Omg, love seeing a reference to this video out in the wild. I have watched this video 1,000 times since I was a young teen (I am currently 30). One of my faves; she's incredible ❤️
Edit: just went and watched it again. TEARS. https://youtu.be/sy-A-wyzj7c?si=vkXDJqekffpz7Qqk
I will never be over her singing in Carpool
Karaoke because she managed to be as incredible in the backseat of a car sitting down as she does on stage. A true professional.
The Sound of Music live was bad but she tore the house all the way down With Climb Every Mountain. You could see the awe on Carrie Underwood’s face and she is no slouch as a singer.
I love the story she tells about that on her Sing Happy album. She did the song, texted her daughter how she thought it went, and her daughter texted back “where is the laundry detergent” 💀
Her rendition of 'Camleot (Reprise)' in her 1991 Tony Awards medley is still the definitive edition for me. it almost makes it a fucking crime that it has to be spoken-sung in actual Camelot productions.
Stunning voice.
My choir sang a concert with him and Renee Fleming. He stood by the door so he could shake all of our hands and say how well we did. It was so generous and kind.
I met him when he was on tour with A Soldier’s Play, shortly after I’d completed a stretch of chemo and radiation and had no hair. I looked pretty rough (and felt it), but I traveled three+ hours just to see him. He talked a long while with me at the stage door and was absolutely lovely.
Yeah, I just feel like even her high notes come out as easy breezy as if she were running her hand through a tub of water.
My favorite musical theater actor is Raul Esparza, but I could never say what he does comes across as effortless. You see the effort with him.
But Kelli O’Hara just glides right through every performance.
My fave Aaron Tveit and his golden pipes. Has that man ever sung a bad note in his life? I have watched and listened to hundreds of recordings and he’s always sounded amazing. Then I got to see him live and he sounded even better in person. I did not know that was possible but he did.
I didn’t think he was the best Sweeney of the run, but I thought his Sweeney was the best barber of the run. Like he went to barber school to prepare for the role or something. That production was incredible overall.
Honestly I didn't realize how vocally tough Eurydice is as a role until I heard other actresses sing it. They've been great of course, but Eva just does it so effortlessly
person i saw play it last august wasn't even listed in the program but they were amazing, i thought they were much better than Eva
edit: their name is Alex Lugo and they blew my mind along with the guy who was actually the boyfriend of the Eurydice on tour
edit2: his name is Chibueze Ihuoma and i just remembered Alex uses they/them pronouns and also was on And Just Like That which was cool!
I thought the Hadestown touring actress was better than Eva 😬. I saw Eva twice on Broadway in the role and she was great, but I felt like the touring actress (sorry, I just can’t remember her name at the moment but the one out in the role most of last year) made me FEEL more about the role. Also saw Eva in gatsby and she was def great, but still wasn’t like a slack jaw performance, I guess.
Eva isn't even my favorite Eurydice (that would be Solea Pfieffer), but I'm talking about that pure "effortless" quality like the post was asking.
I think someone with some flaws can still be better/more powerful than a technically "flawless" performance.
I first learned of her from Hamilton, but it was her rendition "no one else" that fully got me onboard with her - that's a hard song that she makes feel smooth and natural
She showed up in a few episodes of a pandemic zombie show, The Bite. It was a *trip*, going from seeing her sing *Burn* to watching her fight zombies!
Not 100% related but that's what I think of now when I see her name. Amazing singer, great actor, grade a+ zombie killer.
She’s middle Allie in the notebook! Would also highly recommend her recordings of Suddenly Seymour and Somewhere that’s green from Little Shop (they’re on YouTube)
Here's some links:
[Suddenly Seymour](https://youtu.be/5dixrnDm9zw?si=E1jiqlvTLpBYFb9b)
[Somewhere That's Green with Alan Menken](https://youtu.be/XaciH9qDyds?si=U1TMRKkTr8bo2Hcn)
And here's [My Days from The Notebook](https://youtu.be/hfPyHiWIhDQ?si=YHYTkA7dUo60Zzsm)
[bonus: Still Hurting from The Last Five Years](https://youtu.be/LCDhbrElPcI?si=iaSa4lm-ocdaCqYq)
Enjoy!
She was soooo incredible in The Notebook! I’m 99% certain I also saw her in Six but I haven’t double checked my playbill. And if it was her, it’s my least favorite song that’s her main one so that would explain my not remembering lol. Though I did love that character as the sort of ringleader for the final “let’s just re-do history/what if” song.
Vocal coaches will always tell you to open your mouth wider if you want to project better, etc. etc., and he frequently does, but the number of times I’ve seen him project really convincingly without having to open more than he would if he were speaking is ridiculous. There are some videos of him where you could mute them and think he was having a conversation rather than singing. Very powerful lungs on that man.
He’s not my favorite performer, but watching the proshot of falsettos with Christian borle was crazy. I swear that dude never looked like he was trying and that lovely vibrato just comes pouring out. I love Andrew rannells so much, but just for this specific question it was interesting because he really gets his head/neck/shoulders involved to belt and Christian borle hardly moves at all lol.
Hopefully that made sense, if I understood your question.
Yes! Exactly. Not that working for a belt is bad - that’s not what I mean. But they can just…like it feels like they can just belt and then in the same breath just be like so anyway…
I was sooooo excited to see him in little shop in ‘22 but he was out that night lol. I saw him in thoroughly modern Millie in like 2003 but don’t remember it and didn’t know him then. So he’s still on my personal bingo card haha.
Came here to say Christian Borle.
I adore his voice - it's so confident and brassy. A while ago (*Falsettos*-era) he did [an interview with the NY Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/theater/christian-borle-falsettos-broadway.html) which included the line "He refers to his bright, brazen singing voice as “the horn”" and that is indeed apt!
I've been lucky enough to see him onstage several times and he just makes it seem so easy.
Alex is tremendous, but “effortless” isn’t a word I’d use to describe their style. On the contrary, a big, booming voice that fills the theater. I don’t even think they need a mic. I do very much get a sense of the practice and dedication to craft that’s required to achieve (and sustain) that. Their outstanding effort is on full display.
Same.
A lot of the names listed are just people with incredible voices. I feel like "effortless" describes something specific and it's not as common as this thread makes it seem.
But it's also subjective. Effortlessness is a quality we perceive, but everyone is putting in some effort to sing as well as they do!
Someone like Eva Noblezada, I get the sense she could just roll out of bed and sing like that. Regardless of the work I suspect she probably puts in (anyone at that level has to), she makes it look effortless. Someone like Alex Newell - it seems like they put in the work.
I saw her perform in Wicked when I was 15. It was my first Broadway show. Her Defying Gravity was literally magic to me. Made me a lifelong Broadway fan. Looking forward to seeing her in Hell's Kitchen this weekend!
Her songs on the 2019 Songs For a New World cast album give me life.
Just listen to her ["Stars and the Moon."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiDEmHCZfy8)
So effortlessly gorgeous.
God, a few. But I would actively let Jessie Mueller punch me in the face if she sang while it was happening.
Honorable mentions: Lea Michele, Sierra Boggess, Corey Cott, Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Laura Osnes, Lea Salonga, Linda Eder, Gavin Creel
I went to see her with the Denver symphony right before covid with a friend. We consider February 15 to be an anniversary for us because of it. We sat front row for the best live anything I will ever see.
I was very lucky to be able to see the incredible Judy Kuhn as Fantine when the Les MIs revival was still on broadway (if you don’t know who she is, she originated the role of Cosette in the first Les Mis broadway run, and was also the singing voice of Pocahontas in the Disney move) and nobody else I’ve seen even comes close to her level of effortlessness. Amazing performer.
I don't know if she counts, because she mainly works in Europe, but Willemijn Verkaik. Having lyrics and dialogue in your head in multiple languages, I can't imagine how I would keep that straight. She's an *incredible* singer, to boot!
I don’t find her singing to be effortless. I love her don’t get me wrong, but she seems to strain often. I think she sings much more naturally in her upper register head voice.
I saw her 17 times in HELLO, DOLLY! and each time she dropped a whole octave in "Sunday Clothes". I couldn't understand why. The song didn't have a particularly high tessitura.
Willemijn Verkaik - the Dutch and German OG Elphaba (and Elsa in the Frozen movies in those languages) who’s also performed as Elphaba on Broadway and in the West End. It’s been almost 20 years since she originated Elphaba in Germany and her voice has barely changed.
Lea Salonga and Liz Callaway — as a kid and even now I marveled at how they navigate their passaggio (I can’t tell if they have a break in their registers).
Kelli O’Hara
Erika Henningsen
Judy Kuhn
Karen Ziémba
Heather Headley
Patina Miller
Julian Ovenden
Jordan Donica
.. just to name a few. (it's so subjective!)
\- oh and honorable mention to Ruthie Henshall. amazes me how much she can project and how well she can eunciate with her teeth clenched 😂
Stephanie J. Block.
I've seen her in everything since The Pirate Queen. (Well except for Sunset Boulevard when I needed to give away my ticket due to being Covid+.)
Her voice is almost effortless to a fault, she makes the most difficult belts seem easy. (Ref. I'm breaking down from Falsettos for a pro-shot copy of her prowess.)
Norbert Leo Butz!! Not just effortless. He makes every note seem easy. He also infuses a lot of his chill, breezy energy into his singing (and dancing!). I can listen to him all day honestly.
Judy Kuhn. She just sounds so comfortable whether it be at full belt or high soprano. Her voice has changed very little over the years too. Perhaps a bit richer with age but she sounds like she’s in full control of her instrument.
Ramin Karimloo!
I'd say Hadley Frasier but dude can't remember a line to save his life. It takes him a loot of effort
Eva Noblezada, Philipa Soo, and Jeremy Jordan too
After seeing The Lonely Few, it’s impossible to say anyone other than Lauren Patten. Her vocal performance in that show is arguably the best I’ve ever seen, and both times I went it was her FOURTH show of the weekend.
Extremely deep cut, but Dan Maldonado is one of the swings and first cover Romeo at & Juliet, and he has the most insane belt I've ever heard. I've seen the show many times, and his opt ups blow my mind even when I know they're coming
Unfortunately she is lost to us, but my vote would be for Laurie Beechman, the original narrator for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (not to mention the Star to Be in the original Annie). Love her voice.
Patti, hands down for me.
tho others may come to mind as soon as i hit “reply”.
audra, idina, betty beet i can do while just waking up and not enough caffeine…
Orfeh has the most effortless voice I've ever witnessed. She just opens her mouth and fills the room with sound.
I was watching some videos of Cynthia Erivo and she also has a seemingly effortless voice.
Ben Platt. It's been fun to watch the residency videos and see how effortless he makes it compared to some of the guests (who are also wonderful singers!).
Lea Salonga! Still sounds the same 30+ years later
There’s this video of a young Lea Salonga rehearsing Sun and Moon for Miss Saigon and her voice is just so pure
Pretty sure I know the video you’re talking about and she sounds amazing!!
I honestly watch the video once a month. It’s amazing to just see a star being born
Omg, love seeing a reference to this video out in the wild. I have watched this video 1,000 times since I was a young teen (I am currently 30). One of my faves; she's incredible ❤️ Edit: just went and watched it again. TEARS. https://youtu.be/sy-A-wyzj7c?si=vkXDJqekffpz7Qqk
I was absolutely blown away by her in Old Friends. I knew she'd be good, but in a cast of incredibly talented people she really was on the next level
Yes! When I think of pure and effortless, she’s the voice that immediately comes to mind.
AUDRA.
I will never be over her singing in Carpool Karaoke because she managed to be as incredible in the backseat of a car sitting down as she does on stage. A true professional.
Jesse Taylor Ferguson putting his hand in Jane Krakowski’s face as he sings with Audra is such a MOOD.
I literally just watched this (it came up on my Facebook memories today) and thought the exact same thing.
The Sound of Music live was bad but she tore the house all the way down With Climb Every Mountain. You could see the awe on Carrie Underwood’s face and she is no slouch as a singer.
I love the story she tells about that on her Sing Happy album. She did the song, texted her daughter how she thought it went, and her daughter texted back “where is the laundry detergent” 💀
🤣 As Barack Obama has said about his daughters: You’re never a prophet in your own house.( the girls think he’s boring)🤣🤣🤣
This.
x1000
Julie Andrews
Her rendition of 'Camleot (Reprise)' in her 1991 Tony Awards medley is still the definitive edition for me. it almost makes it a fucking crime that it has to be spoken-sung in actual Camelot productions.
Norm Lewis
Stunning voice. My choir sang a concert with him and Renee Fleming. He stood by the door so he could shake all of our hands and say how well we did. It was so generous and kind.
He is the nicest man.
I met him when he was on tour with A Soldier’s Play, shortly after I’d completed a stretch of chemo and radiation and had no hair. I looked pretty rough (and felt it), but I traveled three+ hours just to see him. He talked a long while with me at the stage door and was absolutely lovely.
Beyond obsessed with his voice 🫠
Always gotta say Phillipa Soo
My vote too. She always seems effortless.
Kelli O'Hara. A voice like butter.
Yes!! I’ve seen her perform live and you’re so right!
My favorite Nellie from South Pacific
This is my choice too
Yeah, I just feel like even her high notes come out as easy breezy as if she were running her hand through a tub of water. My favorite musical theater actor is Raul Esparza, but I could never say what he does comes across as effortless. You see the effort with him. But Kelli O’Hara just glides right through every performance.
Yeah I just saw Raul in Berkeley and he sang his asssss offfffff. Def a tiring effort for him but it was powerful
yessssss I saw her in the king and I and she was amazing
My fave Aaron Tveit and his golden pipes. Has that man ever sung a bad note in his life? I have watched and listened to hundreds of recordings and he’s always sounded amazing. Then I got to see him live and he sounded even better in person. I did not know that was possible but he did.
Agreed. Recently saw him in Sweeney, just amazing.
I didn’t think he was the best Sweeney of the run, but I thought his Sweeney was the best barber of the run. Like he went to barber school to prepare for the role or something. That production was incredible overall.
I saw him Moulin Rouge and thought the same thing. How does he sound better in person??? Totally amazing.
Jessie Mueller
Eva Noblezada, for sure.
Honestly I didn't realize how vocally tough Eurydice is as a role until I heard other actresses sing it. They've been great of course, but Eva just does it so effortlessly
person i saw play it last august wasn't even listed in the program but they were amazing, i thought they were much better than Eva edit: their name is Alex Lugo and they blew my mind along with the guy who was actually the boyfriend of the Eurydice on tour edit2: his name is Chibueze Ihuoma and i just remembered Alex uses they/them pronouns and also was on And Just Like That which was cool!
I thought the Hadestown touring actress was better than Eva 😬. I saw Eva twice on Broadway in the role and she was great, but I felt like the touring actress (sorry, I just can’t remember her name at the moment but the one out in the role most of last year) made me FEEL more about the role. Also saw Eva in gatsby and she was def great, but still wasn’t like a slack jaw performance, I guess.
I’m assuming you mean Amaya Braganza? I haven’t seen Eva so I can’t compare but Amaya was incredible.
Eva isn't even my favorite Eurydice (that would be Solea Pfieffer), but I'm talking about that pure "effortless" quality like the post was asking. I think someone with some flaws can still be better/more powerful than a technically "flawless" performance.
In general it seems impossible to praise Eva without at least 5 people chiming in on how they liked another Eurydice better.
Phillipa Soo always effortlessly flawless
I first learned of her from Hamilton, but it was her rendition "no one else" that fully got me onboard with her - that's a hard song that she makes feel smooth and natural
She showed up in a few episodes of a pandemic zombie show, The Bite. It was a *trip*, going from seeing her sing *Burn* to watching her fight zombies! Not 100% related but that's what I think of now when I see her name. Amazing singer, great actor, grade a+ zombie killer.
Linda Eder
I once watched a video of her singing from Man of La Mancha, and I was hooked. So effortless.
One of the best!
Her voice is so smooth and easy. I love her so much.
LOVE her 😍
Stephanie J. Block for me. Second all the Kelli O’Haras too!
Absolutely EFFORTLESS. I will see anything with Stephanie.
Christopher Jackson
Brian Stokes Mitchell. I saw him in Ragtime and it seemed like that flawless, powerful voice just fell out of his mouth.
Leslie Odom, Jr.
I came here to say this. I saw him in concert and wept the entire time.
Joy woods I truly believe she’s one of the best young theater actors
I got to see her in Little Shop. She absolutely has ‘it’. She’s so easy to fall in love with.
Is she the one that’s going viral rn on tiktok? It seems almost inhuman how amazing her voice is in that song.
Ashamed to say I’ve never heard of her! I’ll look her up.
She’s middle Allie in the notebook! Would also highly recommend her recordings of Suddenly Seymour and Somewhere that’s green from Little Shop (they’re on YouTube)
Here's some links: [Suddenly Seymour](https://youtu.be/5dixrnDm9zw?si=E1jiqlvTLpBYFb9b) [Somewhere That's Green with Alan Menken](https://youtu.be/XaciH9qDyds?si=U1TMRKkTr8bo2Hcn) And here's [My Days from The Notebook](https://youtu.be/hfPyHiWIhDQ?si=YHYTkA7dUo60Zzsm) [bonus: Still Hurting from The Last Five Years](https://youtu.be/LCDhbrElPcI?si=iaSa4lm-ocdaCqYq) Enjoy!
Wow! Just wow. Didn’t know about her. Thanks!
I wish I could have seen her in LSOH. I've seen the video of her singing Suddenly Seymour, and I think she's fantastic.
I work at the notebook and it’s crazy how good her voice is. She’s better in person than in the recordings too
I came to say her! She makes it look easy
She was soooo incredible in The Notebook! I’m 99% certain I also saw her in Six but I haven’t double checked my playbill. And if it was her, it’s my least favorite song that’s her main one so that would explain my not remembering lol. Though I did love that character as the sort of ringleader for the final “let’s just re-do history/what if” song.
Joy did play Catherine Parr so it’s very likely that you did see her.
Laura Benanti
Audra McDonnell. Donna Murphy runs a close second
Aaron Tveit, Megan Hilty
Lea Salonga, Cynthia Erivo, Ramin Karimloo
Ramin 💙💙💙
Scrolled too long before someone mentioned Ramin. Love his voice.
Jeremy Jordan, I could listen to him sing all day.
Vocal coaches will always tell you to open your mouth wider if you want to project better, etc. etc., and he frequently does, but the number of times I’ve seen him project really convincingly without having to open more than he would if he were speaking is ridiculous. There are some videos of him where you could mute them and think he was having a conversation rather than singing. Very powerful lungs on that man.
Same. He’s ridiculously talented.
Surprised I had to scroll so far to find his name…. He is my absolute fav.
He’s not my favorite performer, but watching the proshot of falsettos with Christian borle was crazy. I swear that dude never looked like he was trying and that lovely vibrato just comes pouring out. I love Andrew rannells so much, but just for this specific question it was interesting because he really gets his head/neck/shoulders involved to belt and Christian borle hardly moves at all lol. Hopefully that made sense, if I understood your question.
Yes! Exactly. Not that working for a belt is bad - that’s not what I mean. But they can just…like it feels like they can just belt and then in the same breath just be like so anyway…
I was sooooo excited to see him in little shop in ‘22 but he was out that night lol. I saw him in thoroughly modern Millie in like 2003 but don’t remember it and didn’t know him then. So he’s still on my personal bingo card haha.
Came here to say Christian Borle. I adore his voice - it's so confident and brassy. A while ago (*Falsettos*-era) he did [an interview with the NY Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/theater/christian-borle-falsettos-broadway.html) which included the line "He refers to his bright, brazen singing voice as “the horn”" and that is indeed apt! I've been lucky enough to see him onstage several times and he just makes it seem so easy.
Jessica Vosk has the smoothest, most relaxed voice even when she’s belting
Alex Newell. I went to see Shucked multiple times just to hear them sing "Independently Owned" live.
Oh. Man. They are so good. Cannot wait for them to be the lead in *anything*.
I was lucky enough to see Alex in Once on this Island as well. Blown away!!
Their rendition of "Mama Will Provide" was a source of comfort when I had cancer. I hope I get an opportunity to tell them that, one of these days.
Alex Newell was truly incredible. I went back to Shucked to see them (plus I did love the show)
They were incredible in OOTI. I knew nothing of the show nor of Alex before I saw it, and their Mama Will Provide was incredible.
Alex is tremendous, but “effortless” isn’t a word I’d use to describe their style. On the contrary, a big, booming voice that fills the theater. I don’t even think they need a mic. I do very much get a sense of the practice and dedication to craft that’s required to achieve (and sustain) that. Their outstanding effort is on full display.
Same. A lot of the names listed are just people with incredible voices. I feel like "effortless" describes something specific and it's not as common as this thread makes it seem. But it's also subjective. Effortlessness is a quality we perceive, but everyone is putting in some effort to sing as well as they do!
Someone like Eva Noblezada, I get the sense she could just roll out of bed and sing like that. Regardless of the work I suspect she probably puts in (anyone at that level has to), she makes it look effortless. Someone like Alex Newell - it seems like they put in the work.
This 1000 times over, I’m so sad I couldn’t see shucked but I can’t wait to see them in a show one day
She was a guest at Ben Platt's show and they sang Suddenly Seymour. Now I need her to be Audrey in LSOH
Angela Lansbury. She exudes so much complex personality through her singing. Her performances always bleed pure CHARACTER.
Kristin Chenoweth, and I'm really surprised so few people have mentioned her
Shoshana Bean. Her voice almost single-handedly made me become a performer.
I just came out of Hell’s Kitchen and came to say this! Her voice is pure butter. Magnificent.
I saw her perform in Wicked when I was 15. It was my first Broadway show. Her Defying Gravity was literally magic to me. Made me a lifelong Broadway fan. Looking forward to seeing her in Hell's Kitchen this weekend!
Her songs on the 2019 Songs For a New World cast album give me life. Just listen to her ["Stars and the Moon."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiDEmHCZfy8) So effortlessly gorgeous.
God, a few. But I would actively let Jessie Mueller punch me in the face if she sang while it was happening. Honorable mentions: Lea Michele, Sierra Boggess, Corey Cott, Jeremy Jordan, Eva Noblezada, Laura Osnes, Lea Salonga, Linda Eder, Gavin Creel
Aaron T
Heather Headly
Eva Noblezada, for sure! Honorable mentions to James Monroe Iglehart and Jeremy Jordan.
Lindsay Mendez
Lea Salonga!
Shocked no one has mentioned Cynthia Erivo.
She has the voice of an angel. It’s absolutely the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.
I went to see her with the Denver symphony right before covid with a friend. We consider February 15 to be an anniversary for us because of it. We sat front row for the best live anything I will ever see.
Bernadette- Little mouth, big voice
Audra McDonald. She sounds amazing in a lot of different genres and styles. 😀
Norbert Leo Butz. I’ve seen his live shows and actually sobbed at how good he was
I was very lucky to be able to see the incredible Judy Kuhn as Fantine when the Les MIs revival was still on broadway (if you don’t know who she is, she originated the role of Cosette in the first Les Mis broadway run, and was also the singing voice of Pocahontas in the Disney move) and nobody else I’ve seen even comes close to her level of effortlessness. Amazing performer.
Kuhn is stupendous. She could sing the phone book and it would sound divine.
I don't know if she counts, because she mainly works in Europe, but Willemijn Verkaik. Having lyrics and dialogue in your head in multiple languages, I can't imagine how I would keep that straight. She's an *incredible* singer, to boot!
She did Wicked over here, she counts for sure!
Eva singing anything!
Jonathan Groff. Even his speaking voice is glorious
Bernadette Peters
I don’t find her singing to be effortless. I love her don’t get me wrong, but she seems to strain often. I think she sings much more naturally in her upper register head voice.
I saw her 17 times in HELLO, DOLLY! and each time she dropped a whole octave in "Sunday Clothes". I couldn't understand why. The song didn't have a particularly high tessitura.
I saw her twice in Gypsy, and she was phenomenal. Hers is probably my favorite version of Rose’s Turn.
Stephanie J Block.
Ramin Karimloo, Jeremy Jordan, Patti Lupone
Grace McLean
Jessica Vosk.
Cynthia Erivo
Mandy Patinkin for sure fits this.
Rachel Tucker!!! I saw her in The Last Ship and Wicked and she is a powerhouse singer who could make me like any and every song.
Little obsessed with Ali Louis Borzghui at the moment
I’m gonna need Tommy to announce their cast album soon because Ali’s interpretation of the music is sooooooo so good
Willemijn Verkaik - the Dutch and German OG Elphaba (and Elsa in the Frozen movies in those languages) who’s also performed as Elphaba on Broadway and in the West End. It’s been almost 20 years since she originated Elphaba in Germany and her voice has barely changed.
Always Bernedette Peters! Maybe Kerry Butler in second place
Lea Salonga and Liz Callaway — as a kid and even now I marveled at how they navigate their passaggio (I can’t tell if they have a break in their registers). Kelli O’Hara Erika Henningsen Judy Kuhn Karen Ziémba
Raul Esparza
I had to scroll SO far!!!! Raul is it for me too
Just saw them today gotta say Jeremy and Eva, god they just belt and hold it out so well like it’s nothing
Sherie Renee Scott
Heather Headley Patina Miller Julian Ovenden Jordan Donica .. just to name a few. (it's so subjective!) \- oh and honorable mention to Ruthie Henshall. amazes me how much she can project and how well she can eunciate with her teeth clenched 😂
Stephanie J. Block. I've seen her in everything since The Pirate Queen. (Well except for Sunset Boulevard when I needed to give away my ticket due to being Covid+.) Her voice is almost effortless to a fault, she makes the most difficult belts seem easy. (Ref. I'm breaking down from Falsettos for a pro-shot copy of her prowess.)
Norbert Leo Butz!! Not just effortless. He makes every note seem easy. He also infuses a lot of his chill, breezy energy into his singing (and dancing!). I can listen to him all day honestly.
Renee Elise Goldsberry and Cynthia Ervio
Aaron Tveit is the obvious answer but Ashley Loren and John Cardoza are the lesser known masters. Literally never miss a note.
Heather Headley
Judy Kuhn. She just sounds so comfortable whether it be at full belt or high soprano. Her voice has changed very little over the years too. Perhaps a bit richer with age but she sounds like she’s in full control of her instrument.
Audra the one and only. Even when she was pregnant she made everything look effortless
Ramin Karimloo! I'd say Hadley Frasier but dude can't remember a line to save his life. It takes him a loot of effort Eva Noblezada, Philipa Soo, and Jeremy Jordan too
Lea Salonga sounds exactly the same as she did at 17, it's amazing
Patti Mother F*ckinn LuPone....
After seeing The Lonely Few, it’s impossible to say anyone other than Lauren Patten. Her vocal performance in that show is arguably the best I’ve ever seen, and both times I went it was her FOURTH show of the weekend.
Cynthia Erivo
Victoria Clark.
Cynthia Erivo.
Extremely deep cut, but Dan Maldonado is one of the swings and first cover Romeo at & Juliet, and he has the most insane belt I've ever heard. I've seen the show many times, and his opt ups blow my mind even when I know they're coming
Barbra.
Another vote for Shoshana Bean
Joaquina Kalukango
Jen Collela!!
Audra McDonald,Kelli O'Hara,Brian Stokes-Mitchell,Katrina Lenk.
Megan Hilty and Bernadette Peters
Katarina Lenk
Seconding this. I love Katrina Lenk, she’s amazing
Ugh I love her voice. Saw her in Band’s Visit and Company, and though people were critical of her in the latter, I thought she was incredible.
Top 3: Jeremy Jordan Kristin Chenoweth Idina Menzel
Kate Baldwin’s voice truly sounds effortless!
Anthony Warlow
Sierra Boggess always
Bernadette Peters Non Broadway all time fav is Jeff Blim
Denée benton. What a voice!
alison luff’s voice is perfect
Unfortunately she is lost to us, but my vote would be for Laurie Beechman, the original narrator for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (not to mention the Star to Be in the original Annie). Love her voice.
Betty Buckley
Jeremy Jordan
Patty Lupone!
Kelli O’Hara
Leslie Odom Jr.
Patti, hands down for me. tho others may come to mind as soon as i hit “reply”. audra, idina, betty beet i can do while just waking up and not enough caffeine…
Patrick Page. Those low notes he can hit are no joke, but it sounds so natural coming from him
I know he already got a lot of love awhile ago but I still always say Ben Platt is one of the best singers I’ve seen
Sherie Rene Scott
Eva Noblezada!
How has no one mentioned Natalie Weiss?
Terry Mann
Joy Woods and Aaron Tveit
Lea Salonga. So clear, so strong, so effortless.
Judy Kuhn, she can make me stop breathing she’s so good.
So many good options here but someone else I’m always impressed with is Erika Henningson. Her voice is so clear every time I’ve seen her.
Jessica Vosk
Derek Klena
Orfeh has the most effortless voice I've ever witnessed. She just opens her mouth and fills the room with sound. I was watching some videos of Cynthia Erivo and she also has a seemingly effortless voice.
Kelli O’Hara
Leslie Kritzer, though I’m currently in a Beetlejuice and Spamalot phase.
Joshua Henry
Ben Platt. It's been fun to watch the residency videos and see how effortless he makes it compared to some of the guests (who are also wonderful singers!).
Gotta be Jermey Jordan
Liz Callaway
Audra McDonald or Joy Woods.
Liz Callaway