Broadway Stars Reflect on Iconic Roles and Their Journey

NEW YORK — Celebrated Broadway stars are reminiscing about their iconic roles and the transformative experiences that shaped their careers. With each performance, they reveal a blend of vulnerability and resilience, underscoring the ephemeral nature of live theater.

Theatergoers often experience the thrill of a live performance, but they can’t return to it like a movie or television show. Instead, the magic of each show lives on in the hearts of those who witnessed it. Broadway’s unique ability to capture fleeting moments in time is a theme echoed by many artists, including the late, legendary actress Laurette Taylor, remembered as one of the greatest performers of the past.

Actors like Patti LuPone, who played Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, highlight their transformative journeys. “Superman got me out!” LuPone recalled, reflecting on an arduous audition journey that involved overcoming a blizzard in New York just to make it to the final callback. Her performance in Evita wasn’t just a character she played; it became a defining moment in her career.

Vocalists also note the pressures of fulfilling audience expectations. “I felt trapped,” LuPone said. “This is why movies are perfect for me: You do as many takes as you need. But now I had to do a year and a half of the same performance every night.” Her honesty sheds light on the emotional toll that performing can take on artists.

Similarly, actors like Joel Grey, who portrayed the Emcee in Cabaret, reflect on the complex nature of their characters. Grey described embracing the dark humor required for his role, saying, “I was very lewd with all the girls — I was disgusting!” Yet that authenticity became the keystone of his performance.

Annaleigh Ashford shared her insights about the creative process while performing in A Chorus Line. “Dancers don’t speak. Their job is movement, and their vocabulary is dance,” she emphasized, reflecting on how the show offered dancers a voice for their innermost thoughts.

The impact of audience reception is immense. Mikhail Baryshnikov, a celebrated dancer in The Wiz, elaborated on how audience reactions shape a performer’s experience. “It was the first big musical to draw Black audiences to Broadway,” he mentioned how important it was for diverse narratives to be told on stage.

But it’s not just the pressure of performances that weigh on these artists. As they age, they grapple with change and loss. Laura Benanti, who starred in Gypsy, described her emotional journey while embodying Madame Rose. “I’ve channeled personal experiences into that role,” she shared, describing it as a reflection on motherhood.

As they continue to create and perform, each actor recognizes that live performance is precious yet elusive. “You follow the map and be as truthful as you can,” Bernadette Peters noted, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and connection in theater.

In a medium built on fleeting impressions, these performers remain committed to leaving lasting impressions on both the stage and in the hearts of their audiences.