By Ligia Fernandez
Return to Main Entertainers
Archive Page
December 2005
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Ethel Merman
(1908 - 1984)
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Try to compile a list of great entertainers of musical
theatre without including "The Merm." It would be grossly incomplete.
Merman burst on the scene like a thunderbolt in the original 1930 Broadway
production of George Gershwin's GIRL CRAZY where she stopped the show every
night with her rendition of I've Got Rhythm. Her considerable talents
as a vocalist and skilled comedienne made her a particular favorite of
composers Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.
Berlin created the shows ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and CALL ME MADAM for her and
Merman created roles in several Porter shows including ANYTHING GOES, RED
HOT AND BLUE and DU BARRY WAS A LADY.
But she is most remembered for the role of Mama Rose in GYPSY. |
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Nathan Lane
(1956 -) |
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Like Ethel Merman, Nathan Lane has made a career of playing
over-the-top comedic character roles with crowd-pleasing gusto. Equally at
home in both plays and musicals, Lane shot to super-stardom with his
Tony-nominated role as Nathan Detroit in the 1992 revival of GUYS AND DOLLS.
He won Tonys for A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM in 1996 and
THE PRODUCERS IN 2001. His play credits include the current smash hit
revival of THE ODD COUPLE (with his PRODUCERS co-star Matthew Broderick),
LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR (he also starred in the TV movie of the play),
LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! and THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER.
Younger movie audiences will recognize him as the voice of Snowbell the
Cat in STUART LITTLE and Timon in THE LION KING. His other movie appearances
include THE BIRDCAGE, JEFFREY, MOUSE HUNT and the upcoming movie version of
THE PRODUCERS. |
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