Who is the greatest performer to have ever graced the broadway stage?

[TheatreRocks]

I say Ethel Merman. Who do you guys think?

[Jordan Catalano]

Marc Kudisch

[phan24]

Eva Noblezada

[BrodyFosse123]

Laurette Taylor

[Jessetenny]

Audra McDonald or Idina Menzel or Kristin Chenoweth or The Queen Barbra.

[gypsy101]

there’s lots of ways to interpret it but i’d say Barbra Streisand

[Cat Guy]

Lotte Lenya

 

 

[Jarethan]

gypsy101 said: "there’s lots of ways to interpret it but i’d say Barbra Streisand"I do agree that it is an ambiguously phrased question.  That said, I interpreted it as asking who was the greatest Broadway performer, which is a really stupid question, given that no one on this board has seen some of the greatest performers, at least according to legend, e.g., Jolson, Cohan, Fanny Brice, Laurette Taylor, John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, Paul Robeson, etc.; or that very few have seen Mary Martin in her heyday, or Ethel Merman in her heyday or Gertrude Lawrence or Margaret Leighton or Judith Anderson or etc.

Re Streisand...two whole shows, one a supporting role????  As someone who saw her when she was already bored playing Fanny Brice, I can assure you that she was much more suited to the movies than the Broadway stage.  She didn't have the discipline to not let the audience know she was bored (of course, she was very young at the time).  I was about 15 and I still remember her changing lyrics on the fly, and barely moving during her dance numbers, likes couldn't be bothered.

Personally, in my lifetime of viewing, I would have to choose between Angela Lansbury, Barbara Harris (based on three whole performances), James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Patti Lupone, Colleen Dewhurst, Irene Worth, Jason Robards.  If I had to choose one, I'd say Angela Lansbury.

[jacksonpotter]

I'd say it's a tough race but I'd offer up the following for contemporary performers.

Audra McDonald: nothing more to be said.
Patti Lupone: phenomenal actress and singer
Sutton Foster: true Broadway triple threat
Jessie Mueller: I truly believe she is among the best of her generation of perfomers.
Megan Hilty: but I don't think she's really had a role with which she can show off.
Annaleigh Ashord: Just a stunning performer.

But I don't think anyone can rival with classics like Bernadette and Ethel and Lansbury.

Honourable mentions to: Judy Garland, Liza, Kelli O'Hara, Alice Ripley, and I don't quite know how I feel about this but Laura Osnes - I think she needs to really do something more dynamic.

[jacksonpotter]

I don't quite know for male performers.

I think as of right now one of the most reliable Broadway leading men is Christian Borle and he seems to be the most successful among his generation along with Bryan D'arcy James. Other then than that I would give honourable mentions to Jeremy Jordan and Aaron Tveit.

[GeorgeandDot]

Angela Lansbury, Patti Lupone, Audra Mcdonald, Nathan Lane, and Bernadette Peters, in no particular order.

As for strong new faces yet to quite reach legendary status, I think Jessie Mueller and Laura Benanti are the future divas of musical theatre.

[justoldbill]

Before my time, but probably Al Jolson. 

[The Josh]

Laurie Metcalf

[devonian.t]

Maybe it's a chemistry thing but for me nobody has ever had the special quality Liza had.

As a live male performer, same goes for Sammy Davis Junior.

Honourable mentions to Chita and Gwen Verdon.

 

[Skip23]

Jolson or Merman or Martin

 

[broadwaysfguy]

this is hard to gauge not having seen first hand the great performers of the 1930s-1970s

from that era, my folks said both Mary Martin and Ethel Merman were incredible

from the 1980s forward among those Ive seen:

1) Audra

2) Sutton

3) Heather Headley

4) Idina

 

[Dave28282]

Lea Salonga

[CurtainPullDowner]

Mary Martin and Ethel Merman will have to fight this one out.

While Angela Lansbury referees. 

[MadonnaMusical]

Obviously Madonna.

[yankeefan7]

I would say Richard Burton in a play and Ethel Merman for musical.

[poisonivy2]

How about Marlon Brando in Streetcar Named Desire? Talk about a Legend in Born moment.

[Mike66]

CurtainPullDowner said: "Mary Martin and EthelMerman will have to fight this one out.

While Angela Lansbury referees."

 

THIS, for sure.  

For the men -- hard to argue with Jolson and Paul Robeson, both before my time.  In my half century, it's hard to ignore Nathan Lane for lasting power and breadth of performance.  (James Earl Jones should be in this discussion, definitely, but for the last few decades he's mostly been playing James Earl Jones.  Still.....)

 

[JBroadway]

Many of these contemporary suggestions are making me literally cringe. In what universe can actors like Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, Eva Noblezada, etc. — as talented as they are — be considered in the highest pantheon of performers to have ever performed on Broadway?

Not to mention the fact that most of the posts in this thread seem to be completely forgetting that non-musicals are also a part of Broadway history.

I think the original question is virtually impossible to answer, particularly for those of us who are too young to have seen most of the greats. If we are limiting it to contemporary performers though, I would personally say Audra McDonald for musicals, and Mark Rylance for plays. Not just because of my opinion, but because of the level of renown and almost universal high praise they’ve received in their prolific stage careers. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I know he’s only had one major role, but I think Ben Platt is up there.
I’d honestly say Marin Mazzie when it comes to musicals and Laurie Metcalf for plays.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Categorically? The list probably includes Sutton Foster, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Mary Martin, Audra McDonald, Ethel Merman, and Bernadette Peters. 

Some of my personal favorites? Heather Headley, Laura Linney, Donna Murphy, and Mary-Louise Parker.

It's strange how hard it is to think of greatest all-time male performers aside from Nathan Lane. Why is this?