Hollywood Stars We Haven’t Seen On Broadway- Page 3

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 10:26pm

Ha, I noticed that. Yvonne Strahovski and Ann Dowd have also been, but Joseph Fiennes has not.

[darquegk]

Posted: 8/6/22 at 11:17pm

How much of Willis being bad in “Misery” was him being bad, and how much was him biting off more than he could chew during his advancing brain disorder? Even if I can’t praise him I don’t feel entirely like criticizing him once the diagnosis came out.

[binau]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 3:01am

If a film actor can’t remember the lines for an entire show, broaden their performance for the stage, be able to perform a whole show in one take, get nervous in front of an audience, project their voice, have the stamina to do 8 shows a week etc etc does it mean they are a ‘bad actor’? For me I think I just accept they are different mediums/different jobs rather than suggesting only the good ones can make it to the stage. 

[BJR]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 7:50am

It's always felt like Kate Winslet should be on stage. I don't recall if it's solely because of family, or also lack of interest.

I want Gilian Anderson back on stage again, after her latest resurgence.

And it's interesting Reese Witherspoon was up for the South Pacific revival all those years back. And yet, we haven't heard of her making another attempt.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 8:53am

I'll just say that I appreciate those who periodically do (particularly if they give compelling performances) given the financial incentives that TV and film generally can provide.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 10:10am

VintageSnarker said: "Julianne Moore

Natalie Portman"

both have been on Broadway 
 

[Duckie4]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 10:46am

binau said: "If a film actor can’t remember the lines for an entire show, broaden their performance for the stage, be able to perform a whole show in one take, get nervous in front of an audience, project their voice, have the stamina to do 8 shows a week etc etc does it mean they are a ‘bad actor’? For me I think I just accept they are different mediums/different jobs rather than suggesting only the good ones can make it to the stage."

Well, no.  But I guess if they CAN'T do those things they probably shouldn't accept a Broadway gig because the reality is they will be judged by stage criteria and will be deemed at the very least an ineffective stage performer.  

Some of those things can obviously be overcome....microphones, earpieces, using alternates, using smaller venues....and the basics of skilled acting will get them through. 

But the fact does indeed remain that the mediums are different. Broadway actors aren't always the best film actors, either, especially if their background is mostly musicals, because they have a hard time pulling back, just like some film actors don't translate as well to the stage. 

Not everyone can be everything.  It's ok. 

[Damiensta]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 11:24am

BJR said: "It's always felt like Kate Winslet should be on stage. I don't recall if it's solely because of family, or also lack of interest.

I want Gilian Anderson back on stage again, after her latest resurgence.

And it's interesting Reese Witherspoon was up for the South Pacific revival all those years back. And yet, we haven't heard of her making another attempt."

Winslet had said that bc of children . She wouldn’t do stage until they were older.

same as why Kidman , decline offer to transfer her UK play . Her daughters vetoed idea when she asked them.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 12:33pm

Beanie Feldstein

......oh, wait a minute....

 

.

[willep]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 2:43pm

*eyeroll* 

We still can’t give Beanie a rest? Jesus.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 2:59pm

Dollypop said: "Beanie Feldstein

......oh, wait a minute....


Dementia is sad. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 5:16pm

Duckie4 said: "Not everyone can be everything. It's ok."

 

Artistically, yes it’s ok to accept the separate skill sets. And maybe trying to force it will sometimes result in mediocre star performances. But I think the batting average is strong enough that the benefits outweigh the artistic "risks."

Based on the direction of the industry, I think it's import to keep investing in the cross-pollination of stage and screen acting. Star casting is a huge portion of what’s keeping Broadway plays from going defunct as a viable business model. And it’s incredibly helpful for musicals too.

And if theatre actors go out and make their name on screen, that will likewise help the industry (especially if those actors then return to their roots after they acquire a wider fan base).

Not to mention, the other benefit is that we sometimes get to discover that [xyz theatre actor] actually achieves far more depth and comfort on camera, or that [xyz film actor] can actually deliver a powerhouse, magnetic performance onstage.

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 9:48pm

Brad Pitt hasn’t been on Broadway…I don’t think? 

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 8/7/22 at 11:20pm

I would pay a lot of money to see Anna Faris in a play.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

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

Dollypop said: "Ansel Elgort, just because I like his singing voice."

I don't know if his theatre acting would be any better than his screen acting. Ansel to me was easily the weak link of the cast of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. I haven't seen the HBO Max series, Tokyo Vice, but I heard he's not very good there either.

[Duckie4]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 10:31am

JBroadway said: "Duckie4 said: "Not everyone can be everything. It's ok."



Artistically, yes it’s ok to accept the separate skill sets. And maybe trying to force it will sometimes result in mediocre star performances. But I think the batting average is strong enough that the benefits outweigh the artistic "risks."

Based on the direction of the industry, I think it's import to keep investing in the cross-pollination of stage and screen acting. Star casting is a huge portion of what’s keeping Broadway plays from going defunct as a viable business model. And it’s incredibly helpful for musicals too.

And if theatre actors go out and make their name on screen, that will likewise help the industry (especially if those actors then return to their roots after they acquire a wider fan base).

Not to mention, the other benefit is that we sometimes get to discover that [xyz theatre actor] actually achieves far more depth and comfort on camera, or that [xyz film actor] can actually deliver a powerhouse, magnetic performance onstage.

"

No doubt. The concept of star casting has never bothered me....I have to admit, it has gotten me to the theatre on several occasions, so as a business decision it's often the way to go.  As to your last point, I certainly felt that way about Daniel Radcliffe on stage. 

[Duckie4]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 10:32am

Give me Matt Damon on stage. Please. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:19pm

Duckie4 said: "Give me Matt Damon on stage. Please."

 

He's already played the West End

 

https://playbill.com/article/oscar-winner-matt-damon-makes-west-end-debut-in-this-is-our-youth-com-104860

 

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 12:22pm

n2nbaby said: "I would pay a lot of money to see Anna Faris in a play."

 

She would have been great as Brooke in NOISES OFF 10 years ago.  Would love to see her in a comedy (new or revived) on Broadway.

 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:30pm

Give me some Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 1:30pm

I wonder if Meryl would ever return to theatre.

Can you image in her a new musical? 

[Duckie4]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 2:29pm

JSquared2 said: "Duckie4 said: "Give me Matt Damon on stage. Please."



He's already played the West End



https://playbill.com/article/oscar-winner-matt-damon-makes-west-end-debut-in-this-is-our-youth-com-104860



"

Ok, then, give me Matt Damon on Broadway.  Please. 

[David10086]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 5:35pm

With the news of Olivia Newton-John's passing today, it reminds us she's another one who didn't make it to the Broadway stage, though she had at least two opportunities:

 

Apparently, she was a name on ALW's  'short list' for 'Sunset Boulevard' to replace Betty Buckley on Broadway in 1996  (Cher was the front-runner) . She had been concentrating on her healing from cancer at the time, and knew she wouldn't be able to headline a major musical - so she didn't consider his offer.  

About 15 years ago, she said she was involved in a project to bring 'First Wives Club' to Broadway. She would be starring in it, and writing some of the music for it, according to her. It never came to fruition. 

A side note:

Back in 1979, when ALW was courting Streisand to star in the movie version of his hit musical 'Evita', she had no interest - but suggested her friend Olivia Newton-John for the role. She was the box-office sensation from 1978's "Grease", and had previously recorded 'Don't Cry for Me, Argentina' on her 1976 album 'Making A Good Thing Better'. At the time, ALW said her recording was the best he ever heard. The project never took off at that time.

[comets]

Posted: 8/8/22 at 8:27pm

I'd pay to see Amber Heard and Johnny Depp in Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf. They add a scene where she craps the bed during drinks. 

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 8/9/22 at 9:38am

Seth Macfarlane. It would be a treat to see him take over Music Man in the winter, but I know that is a long shot!