Today, I was called to the front lines to talk about who I would put for Theatre Royalty of the many amazing Theatre Adults from across the world! Without further ado….
Theatre King(s):
King Colm Wilkinson – Okay, I may be biased because I love Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera more than anything, and he’s fantastic. He’s amazing, and a legend, because he’s originated some of the most coveted roles in theatre, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Valjean in Les Miserables, and he played the Phantom when it stayed in Toronto (who happened to inspire someone later in this list, Ramin Karimloo)
Honorary Mention:
Kings Ian McKellen and Kings Patrick Stewart – Beyond the fact that these gentleman are who I aspire to be (not necessarily talent-wise, just awesome-wise), they are basically the Kings of Broadway AND West End. Everyone bows to them, not only because their talent that has reached beyond the horizons of fandoms, past Broadway and geekdom. These two are Kings of all Kings. You can argue with me, but you will lose. Kings of all Kings.
Theatre Queen:
Queen Patti LuPone – Of course it was going to be Patti LuPone. She’s originated some of the most famous roles in theatre, including Fantine on the West End, Evita, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, and won a Tony for her revival of Mama Rose in Gypsy. This woman is the queen of theatre, again, both here and across the pond. She’s a name that is synonymous with theatre and therefore is dubbed Broadway Queen.
Theatre Princess:
Princess Bernadette Peters – You’re probably saying to yourself ‘HOW DARE SHE MAKE BERNADETTE PETERS LESS THAN PATTI LUPONE’. Despite the fact that Bernadette Peters is older than Patti LuPone, I don’t think of her as a queen, I think of her as a princess (I don’t know, maybe it’s the hair?). A bit more of a diva (only in the best way) than Patti. (If we want to get really technical, she’s also won less Tonys than Patti) We know her from Into The Woods, from Sunday in the Park, from the Revivals of Gypsy and Annie Get Your Gun, but she’s never made it to the West End, another reason she’s a princess of Broadway.
Princess Lea Salonga – Lea Salonga is a princess of the theatre for many reasons, one of the reasons being that she holds an Olivier, Tony, and Drama Desk for Kim in Miss Saigon. She also can be seen in the 10th and 25th anniversary specials of Les Miserables, playing Eponine and then Fantine. Finally, name a princess, and she probably sang for them, Mulan, Jasmine, and she was actually named a Disney Legend in 2011.
Princess Audra MacDonald: With Five Tonys in the bag, you bet she’s a theatre princess. This woman is as fierce as she is kind. She can belt you off one minute and be supporting a charity the next. And she did a literal mic drop. There’s really no other reason.
Theatre Princes:
Prince Norm Lewis – This man is who I aspire to be, in fact, I think we should all aspire to be the greatness that is Norm Lewis. He graduated from my alma mater (which is a community/junior college, so rock on showing there are different ways of getting an education), played Poseidon in Little Mermaid, Javert on Broadway AND West End AND the 25th Anniversary, and then wowed everyone with the amazing Audra MacDonald eight times a week. This man is just a prince in every sense of the word.
Prince Norbert Leo Butz – I don’t even need to explain.
Prince Mandy Patinkin – This is when that “older generation” comes in. I’m not saying that only people who know older theatre know Mandy, he has numerous credits, but he’s definitely more well known by those who know 80’s/90’s theatre, Sunday In The Park and Evita, where he played Che. He has numerous other credits, television and stage. I’ve never seen him live, but my parents have, and they’re big fans. Takin’ their word here.
Duke and Duchesses:
Duke Jonathan Groff – I feel like Jonathan Groff was 2006-7’s Aaron Tveit. Everyone loved him and he had an amazing voice, but television has caught him, so we haven’t seen him on stage. We can not forget his amazing voice, so therefore he is my first Duke.
Duke Kyle Dean Massey – I’ve got to give this man credit. Beyond the fact that he is the ONLY Gabe that can make cry, he’s been Aaron’s understudy multiple times. With everyone so in love with Aaron, being his understudy couldn’t have been easy, but he does an amazing job, and in an unpopular opinion, outshines Aaron sometimes.
Duke Gavin Creel – Another actor known throughout the world, as Jimmy from Thoroughly Modern Millie, Claude in Hair, and now Elder Price in The Book of Mormon. He’s played roles so well, they’ve sent him to London to play them for British people! Now that’s how you know you’re good.
Dukes Ramin Karimloo & Hadley Fraser: These get paired up because they’re like Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart 2.0. Best friends, better known on the West End, not afraid to say they love each other/would get married to each other.
Duchess Sierra Boggess: This girl is sunshine in a tiny human body. That’s the only way to explain her. She’s and incredible actress, singer, and one of the most positive people you will ever talk to.
Duchess Samantha Barks: She’s fierce. She’s British. She sings incredibly well and showed Andrew Lloyd Webber by losing his competition and going on and becoming Eponine in Les Mis, in the Anniversary, Nancy in Oliver! (which is the role for the competition she lost), and then in the movie, and then showed us her sexy side as Velma in Hollywood Bowl’s.
Duchess Sutton Foster: First off, if we’re going by in line to the throne, Sutton’s next in line, if I knew how that worked. Two Tonys, a quirky personality, and an amazing voice to boot, she’s definitely on my list of theatre royalty.
I could keep going, there are so many people that personally are royalty to me that other people may disagree with. But I think this is a list many people can agree with. So I will force myself to stop there. Til next time, CBers!