Neil Patrick Harris and John Stamos Lead Emcee Rankings
By Preston Scott Reed
Sep 2, 2005, 11:32
NEW YORK (September 2, 2005) – GuestStarCasting.com has released rankings on the top drawing headliners for the musical “Cabaret.”
Neil Patrick Harris, John Stamos, and Alan Cumming top the rankings.
Harris guest starred on Broadway at Studio 54 in the revival of “Cabaret” directed by Sam Mendes. After premiering the role of Jonathan in the original London cast of the posthumously produced biographical Jonathan Larson musical “Tick, Tick…BOOM!,” Harris returns to television this Fall on the comedy “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS).
Stamos also guest starred in the recent Broadway revival of “Cabaret”. His Broadway credits include “How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying” and “Nine.” Although heavily recruited for a new role on the perennial hit “ER” (NBC), he returns to television this Fall for a surprise second season of the half-hour dramedy “Jack in Progress” (ABC).
Born and raised in Scotland, Cumming originated the Emcee role in the most recent Broadway revival, premiering the role on February 13, 1998 and playing it through September. He won Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, and New York Public Advocate's awards for his eccentric, stylized performance that paved the way for a long list of high profile guest star successors.
Other leading men charting in the rankings for their drawing power as the Emcee include Raul Esparza, Adam Pascal, and Jon Secada.
Actor rankings are compiled based upon cumulative and recent box office receipts, overall marquee name power, critical review, and consumer demand.
With lyrics by Fred Ebb and music by John Kander, “Cabaret” transports audiences to a Berlin nightclub setting in the 1920’s. The Emcee, a literal Master of Ceremonies, welcomes the audience to the show and provides commentary throughout.
The story follows Cliff, a young American writer, and torch singer Sally Bowles as they experience the tumultuous and heartbreaking mood of Berlin in the time leading up to the Third Reich.
The 1967 original Broadway production of “Cabaret” won 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The 1998 revival won 4 Tony Awards.
Esparza currently stars on Broadway in the London import “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” The actor made his first headlining appearance on Broadway in “Cabaret” following a highly praised Off-Broadway premier in “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” He also guest starred in the Broadway company of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Pascal originated the role of Roger in Jonathan Larson’s musical “Rent” and reprises the role in the 2005 film, scheduled for release in October. He lists the role of the Emcee in “Cabaret” as his favorite theatrical undertaking.
Secada achieved fame as a singer-songwriter in the Latin and mainstream Pop genres. He crossed over to theatrical performance with a guest starring run in Tommy Tune’s “Grease” directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun.
In addition to appearing in rankings as one of the top drawing guest stars for “Cabaret”, Secada also ranks among the top worldwide guest stars for the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
Secada ranks eighth in return-on-investment (ROI) impact as the title character Joseph, behind top ranked Donnie Osmond, Patrick Cassidy, and Rikki Lee Travolta.
GuestStarCasting.com is a theater industry resource providing rankings and statistical projections on the top name talent potentially able to positively improve ROI.
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