Well, like BroadwayNYC, the city inspires me because it has so much opportunity that can be taken advantage of. My biggest inspirations on Broadway though are Bernadette Peters and Idina Menzel. I had seen AGYG from the last row about 4 years ago, and was still struck by Bernadette's performance. That's when I became a big fan of her, and that's been growing ever since. And Idina, I also had a really bad seat for Wicked, and when she came out and sang "The Wizard and I", I was blown away. I had never heard of her before I saw Wicked, and after I saw that show, began to listen to my "Rent" cast recording. I had never listened to it before, when I got it, and seriously, I don't know why. I got "Still I Can't Be Still" and "The Wild Party" for Christmas and that's when I realized what an amazing performer Idina is, and very versatile (which has already been established). She's also a very nice person. At the Wicked cd signing, she actually payed attention to what I was saying to her, about how much I loved her performance, etc., and seemed to appreciate it. Wow I wish I could be like those two women when I get older....
~*Christa*~
"Don't ya wanna be the life of the party?" Idina Menzel, THE WILD PARTY
You don't have to wait until you're older to be like them. They are both nice, genuine, appreciative ladies. There's no reason that you can't emulate those good qualities right now in your everyday life.
"It's the little things; the details, that distinguish the Barbra Streisands from the Rosalyn Kinds."~Gilmore Girls~
Bernadette Peters Stephan Sondhiem as well as Stephan Schwartz My voice instructor/musical theatre director R. Ursan Julie Andrews Johnathan Larson *BIGTIME**
actors: sutton foster, jane krakowski (sp?), heather headley, and idina menzel
places: time square (the energy)
creative: susan stroman and natasha katz
songs: for good (wicked)
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
Broadway in general has inspired me. I mean, what other place is as exciting and memorable, that you also have to work your butt off to achieve in. I mean, Hollywood is basically all about glamour and beauty....talent is way down the list in their concern. Broadway, is the average guy's venue. People who have come from nothing to fulfill the dreams in a great show is awe inspiring. Broadway is what really made me want to be an actor/singer. Even if I don't make it to broadway, it will always be my inspiration.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
Lets see so many.. Sondheim, Schwartz, Kristin Chenoweth ( I am not a huge fan, but MAN what a voice!) Same said for Idina. Well there is a real short list, I am sure I am forgetting someone.
"All I ask of you is one thing: please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."
Conan O'Brien
Musto's humor and column Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart Tony Kushner/Jeanine Tesori Caroline Or Change Violet. Millie. Jeff Marx/Robert Lopez Avenue Q Stephanie, Tags, The cast of Q Sutton Foster for her belt (Gimmee Gimmee) Brent Barrett(voice) Donna Karger and Roma Torre Patrick Pacheco Elaine Stritch Barbara Cook Rosie O'Donnell Waymond Wong- (He is so nice and talented) Bob Blume William Wolf The Siegels John Shin Colin Lively (I adore you) Rare Hair Salon (Ruth Roche) Kathy Najimy Christine Pedi Michael West Dame Edna Harvey Fierstein Nathan Lane Kerry Butler Kristin Chenoweth Gerard A- (For making me laugh for 23 years) John Freedson Namo Updated On: 7/8/04 at 02:19 PM
Any stunt casted actor that actually turns in a good performance consistently in a play/musical. Why? Because I believe in redemption and threatre is the one place where some of these allied artists can find it. Many wander over to theatre because it remains the one venue in which they can make an artistic statement of some sort, removing themselves from the banality of radio-friendly pop music and triteness of Tinseltown.
Desingers that inspire me: David Rockwell Bob Crowley Heidi Ettinger (or Landesman) Julie Taymor Robin Wagner Eugene Lee Karen TenEyck
Composers/Lyricists that inspire me: Marc Shaiman, Scott Whitman Jonathan Larson Cole Prter Alan Menken, Howard Ashman Charles Strouse, Lee Adams Frank Loesser
"[My son]'s really into my music, but one day we were listening to Billy [Joel] in the car and he said, 'Daddy, I think Billy's songs are a little better than yours." (Michael Cavanaugh)
Composers/lyricists: Jonathan Larson (he's my number 1) Stephen Schwartz Andrew Lloyd Webber They're all incredible guys who have contributed so much to theatre.
I'm inspired by any person or show that people said would never succed, yet they went far. Or the people who started as nothing and worked their way up to lead or supporting, or even a Tony nomination or win.
Sean...Thanks...I don't know where Karen has gone, but I love her style. I wish she would put her website back up. I someday see myself going into that style...the sort of Yale school of design style (and hopefully GOING to Yale to stufy under Ming Cho Lee).
And I just wanna say how much I love your website and how often i visit. I am actually in Calgary all summer, so we should get in contact my email is akiva_rs@yahoo.ca . I am in rehearsals for a production of Fiddler on the Roof that will be in Olympic Plaza August 2-14th...definitely try to come out and see it if you can. I am one of the Motels (we alternate nights).
The company that is putting it on is called Summerstock Conservatory...Last year they out on Guys and Dolls in Olympic Plaza (floating stage built on the water). I designed the sets for that, and was actually hired as an actor to sing the role of Rusty Charlie, but that was more coincidence. This year I am more invloved in acting than in sets.
*Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Marin Mazzie, Bernadette Peters, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Donna Murphy, Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, and Audra McDonald, for the complete professionalism, class, heart, and gift that they bring (brought) to their craft everyday and for always setting new standards of excellence in every performance they give (gave).
*Sutton Foster, Kristen Bell, Enrico Rodriguez, and Danny McNie for being solid constant inspiration in that it's possible and for letting a little girl from Royal Oak with big broadway dreams keep being able to believe in herself.
*My parents and my 89 year old grandmother who never ceases to amaze me everyday with what she can do. *A good hug *A smile *A Thank You *Words *Silence
"Did you know that if you take the first two vowels in Olive and rearrange them it spells I-Love?"-Spelling Bee
"It's night like this that hotel bars were specifically made." Light In The Piazza
what, or i should really say who, inspires me to want to be a part of the theater world are everyone who is involved with this business. i think that everyone works so hard to pull off what they do, and i just really respect that. everyone is so damn nice too.
"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions."
~The one and only John Lennon