Stage to PageTheir Favorite Things: Ryan Steele Shares His Theatregoing ExperiencesPerformances by Cynthia Erivo, Brian d'Arcy James and Gregory Jbara are among the singing actor's most memorable.
By
Andrew Gans
July 20, 2016
Ryan Steele
Monica Simoes
Ryan Steele, who has been seen on Broadway in Matilda, Newsies, West Side Story and Billy Elliot, shares the performances that most affected him as part of the audience.
John Selya and Elizabeth Parkinson in Movin' Out
John Selya in Movin' OutJoan Marcus
This was the first Broadway show I ever saw. I was in awe. John's performance was out of this world. He approached each step with such beautiful abandonment and control. And, Elizabeth can just walk onstage, and I'll give her a standing ovation. You can be taught how to développé your leg, but you can't be taught what she has. Over ten years later, it's still such an inspiration.
Brandon Uranowitz in An American In Paris
Robert Fairchild, Brandon Uranowtiz, Max von Essen and the cast of An American in ParisMatthew Murphy
First off, I'm obsessed with the entire cast. They're all super human. Seeing Brandon's performance for the first time just really blew me away. So much honesty.
Kara Lindsay in Newsies
Kara Lindsay and the cast of NewsiesDeen van Meer
Okay, is this cheating if I was onstage with her? I just had to put her on here. She's the most wonderful human and an incredible performer. She's captivating. Wherever she is onstage, I can't not watch her. I mean, she sang “Watch What Happens” the way she did, and then showed the Newsies boys up with her tap skills. Boom.
The Ragtime revival
The cast of the 2009 revival of RagtimeJoan Marcus
It was my first time seeing Ragtime, and whoa. It kicked my butt. I was a wreck. And holy smokes, that score!
Cynthia Erivo in The Color Purple revival
Cynthia Erivo in The Color PurpleMatthew Murphy
Duh.... It's something I'll never forget. She's truly a star. The depth is endless. The voice. The voice.
Brian d'Arcy James in Time Stands Still
Laura Linney and Brian d'Arcy James in Time Stands Still
Joan Marcus
I mean I'm a giant, giant fan of his in whatever he does. This was just the first show that I saw him in.
Gregory Jbara in Billy Elliot
Gregory Jbara and David Alvarez in Billy ElliotDavid Scheinmann
I swung this show, so I was fortunate enough to watch it a lot. Whether I was on or offstage, I never saw Greg acting. He was simply being and telling the story truthfully.
Hamilton and everyone in it
Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast of HamiltonJoan Marcus
Game changer. It's just extraordinary. Every performance is incredible. Special shout out to the ensemble. They're onstage the entire time and create such a specific and rich world to play in....oh and that choreography! Andy B, haayo!
Taylor Trensch in Bare Off-Broadway
Taylor Trensch
Taylor is one of my favorite performers. The gift he has is so unique. I love watching him in anything he does, but I wanted to give this particular performance a shout out.
Lindsay Janisse in Wicked
Lindsay Janisse
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
I bet you don't get a lot of Ensemblists on this list. Seeing Lindsay onstage will always be special to me. We grew up at the same dance studio. I'll never forget watching her in Wicked for the first time. I was so proud and inspired. Holy smokes, the girl can dance.
Two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane, who will star in a one-night-only staged reading of The Man Who Came to Dinner next month to benefit the Roundabout Theatre Company, recently released a children's book entitled "Naughty Mabel," which he co-wrote with his husband Devlin Elliott. The Broadway favorite shares the performances that most affected him as part of the audience.
Playbill.com's new feature series, Their Favorite Things, asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.
This week we spotlight the choices of five-time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald, who is currently celebrating the release of her newest solo recording, "Go Back Home" (Nonesuch Records), with a multi-city concert tour that continues through December.
Playbill.com's feature series Their Favorite Things asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.
This week we spotlight the choices of Olivier and two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone, whose "Favorite Things" are arranged chronologically by female artists, then male artists and, finally, show title.
Tony Award winner Alan Cumming will celebrate his new album, "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs" (due Feb. 5 on the Yellow Sound Label), with a Feb. 8 concert at Carnegie Hall, where he will be joined by Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss and Ricki Lake. Here, the Cabaret star shares the performances that most affected him as part of the audience.
Playbill.com's new feature series, Their Favorite Things, asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.
This week we spotlight the choices of multiple Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, who is currently represented on Broadway with the award-winning Newsies at the Nederlander Theatre and Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The world premiere of his first play in nearly 30 years, Casa Valentina, will open at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in April 2014, directed by Joe Mantello.
This week we spotlight the choices of Tony winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Barbara Cook, the iconic soprano who starred in the Broadway productions of The Music Man and Candide.
