# Broadway!! What Role Do YOU want to Play? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529 "2004-10-22T01:47:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/21 "2004-10-22T05:27:42Z")
Er… the above should read "No law says that Collins _can’t_ be white. I’d also love to play the emcee, though given my girth I’d have to play him as more of a Hermann Göring-esque evil clown. Another five pics: Zorba in (what’s the name of that musical? ah yes… ) _Zorba_ Saul in _King David_ Charles J. Guiteau in _Assassins_ Max Bialystok in _The Producers_ (I’d really love to see Gene Wilder play Bialystok just once, or perhaps Brooks himself- Richard Dreyfus just had to bow out of the role due to back problems, but Jason Alexander would seem a shoe in to replace him) ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/22 "2004-10-22T05:40:23Z")
Mimi from _Rent_ Judas Iscariot from _Jesus Christ Superstar_ Not that I’m qualified to play either of these roles. But wouldn’t a female Judas be really . . . interesting? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/23 "2004-10-22T06:43:59Z")
**Henry Drummond** in _Inherit the Wind_. When we read that play in eight grade, it basically got me interested in doing drama throughout high school, and the teachers really liked how I read that part. I guess even at that age something appealed to me about taking on a religious blowhard. I’d also love to play E.K. Hornbeck from the same show. That’s probably more up my alley temperamentally. The character is a cynical journalist (hmm) based on H.L. Mencken, who I also admire. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/24 "2004-10-22T06:47:51Z")
Harold Hill from _The Music Man_. Truthfully I’d probably make a better Marcellus Washburn. John Adams from _1776_. I’d also take Edward Rutledge (Molasses to Rum to Slaves…such a haunting song). Either the Soviet or the referee from _Chess_. Seymour in _Little Shop of Horrors_. Those are about the only ones I’ve even seen, actually… ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/25 "2004-10-22T07:28:27Z")
Like **zev\_steinhardt** , I’d love to be Jean Valjean. I already know the music, and have performed much of it in solo efforts during my high school choir years. I’ve also always loved doing Shakespeare, and have often thought it’d be loads of fun to _sing_ it, but I don’t know of any musical adaptations. I did play Romeo in the high school production of R&J, but sadly, it was a strictly non-musical role. The closest I’ve come to musical acting was playing Linus in a bit from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. That count? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/26 "2004-10-22T12:46:48Z")
Oh, cripes, my dream thread! Golde in _Fiddler_ Maureen in _Rent_ Elphaba in _Wicked_ (No, I don’t love Idina Menzel…). Lucy the Slut from _Avenue Q_ Petra in _A Little Night Music_ (The maid - “The Miller’s Son” is one of my favorite songs EVER) Amy from _Company_ (I can sing “Not Getting Married” from start to finish - my husband looks at me like I’ve grown two heads when I do this in the car…his usual response is “You scare me.”) Mama Rose in _Gypsy_ (someday, I’m too young for this role right now) Cathy in _The Last Five Years_ Jane in _Jane Eyre_ Velma in _Chicago_ Lola from _Damn Yankees_ Gertrude from _Seussical_ Sara Jane Moore from _Assassins_ Katie from _A Tree Grows in Brooklyn_ I know there are more, but that’s a pretty good sampling. Ava ---
**Author:** ![TwoTrouts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@TwoTrouts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoTrouts)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/27 "2004-10-22T13:02:39Z")
The dentist in _Little Shop of Horrors_. Capt. Spaulding in _Animal Crackers_. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/28 "2004-10-22T13:11:13Z")
Eponine in _Les Mis_ Ellen in _Miss Saigon_ Florence in _Chess_ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/29 "2004-10-22T13:16:13Z")
YAYAYAYAAY! I get to claim **Miss Adelaide** from _Guys and Dolls_. I would _own_ this part. Alternately, **Roxie Hart** in _Chicago_. Yeah, me and gangsters…singing and dancing…what.is.not.to.love? ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/30 "2004-10-22T13:25:50Z")
Oooh, _great_ thread. I would also want to play Adelaide, I’ve loved that role since before I understood the “motel clerk” line. 🙂 Mrs. Lovett in _Sweeney Todd_, just so sweetly diabolical. And I love the little pigtails. Lois Lane in _Kiss Me, Kate_, because I can sing “Always True To You” in my car like nobody’s business. And put me down for another wannabe female Judas. Not so well known anymore, it seems, but I would _adore_ playing either Donna/Oolie or Gabby/Bobbi in _City of Angels_. Lucy in _Jekyll & Hyde_, as well. I need to stop now, or I’ll get all depressed and remeber I could have done all of this if I hadn’t decided to smoke, stay fat, and stop taking dance lessons. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/31 "2004-10-22T13:35:07Z")
I would love to be able to pull off a dancer role like Will Parker in _Oklahoma!_. Or Snoopy in _You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown_. Then of course there is; the King in _The King and I_, Billy Flynn in _Chicago_, Conrad Birdie in _Bye Bye Birdie_, and Eve is the Emcee than I want to Sally Bowles in _Cabaret_ but only with the Bob Fosse choreography. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/32 "2004-10-22T13:55:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I want to play the title role in _Oklahoma_. I once played “Nothing” in _Much Ado About Nothing_. While we’re on Shakespeare, Kate in _Taming of the Shrew_ (again, 20 years ago). And I think I’d make a pretty damn good _Mame_. Though an even better Vera Charles, now that I think of it . . . ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/33 "2004-10-22T13:55:33Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > Mimi from _Rent_ > > Judas Iscariot from _Jesus Christ Superstar_ > > Not that I’m qualified to play either of these roles. But wouldn’t a female Judas be really . . . interesting? I’ve seen a production with a female Pilate and it didn’t hurt the play at all. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/34 "2004-10-22T14:00:11Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’d also like to play Sadie Thompson in _Rain_, but I’m 20 years too old and a _really_ bad dramatic actress. By the way, if you think I’m being modest? My best friend David and I played Henry and Eleanor in a college production of _The Lion in Winter_ (a student show, not a main-stage one, thank goodness). A friend of ours said it was like watching Sandra Dee and Tab Hunter in _Macbeth_. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/35 "2004-10-22T14:01:17Z")
**Sweeney Todd** ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/36 "2004-10-22T14:03:43Z")
I am \*so \* **Dolly Levi**. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/37 "2004-10-22T14:06:09Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > By the way, if you think I’m being modest? My best friend David and I played Henry and Eleanor in a college production of _The Lion in Winter_ (a student show, not a main-stage one, thank goodness). A friend of ours said it was like watching Sandra Dee and Tab Hunter in _Macbeth_. “Out, darned spot!” ---
**Author:** ![Nightingale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@Nightingale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightingale)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/38 "2004-10-22T14:22:39Z")
Rizzo in _Grease_ or Velma Kelly in _Chicago_. I have a soft sopt for the “bad” girls! ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/39 "2004-10-22T14:25:23Z")
Jekyll and Hyde in _Jekyll and Hyde_ Of course, seeing as I can’t sing worth a crap, I can never really have a major role in a musical (of course, I’m not claiming to be a superb actor or anything, but my acting is 100x better than my singing!) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529/40 "2004-10-22T14:28:29Z")
_The Man_ in _Whistle Down The Wind_ _Munkustrap_ in _Cats_ I don’t have the talent for either role, except in my dreams. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/broadway-what-role-do-you-want-to-play/270529.md?page=3)