The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
kevlowell
Swing Joined: 12/9/10
#1The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/8/18 at 11:24pm
In your opinion, what are the most thankless roles in musical theatre? By that I mean which roles that no matter who plays them, they (rarely) never win Tonys or the role is upstaged by that of the other lead? Here's my short list:
MY FAIR LADY: Eliza. Higgins & Alfred always get the spotlight while she does the heavy lifting.
WEST SIDE STORY: Tony & Maria.
PIPPIN: Pippin. It's always about the Leading Player. Always.
DREAMGIRLS: Lorrell.
GYPSY: Louise.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Christine.
ANNIE: Annie. Most productions (including the last Broadway revival) of late have made it "The Miss Hannigan Hour".
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#3The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/8/18 at 11:50pm
Bobby Baby in Company
Sally, Buddy, Ben Stone in Follies
Franklin Shepard Inc in Merrily We Roll Along.
It's not that they're upstaged by other characters; they're just thankless characters to play, and to impose on an audience.
#4The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 2:28am
Billy Crocker in Anything Goes - similar kind of situation to Cliff and Pippin; the generic male protagonist who gets overshadowed by the more effervescent co-lead (Reno, Sally/Emcee, Leading Player). Joe Gillis probably also belongs in that category.
kevlowell
Swing Joined: 12/9/10
#5The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 2:41am
NOWaWarning said: "Cliff in Cabaret"
I'd forgotten about Cliff! If you only ever see the press material for CABARET, you'd think it was only about the Kit Kat Klub.
#6The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 2:54am
Pegeen in Mame
Ambrose Kemper in Dolly
The Whitmans in Follies
Frid in A Little Night Music
Anastasia in Anastasia
Peggy in Hamilton
#8The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 6:31am
The Baker from Into the Woods. He’s the real emotional center of the show, yet is almost always overshadowed by the Witch and his Wife. Seeing how poorly the role is usually played makes me appreciate the criminally underrated performance of Chip Zien all the more.
Another obvious one is Cosette in Les Mis, which may be the largest female role in the show, but gets very little to do and doesn’t get a signature song the way the other two women do.
MrsSallyAdams
Broadway Star Joined: 11/12/13
#9The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 6:43am
The supporting cast of Jekyll & Hyde.
Emma gets bland songs and no agency.
The Board of Governors lost their comedy song in early drafts.
The chorus is stuck with "Murder Murder" and five versions of "Facade."
Here in 'Jekyll & Hyde' there's a theme song we've got,
and it's not very good but it furthers the plot
exposition
and it's known as 'Facade.'
threepanelmusicals.blogspot.com
Esther Blodgett
Understudy Joined: 7/15/15
#11The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 9:49am
Jeff in Bells Are Ringing
Nick in Funny Girl; Everyone I have met who has done the show agrees Nick Arnstein is the most thankless role in musical theatre.
In some sort of coincidence, both of these roles were originated by Sydney Chaplin.
hamiltonstradition
Stand-by Joined: 5/17/17
#12The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 10:48amNessarose in Wicked. Considering she has WWOTE, and Dancing Through Life, she gets very little recognition. Kem Martin (Broadway) is one of the best actors I’ve. She adds so many new layers to the role but often (as well as basically all of smaller principals minus Fiyero) gets pushed aside.
#13The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 10:49am
adamgreer said: "The Baker from Into the Woods. He’s the real emotional center of the show, yet is almost always overshadowed by the Witch and his Wife. Seeing how poorly the role is usually played makes me appreciate the criminally underrated performance of Chip Zien all the more."
I second The Baker. He has the most stage time of any of the leads.
I used to believe that Irene Molloy was one of the most thankless roles, until I saw Kate Baldwin work her magic.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 10:56amThe rear end of the horse in HELLO, DOLLY!
"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
#15The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 10:57amI feel like Glinda is often overshadowed by Elphaba. I think Glinda is the more difficult role when it comes to acting.
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#16The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 11:04am
IdinaBellFoster said: "adamgreer said: "The Baker from Into the Woods. He’s the real emotional center of the show, yet is almost always overshadowed by the Witch and his Wife. Seeing how poorly the role is usually played makes me appreciate the criminally underrated performance of Chip Zien all the more."
I second The Baker. He has the most stage time of any of the leads.
I used to believe that Irene Molloy was one of the most thankless roles, until I saw Kate Baldwin work her magic."
I hadn't really thought about the Baker like that but you're right. Luckily, I got to see Him Stanek in the role in Houston and he was superb.
#17The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 12:17pm
Lucy/Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd. She's central to the plot but perpetually overshadowed or ignored.
#18The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 2:01pmI played Reverend Moore in FOOTLOOSE once. Not only is his big song not in the show anymore, but he is a total buzzkill in an otherwise fun show. When Vi and I came out for our curtain call right before Ren and Ariel, the applause dipped every damn time.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#19The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 2:14pm
I don't know if it's "thankless" per se since the role itself isn't all that demanding, but Madame Morrible in Wicked is physically on stage a lot more than I think people realize. Especially in contrast to The Wizard, who has about a millisecond worth of material.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#20The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 3:45pm
I'm not even sure how "thankless" and not having been nominated for a Tony is the same thing. Especially considering most roles only have one or two chances at Tony noms.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#21The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 4:27pmI don’t see how, in any world, Glinda is a “thankless role.” It’s one of only two developed roles in that show.
#22The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 6:08pm
I honestly don't think many of the roles listed on this thread are "thankless." Yes, Tony and Maria often get overshadowed by Anita and all the dancers, and Pippin by The Leading Player, and so on. But they are still great parts.
Cliff in Cabaret though...yeah, that is totally thankless. I've played that role too. He's a completely reactionary character, and doesn't drive the action at all even though he's the protagonist. Also, in each of the three version of the show available for licensing, he either hardly sings at all or gets either "Why Should I Wake Up?" or "Don't Go" - both completely generic and forgettable love songs.
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#23The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 7:14pm
Dollypop said: "The rear end of the horse in HELLO, DOLLY!"
I have to tell you that i laughed out loud when I read this.
I would haver gotten serious and agreed with those who proposed Cliff, Bobby, Christine Daae, Cosette, the two Sidney Chaplin roles, and Lorelle. To those, I would have added EVERYONE in the cast of The Apple Tree other than the female lead (especially when she was played by Barbara Harris), Priam Farll in Darling of the Day, Anthony and Joanne in Sweeney Todd (no matter how good they are, the audience doesn't seem to care), and Mack and Mable (I still remember that Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters worked their asses off, gave excellent performances, and were probably embarrassed by the unenthusiastic applause throughout the show and especially at the curtain call).
ohhiccup 2
Chorus Member Joined: 6/5/17
#24The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 8:29pmHow is Christine Daae a thankless role? I’d say Raoul was a lot more thankless than Christine.
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#25The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 8:49pm
The Distinctive Baritone wrote: "Cliff in Cabaret though...yeah, that is totally thankless. ... in each of the three version of the show available for licensing, he either hardly sings at all or gets either "Why Should I Wake Up?" or "Don't Go" - both completely generic and forgettable love songs."
I don't find Why Should I Wake Up? either generic or forgettable. I've always loved it, and I most certainly haven't forgotten it. And what about Perfectly Marvelous, also sung by Cliff? Those two songs are my favorites in the show.
#26The Most Thankless Roles in Musical Theatre
Posted: 2/9/18 at 9:27pm
I've played Ambrose. I had a blast. Not thankless.
Thankless is Mendel, the Rabbi's son in Fiddler.
