stunning!)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjH64vy2cFo

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 6:14pm

Judy's notorious for carrying a shank.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 6:16pm

"Judy's notorious for carrying a shank."

 

I had to read that twice.  I thought you said skank. 

 

 

 

[DAME]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 6:18pm

@Morosco  She was very upset after that performance.  She messed up the lyrics.  If you notice she repeats. 

 

"First time I ever heard her glorious voice is when she sang "Rags" from the musical RAGS on the 1987 Tony Awards broadcast.  Her performance made my jaw drop.  (I've linked to that performance.  If you don't want to watch the whole thing just skip to the 3 minute mark.  The last note she sings is stunning!)

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjH64vy2cFo

 

"

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 6:27pm

A+ to FN.  

[Actriz2]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 6:33pm

Kuhn is divine. I'd love to see her take a stab at some of the Lloyd Webber ladies, mainly Norma Desmond and Grizabella (and I'm not particularly an ALW fan, just seems like her voice is perfect for those roles).

[ajh]

Posted: 8/17/15 at 7:17pm

Thrilled to see all the love for Judy Kuhn on here, although I can't agree with the original poster's reservations about her acting. Having in the last couple of years seen her as Fosca and in her current Tony-nominated performance in Fun Home, I was as blown away by her subtle, nuanced, quietly powerful acting as I have been by that extraordinary voice.

I first fell in love with the voice on the OBCR of Chess -an entrancing and fascinatingly different take on a role that I had previously thought to be the property of Elaine Paige who I'd seen playing it in the West End. As a student in London I must have seen Kuhn at least a dozen times in Metropolis (I had a friend in the ensemble) and that was when I realised what a stunning actress she is. The show itself was pretty schlocky, albeit hugely watchable, but there were/are some terrific tunes in there and the female lead ( a sort of saintly revolutionary type leading the underground workers to rebellion, who is then cloned into an evil robotic double......for any one who never saw the Fritz Lang silent movie) was massive, vocally and physically.....really the kind of role that could justify having an alternate, not that JK did. She was utterly mesmerising....warm, heroic and heartbreaking in the main part, then thoroughly eerie as the clone....you could not take your eyes off her. Thrilled as I was with her, I didn't realise just how easy she made it look until she left the cast and I saw her replacement (the show lasted barely a month after her departure) who was a perfectly serviceable performer but made one uncomfortably aware of just what hard work it was, and who sort of disappeared into the pipes, wheels and ladders of Ralph Koltai's extraordinary machine-like set, something that JK never did. I was a fan then and I'm a fan still. 

Aside from being away from Broadway to raise a family, I do wonder if the reason why she hasn't become a bigger star is that she makes the actual performing look so easy. She is so natural and unaffected as an actor that the craft goes almost unnoticed, and that amazing voice -which apparently can sing virtually anything- just pours out of her like breath, whereas other more "diva"-like performers deliver magnificently but leave you in no doubt of the effort they're putting into it. Kuhn's "Days And Days" is an object lesson in how to put over a song......it is awesome (in the true sense of the word) but it comes completely from that character in that moment. If it's a star turn it's because it's a perfect marriage of inspired, honest performer and brilliant material......but it doesn't -to me anyway- feel like a "set piece". 

I would LOVE to see Judy Kuhn take on Diana in Next To Normal. But Hell I'll watch her in anything. 

[Eurotrash]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 9:47am

I adore her. She'd be a fabulous Mrs Danvers, but it might be a bit high for her.