Broadway stars who originated most roles in shows that are still done
Last Edit: PlayWiz 01:28 pm EDT 08/24/24
Posted by: PlayWiz 01:11 pm EDT 08/24/24

I was thinking of Broadway stars who originated roles (and in some cases had shows written for them) that are still done regularly. I'm also including some shows of theirs that are occasionally revived or have had people curious to see them revived (like Best Musical winner "Redhead"). Can you add some others to this list of people who were part of -- or inspired -- shows that are still done a lot? (Not including people who made a splash in a revival or as a replacement).

Gwen Verdon – Sweet Charity, Chicago, Damn Yankees. Viable w/some revivals: Can-Can, Redhead (if someone could actually be cast to do it), New Girl in Town

Ethel Merman: Anything Goes, Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun (written for her: Hello, Dolly!)

Mary Martin – South Pacific, Peter Pan, Sound of Music, I Do! I Do! (revivable: One Touch of Venus)

Barbara Cook: She Loves Me, Candide, The Music Man, Plain and Fancy (sometimes still done regionally)

Julie Andrews: My Fair Lady, Camelot, The Boy Friend, Cinderella (from tv), Thoroughly Modern Millie (from movie)

Chita Rivera: West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman

Alfred Drake: Oklahoma!, Kismet, Kiss Me Kate (Gigi was later revived)

John Raitt: Pajama Game, Carousel

Bernadette Peters: Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, (off-Broadway: Dames at Sea)

Richard Kiley: Man of La Mancha, Kismet, (Redhead, mentioned above, possibly No Strings)

Zero Mostel: Fiddler on the Roof, A Funny Thing.. Forum

Nathan Lane: The Producers

Audra McDonald: Ragtime (other musicals were revivals or are not often revived)

Marin Mazzie: Ragtime

Carol Burnett: Once Upon a Mattress

Carol Channing: Hello, Dolly! (occasionally revived: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

It's not that long a list, though there have been stars over time who have had vehicles written for them. But feel free to add. I think Gwen Verdon has the biggest percentage of shows she appeared in originally that are still either done or are viable for revivals.
reply

Previous: Alex Edelman on His Late Collaborator Adam Brace - Charlie_Baker 03:15 pm EDT 08/24/24
Next: re: Broadway stars who originated most roles in shows that are still done - Singapore/Fling 09:12 pm EDT 08/25/24
Thread:


Time to render: 0.168701 seconds.