We’ve covered the Reality TV Divas, and the classic pop divas from the past few decades, but now it’s time for Hotspots to bring you the divas of Broadway. These ladies have gained fame as actresses in the hardest working portion of the business of show, the theatre. They do eight shows a week, and get very little time off, but these ladies never let you see them sweat. They are the crème de la crème. Oh how we love them.
She sang “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” and not only did she win tons of accolades and awards, but she made the world fall in love with her. Ms. Lupone is one of my personal favorites and her rendition of “Get here if You Can” always brings a tear to my eyes. I saw her at the Broward Center a few years back and the concert was so moving, I cancelled my dinner plans afterwards just to go home and revel in the joy that took over my body! Patti was born in Northport, New York. She was part of the first graduating class of Juilliard‘s Drama Division in 1972, which also included actors Kevin Kline and David Ogden Stiers. Ms Lupone has done lots of Television and Film, but she is probably best known for playing Libby Thatcher on the television drama Life Goes On, which ran on ABC from 1989 to 1993. Among her many honors are 6 Tony Nominations and she won her second Tony in 2008 for the role of Mama Rose in Gypsy.
Also known as, The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler is an American singer-songwriter, actress, comedian, film producer and entrepreneur. In a career spanning almost half a century, Midler has been nominated for two Academy Awards, and won three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globes, three Emmy Awards, and a special Tony Award. She has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. She is known for so much but some of the highlights are “The Rose,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” “Do You Wanna Dance?,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “From a Distance,” “Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On,” “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” “Outrageous Fortune,” “Beaches,” “The First Wives Club,” “The Stepford Wives,” “For the Boys,” and “Gypsy.”
I personally met Bette Midler in 1995/6 when she made an impromptu appearance at a bar I was bartending at when we had a CD promo for Bed Of Roses. She was super sweet and even signed my tank top (see pic).
Idina Menzel is an American actress, singer, and songwriter who grew up in New Jersey and started her career as a wedding singer. She rose to prominence for her performance as Maureen Johnson in the Broadway musical Rent, a role which she reprised for the 2005 feature film adaptation. In 2004, she won the Tony Award for originating the role of Elphaba in the Broadway blockbuster Wicked. In 2014, she will be returning to Broadway in the musical If/Then. Menzel is also known for her portrayal of Shelby Corcoran on the Fox musical comedy-drama series, Glee. If you are not an Idina Menzel fan, listen to her album “Idina Menzel Live, barefoot at The Symphony,” and I guarantee you will fall in love with her!
Chenoweth is an American singer and actress, who grew up in Oklahoma and sang gospel music as a child. She has credits in musical theatre, film and television. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for her performance as Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and in 2003, she received wide notice for originating the role of Glinda in the musical Wicked. Her television roles have included Annabeth Schott in The West Wing and Olive Snook on Pushing Daisies, for which she won a 2009 Emmy Award. Chenoweth also starred in the ABC TV series GCB in 2012. Chenoweth had her own TV series Kristin in 2001, and has guest starred on many shows, including Sesame Street and Glee, for which she was nominated for Emmy awards in 2010 and 2011. Chenoweth also penned a 2009 memoir, A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages.
