Just based on the longevity of her career, I'd have to say Patti LuPone has the best voice on Broadway. She sounds stronger and healthier now at 61 than she did at 30. As for unique voices, I'm really crazy about Donna Murphy's voice, and I feel that there's actually stuff...wrong with it. She's a little nasally but it's fantastic and works.
I brought up the last question because of Carol Channing and Hello, Dolly! People always flip out because Carol Channing doesn't have a traditionally attractive voice, but she won the Tony. um, duh, because she could still sing the score and obviously acted the hell out of it. The same thing is true of Harvey and Fiddler. Harvey sounds like Harvey, but he CAN actually sing and he can act like no one else.
Raul Esparza has an amazing voice, and so does Audra McDonald. I think those are my picks for best voices. As for unique voices, I really enjoy Daphne Rubin-Vega's voice. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but you can feel the emotion radiating out of her when she sings. Another (younger) person's voice I enjoy is Eryn Murman's. It's a little nasally, but it's got this pureness and syrupy-ness to it that I just love.
I don't think it's necessary to have an ~amazing voice, but you should be able to sing the score fairly well.
Raul is amazing, and he can sing a lot of different ways. From Rocky Horror to say Company or Taboo, when it's a lot more 'pretty', though still not, what I think, is traditional.
I don't know if she has the "best" voice on Broadway by a long shot, but I loved (at least in Spring Awakening) how Lea Michele sounded like she's caressing each word as she sings. It worked especially well in "Mamma Who Bore Me" and some of the other slow songs in that show...
Also, agreed on Harvey Fierstein. That man makes it WORK.
Who do you consider to have the best voices on Broadway? Audra McDonald, Cheyenne Jackson, Raul Esparza, Kristin Chenoweth, Marc Kudish, there are so many that I think have amazing voices
What about those actors with unique but not amazing/beautiful voices? Alice Ripley, Kerry Ellis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Cheno's voice at times is unique, but I think that's because of her vocal training.
Do you think it's necessary for an actor in a musical to have the most amazing singing voice (assuming they can sing the score)? It really depends on the part.
Comments 20
I brought up the last question because of Carol Channing and Hello, Dolly! People always flip out because Carol Channing doesn't have a traditionally attractive voice, but she won the Tony. um, duh, because she could still sing the score and obviously acted the hell out of it. The same thing is true of Harvey and Fiddler. Harvey sounds like Harvey, but he CAN actually sing and he can act like no one else.
Reply
I don't think it's necessary to have an ~amazing voice, but you should be able to sing the score fairly well.
Reply
Reply
Also, agreed on Harvey Fierstein. That man makes it WORK.
Reply
Do you think it's necessary for an actor in a musical to have the most amazing singing voice (assuming they can sing the score)?
Depends on the part.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Audra McDonald, Cheyenne Jackson, Raul Esparza, Kristin Chenoweth, Marc Kudish, there are so many that I think have amazing voices
What about those actors with unique but not amazing/beautiful voices?
Alice Ripley, Kerry Ellis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Cheno's voice at times is unique, but I think that's because of her vocal training.
Do you think it's necessary for an actor in a musical to have the most amazing singing voice (assuming they can sing the score)?
It really depends on the part.
Reply
Leave a comment