Im curious what roles Actors are Synonymous with however they were not recognized with a win in award season. Ones that come to mind: Laura Osnes as Cinderella Bernadette Peters as The Witch Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda
Bernadette in Sunday in the Park and Into the Woods.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Usnavi (In the Heights) and Hamilton - Lin Manuel Miranda
Joanne (Company) - Elaine Stritch
Stanley (A Streetcar Named Desire) - Marlon Brando
Many roles from Rent will always be compared to the original cast, I imagine, for better or worse - Mark (Anthonny Rapp), Roger (Adam Pascal), Collins (Jesse L. Martin), Maureen (Idina Menzel) and even the female Seasons of Love soloist (I forget her name now). Not sure if I would say Joanne because, even though Tracie Thoms was in the film and in the filmed performance, she was not in the original cast, and people tend to give that a lot of performance.
I also would say Julie Andrews in Sound of Music & Mary Poppins and Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire. Yes, I'm fully aware neither of those actresses ever played those roles on Broadway so they could never have won a Tony for those, but there are roles in plays/musicals and they are very much associated to Julie Andrews and Vivien Leigh.
I think it is actually surprising that Julie Andrews did not win a Tony for Eliza, of course I know politics and narratives are different every season. And that’s not to disparage Judy Holliday’s winning performance, which I’m not familiar with— but My Fair Lady is such a beloved and classic musical and Julie’s original Broadway performance has been mythologized into a giant.
I wish the Tonys would just give her a damn honorary one, anyway. 1996 was a million years ago. Julie graciously appeared at the ceremony in years since and even if she is reluctant or otherwise unable to commit to a live stage performance nowadays, she’s done her part promoting musical theatre and stagecraft to children and adults with her books, her TV show “Julie’s Greenroom,” and the PBS documentary series.
Ellen Greene in Little Shop of Horrors and John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch - though, in both cases, they originated their respective roles off-broadway, and JCM would serve as a replacement in the Hedwig revival. Nevertheless, they both have a pretty remarkable stamp on their characters and sadly were never awarded for it.
I suppose Gwen Verdon in Sweet Charity could apply here as well. She clearly raised the bar high for anyone who would tackle the role later on, and it's clear that the show was sculpted around her talents.
Maybe to lesser extents (and all in plays), I'd argue Laurence Olivier in The Entertainer, Sidney Poitier in A Raisin in the Sun, and Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame could be included.
Ellen Greene inLittle Shop of Horrorsand John Cameron Mitchell inHedwig and the Angry Inch- though, in both cases, they originated their respective roles off-broadway, and JCM would serve as a replacement in the Hedwig revival. Nevertheless, they both have a pretty remarkable stamp on their characters and sadly were never awarded for it.
I suppose Gwen Verdon inSweet Charitycould apply here as well. She clearly raised the bar high for anyone who would tackle the role later on, and it's clear that the show was sculpted around her talents.
Maybe to lesser extents (and all in plays), I'd argue Laurence Olivier inThe Entertainer, Sidney Poitier inA Raisin in the Sun, and Rosalind Russell inAuntie Mamecould be included."
I think you pointed out some truly appropriate names at the end; however,your earlier names were sort of N/A. Ellen Greene and John Cameron Mitchell never played Broadway, so they were not eligible. Not sure if that was the intention of the subject -- I assumed they would at least need to be eligible for a Tony to be mentioned. I may be wrong here, but I do not recall that Tim Curry ever played on Broadway in Rocky Horror.
Jarethan said: "I think you pointed out some truly appropriate names at the end; however,your earlier names were sort of N/A. Ellen Greene and John Cameron Mitchell never played Broadway, so they were not eligible. Not sure if that was the intention of the subject -- I assumed they would at least need to be eligible for a Tony to be mentioned. I may be wrong here, but I do not recall that Tim Curry ever played on Broadway in Rocky Horror."
Sure - I acknowledge that. I guess if you try for a different interpretation of the question, my point stands. Regardless of them being off broadway, they never won Tony Awards (nor could they). They're considered theater-specific "iconic" performances, but don't have statues to go with it.
And as mentioned ^^ Tim Curry did originate the role. The show just didn't do very well... if I understand correctly, neither did the film either. The midnight showings and cult status wouldn't be applied until the 1980s (I could have that a bit askew however; that's just what I remember being "taught" about it).