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Post by theglenbucklaird on Jul 16, 2021 9:46:08 GMT
Just a few of my favourites:
Rita Moreno - Sunset Boulevard Richard Dreyfuss & Marsha Mason - The Prisoner of Second Avenue Jessica Lange - A Streetcar Named Desire Glenn Close - A Streetcar Named Desire Cate Blanchett - Plenty Ian Mckellen - King Lear Jeremy Irons & Leslie Manville - Long Day's Journey Into Night Kenneth Branagh & Judy Dench - A Winter's Tale Ralph Fiennes - Man and Superman Jonathan Pryce - The Goat or Who's Silvia? Maggie Smith - Lady in the Van Julie Walters - All My SonsHelen Mirren - The Audience Vanessa Redgrave - The Year of Magical Thinking Liza Minnelli at Royal Albert Hall
Some of these actors I have seen more than once, I've just selected the performances I enjoyed more. Julie Walters must have been great in All My Sons!! Insanely jealous you got to see her! I was also jealous of Glenn Close in Streetcar |
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Post by theatrefan77 on Jul 16, 2021 12:47:28 GMT
Just a few of my favourites:
Rita Moreno - Sunset Boulevard Richard Dreyfuss & Marsha Mason - The Prisoner of Second Avenue Jessica Lange - A Streetcar Named Desire Glenn Close - A Streetcar Named Desire Cate Blanchett - Plenty Ian Mckellen - King Lear Jeremy Irons & Leslie Manville - Long Day's Journey Into Night Kenneth Branagh & Judy Dench - A Winter's Tale Ralph Fiennes - Man and Superman Jonathan Pryce - The Goat or Who's Silvia? Maggie Smith - Lady in the Van Julie Walters - All My SonsHelen Mirren - The Audience Vanessa Redgrave - The Year of Magical Thinking Liza Minnelli at Royal Albert Hall
Some of these actors I have seen more than once, I've just selected the performances I enjoyed more. Julie Walters must have been great in All My Sons!! Insanely jealous you got to see her! She was truly excellent in a part so different to the ones she normally plays, and won an Olivier for it. It played at the Cottesloe -now Dorfman-. I remember getting up really early to queue for day seats as it was completely sold out.
Also saw Walters in The Last of the Haussmans and Acorn Antiques the Musical, but my favourite of her performances on stage is still All My Sons.
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Post by theatrefan77 on Jul 16, 2021 12:55:51 GMT
Julie Walters must have been great in All My Sons!! Insanely jealous you got to see her! I was also jealous of Glenn Close in Streetcar
Also saw her in Sunset Boulevard and she was also great, but her Blanche Dubois made a much bigger impact and I will always remember it. I wish they had done a live recording of it
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Jul 16, 2021 13:26:33 GMT
I was also jealous of Glenn Close in Streetcar
Also saw her in Sunset Boulevard and she was also great, but her Blanche Dubois made a much bigger impact and I will always remember it. I wish they had done a live recording of it
I saw Glenn Close at the Public Theater, New York in Mother of the Maid. About 30 minutes in she stopped the performance. There was lots of banging, apparently set building in another part of the venue. During the small break she conducted an impromptu conversation with audience. She was great and despite the interruption, nobody else got what we got that night. Audience in the palm of her hand. Joy to see |
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Post by jojo on Jul 18, 2021 15:21:13 GMT
I like to convince myself I'm that fussed about seeing a 'celebrity' on stage, but have to admit to getting a bit of a thrill when I realise the cast features someone from a tv show I was a fan of. Growing up in Scotland, we always used to check the programme to see how many cast members had appeared in Taggart for a fun pre-curtain game.
Who counts as the biggest celebrity I've seen is probably age dependent, but for me it would be Christian Slater in an Edinburgh Fringe version of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". The run was delayed because he had chicken pox, so by accident we caught the first performance, which was billed as a dress/technical rehearsal open to the public as we were entitled to a full refund (as if). I was impressed with how polished it was, with a couple of minor prop/costume mistakes - a missing packet of cigarettes and Slater was wearing some non-period authentic shiny boxer shorts adding to the experience.
Like several others here, I saw Ian McKellen in his one man show and my niece was particularly impressed when I told her I'd seen Professor Umbridge aka Imelda Staunton in Gypsy (and previously Sweeney Todd).
Not in a theatre, but he's an actor, this thread has reminded me of the time I saw Keanu Reeves in his band in a big tent at a music festival. I had a position next to a particularly tall NME photographer who was one of the few men in the audience and was clearly annoyed at being the experience as he tutted his way through the set. Which reminds me, Will Smith appeared on stage with Calvin Harris at T in the Park a few years ago, but he was a long way away and it could have been anyone if I'm honest.
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Post by kathryn on Jul 18, 2021 16:46:00 GMT
Funny thing about celebrity is that it waxes and wanes so much that the answer changes over time.
Which is bigger of these 3?
Ewan McGregor
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Tom Hiddleston
At the time I saw them on stage together, Ewan had just done Star Wars, you probably has to be a bit of a theatre geek to know who Chiwetel was, and Tom was a total unknown.
I saw Kathleen Turner on stage once. It was a free ticket from a papering club and the place was half-empty. She used to be a huge star.
Honestly though the answer is probably Brian May, turning up at the MAD Trust Christmas Carol concert at St Paul’s The Actor’s Church unannounced.
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Post by Dawnstar on Jul 18, 2021 19:06:11 GMT
I like to convince myself I'm that fussed about seeing a 'celebrity' on stage, but have to admit to getting a bit of a thrill when I realise the cast features someone from a tv show I was a fan of. Growing up in Scotland, we always used to check the programme to see how many cast members had appeared in Taggart for a fun pre-curtain game. Oh, I do that with Midsomer Murders! I find there are very few touring plays I've seen in 15 years of theatregoing (pre-covid) that haven't had at least one. My equivalent for musicals is Les Mis, though that's a lower correlation.
Reading this thread has made me realise how few celebrities I've seen on stage. I rarely book for star cast pieces, partly because, as someone who watches not that much TV & almost no films, most of the big names who do WE limited runs I've never or rarely seen on screen. The most famous people I've seen are probably Derek Jacobi, Jonathan Pyrce, David Tennant & Catherine Tate. All, come to think of it, in Shakespeare. I have seen some famous opera singers but that's seems a bit off topic for this thread.
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Post by bee on Jul 19, 2021 10:46:39 GMT
Bradley Cooper is probably the biggest "star" I've seen in the theatre. In terms of pop/rock possibly Freddie Mercury or Bruce Sprinsteen. I've seen The Rolling Stones but that was in the middle of a field and they were a good 100 yards away so I'm not sure that counts. As well as the above I was reminded this morning that I have actually seen Johnny Depp on stage, not acting but with the The Hollywood Vampires, the rock band he has with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry (Aerosmith guitarist). |
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Post by alece10 on Jul 24, 2021 10:48:46 GMT
Just thought of 3 more to add to my list.
Bernadette Peters at the RFH, Chita Rivera at Cadoggan Hall and Barbara Cooke.
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Post by Jon on Jul 24, 2021 19:15:53 GMT
Ian McKellen is probably the biggest celebrity I've seen on stage and I've seen many but nothing can beat seeing Hugh Jackman at the O2.
There's a few people who I'd love to see but not sure if I'll get the chance like Julie Walters, Maggie Smith etc Helen Mirren is on my wish list and hopefully if Oedipus with Mark Strong and her comes into fruition then I'll be booking.
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Post by bartc on Aug 1, 2021 22:55:30 GMT
Have been lucky enough to see a few mentioned already ie Lupone, Vanessa Redgrave, Branagh, Bradley Cooper, Zeta Jones, Landsbury, Luke Evans, Christine Baranski, Mckellan, Mirren etc
Also saw Scarlet Johansson in View From A Bridge
Lawrence Fishbourne
Robin Williams
Denzel Washington and Viola Davies in Fences
And the starriest audience was sitting by Jude Law, Rosamund Pike and Clive Owen who were not together at People, Places and Things
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Post by Forrest on Aug 4, 2021 12:55:27 GMT
In my less-than-a-year of active (pre-pandemic) theatregoing in London it was Clive Owen, Andrew Scott and Tobias Menzies.
(Honest confession: I had no idea Menzies was a big deal at all until I randomly spoke to a lady at the Almeida who came all the way from the US to see him on stage.)
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Post by FairyGodmother on Aug 4, 2021 14:07:28 GMT
I'm not sure of the top off my head. Nobody as big as some of the ones above.
Do I get a multiplier/bonus for seeing four of the cast of 'Allo 'Allo at once in a pantomime?
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Post by alece10 on Aug 4, 2021 15:09:01 GMT
In my less-than-a-year of active (pre-pandemic) theatregoing in London it was Clive Owen, Andrew Scott and Tobias Menzies. (Honest confession: I had no idea Menzies was a big deal at all until I randomly spoke to a lady at the Almeida who came all the way from the US to see him on stage.) Yes it all depends on whether you know the celeb or not. I remember Colin Firth turned up one night where I was working with Mark Ruffalo. Everyone was very excited about Mr Ruffalo and I had no idea who he was and had never seen anything he has been in. So to me, Colin Firth was the celebrity as I knew who he was. A couple of years before, Aaron Tveit was performing at the same place and 2 girls turned up to see him and had come all the way from Japan just to see him perform. He told me the same 2 girls turned up at a concert he did at the Hollywood Bowl in which he only had one song. |
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 5, 2021 11:29:05 GMT
(Honest confession: I had no idea Menzies was a big deal at all until I randomly spoke to a lady at the Almeida who came all the way from the US to see him on stage.) Ah, that's probably the 'Outlander' effect. For those who are unfamiliar, it's a massively popular 8-book time-travel bodice-ripper historical fiction series that has been turned into a tv series. |
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Post by Forrest on Aug 5, 2021 14:52:10 GMT
sfsusan, yes, that was it! She was telling me about it all enthusiastic, and I was clueless. I was there to see my first Rupert Goold production in person, and that name on the other hand meant absolutely nothing to her. As alece10 pointed out, our perceptions of who is a "celebrity" can really greatly differ. I would also think Colin Firth would trump Mark Ruffalo any day of the week, but then again what do I know, I don't watch Marvel films?!
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Post by sfsusan on Aug 5, 2021 15:50:06 GMT
our perceptions of who is a "celebrity" can really greatly differ. I remember years ago gifting my mom (probably at about the same age as I am now) with a subscription to People magazine (which I knew she read in the beauty salon). The next Christmas she said not to bother, as she didn't really know who any of those people were. I thought, "How can you not know who Robert DeNiro or Dustin Hoffman are?!" Now I know. I read celebrity gossip and even if I've heard of the people mentioned, I've never seen them in anything and from what I can tell, I'm not missing much. |
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Post by Someone in a tree on Aug 5, 2021 15:55:48 GMT
Su Pollard
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Post by Jan on Aug 6, 2021 9:38:33 GMT
Theatrical celebrities. The Dames.
Peggy Ashcroft
Wendy Hiller
Eileen Atkins
Judi Dench
Sheila Hancock
Maureen Lipman
Helen Mirren
Sian Phillips
Joan Plowright
Diana Rigg
Patricia Routledge
Janet Suzmann
Harriet Walter
Julie Walters
Penelope Keith
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Post by Marwood on Aug 6, 2021 9:59:49 GMT
Apart from the aforementioned Mr. Pacino, I have also seen:
Cate Blanchett
Kenneth Branagh
Matthew Broderick
Paddy Considine
Bradley Cooper
Benedict Cumberbatch
Charles Dance
Danny Dyer
Jennifer Garner
John Goodman
Jake Gyllenhall
Nicole Kidman
Kevin Kline
Ian McKellen (it seems everyone in this thread has seen him)
Cillian Murphy
Diana Rigg
Paul Rudd
Michael Shannon
Mark Strong
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Post by Jan on Aug 6, 2021 16:36:03 GMT
Theatrical celebrities. The Knights.
Alan Bates
Simon Russell Beale
Kenneth Branagh
Daniel Day-Lewis
Bruce Forsyth
Michael Gambon
Alec Guinness
Nigel Hawthorne
Lenny Henry
Ian Holm
Anthony Hopkins
Michael Horden
Derek Jacobi
Ben Kingsley
Ian McKellen
Bernard Miles
Jonathan Pryce
Ralph Richardson
Tony Robinson
Mark Rylance
Antony Sher
Donald Sinden
Kevin Spacey
Robert Stephens
Patrick Stewart
David Suchet
Theatrical celebrities: The Refuseniks (I assume).
Paul Scofield
Albert Finney
Vanessa Redgrave
Frances de la Tour
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Post by cavocado on Aug 7, 2021 20:00:42 GMT
I think my biggest celebs are
Jack Lemmon
Ian McKellen
Vanessa Redgrave
Jeremy Irons
Anthony Hopkins
Alan Rickman
Glenda Jackson
Peter O'Toole
Joan Plowright
Kenneth Branagh
Judi Dench
Kevin Spacey
Bill Nighy
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Post by Jan on Aug 8, 2021 8:02:23 GMT
Alastair Sim
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Post by Forrest on Aug 8, 2021 8:54:45 GMT
Oh, that must have been a treat! What did you see him in if you don't mind me asking? |
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Post by jojo on Aug 8, 2021 9:00:29 GMT
our perceptions of who is a "celebrity" can really greatly differ. I remember years ago gifting my mom (probably at about the same age as I am now) with a subscription to People magazine (which I knew she read in the beauty salon). The next Christmas she said not to bother, as she didn't really know who any of those people were. I thought, "How can you not know who Robert DeNiro or Dustin Hoffman are?!" Now I know. I read celebrity gossip and even if I've heard of the people mentioned, I've never seen them in anything and from what I can tell, I'm not missing much. There are celebrities and then there are celebrities. I don't just mean that successful theatre actors get less attention than successful film and tv actors or pop stars. There is a whole breed of celebrity that is only about the celebrity and celebrity gossip and the celebrity magazines are filled with the latter, which holds no interest to me. I remember years ago, the editor of heat magazine saying that the problem with the proper stars is that they keep a low profile for months on end, and when they are willing to do an interview, they are reserved. Meanwhile, they can get weekly content from the sort of 'celeb' whose only talent is to say and do things that get them in the tabloids and magazines. I have a great deal of respect for those who work in sport and entertainment who resist the pressure to say more than they want to in interviews and keep any social media to a minimum. I have some sympathy for journalists tasked with getting something juicy from someone who won't open up on the personal stuff, but a skilled interviewer won't push it, and will redirect the conversation onto something more comfortable. |
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