Every soprano wants these roles. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the parts that Sopranos would give anything to play.
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00:00These things are sent to try us.
00:04Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the parts that sopranos
00:09would give anything to play.
00:11I could have spread my wings and done a thousand things I've never done before.
00:27Number 10.
00:28Phoebe Dysquith, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.
00:43Any soprano would kill to play this part.
00:45In the thrilling musical comedy, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Phoebe Dysquith
00:49is one of two leading ladies.
00:51Any performer who is lucky enough to be cast in the role has some dangerously delicious
00:55material to work with.
01:09Trapped in a tricky love triangle, the character allows sopranos an opportunity to get in touch
01:14with their funny side.
01:15This is especially true in the musically complex trio tune I've Decided to Marry You.
01:29Sopranos also relish the comedic opportunities the character presents, something which isn't
01:33always true in leading lady roles.
01:36It's a bucket list role for every soprano.
01:38Number 9.
01:39Katherine Howard, Six.
01:54Following the famous Six Wives of Henry VIII as they compete in a singing contest, the
01:59show offers up many fabulous roles for female-identifying performers.
02:02However, there is one part that every soprano eyes, and that is Katherine Howard.
02:21Inspired by both Ariana Grande and Britney Spears, Howard requires a performer who can
02:26sing as high as the heavens and beyond.
02:28Not only that, but playing her also demands an emotional range that packs a mighty punch.
02:33It's no wonder that all sopranos wanna do is play this highly coveted role.
02:52Number 8.
02:53Clara Johnson, The Light in the Piazza.
03:08Originated on Broadway by the one and only Kelly O'Hara, the character of Clara Johnson
03:13from The Light in the Piazza is a gift to sopranos.
03:16Mixing traditional theater, classical music, and opera into a stunning whole, the Adam
03:21Gettl score is not for the faint of heart.
03:35The highest note for Clara is an A5, with her lowest note being A3.
03:39The part demands a highly skilled singer with proper technique and years of training under
03:43their belt.
03:44In addition, the dramatic demands of the role also require an assured and sensitive performer.
03:49Luckily, future Claras have examples such as O'Hara and Dove Cameron to inspire them
03:53on their journey.
04:02Number 7.
04:03Cinderella, Into the Woods.
04:14Stephen Sondheim wrote countless soprano roles over the course of his illustrious career,
04:19and one of his most famous is Cinderella in Into the Woods.
04:22The part is a dream come true for many musical theater performers.
04:25Spinning the iconic character on her head, providing her with agency and depth, this
04:30runaway princess is the heart and soul of the show.
04:33Singing the powerful lyrics of No One Is Alone is a moment that many sopranos long
04:37for.
04:51The chance to play her emotional rags-to-riches storyline is highly competitive, which has
04:55resulted in happily-ever-afters for performers such as Anna Kendrick, Christa Rodriguez,
05:00and Philippa Soo.
05:11Number 6.
05:12Joanna Barker, Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
05:25Sweeney Todd's Joanna Barker is in some ways the ultimate ingenue role.
05:29She's kind, innocent, and has the voice of an angel.
05:36However, at just 16 years old, she's forced to quickly grow up when she's thrust into
05:52the homicidal horrors that are plaguing London's Fleet Street.
05:55It's a part that is the perfect balance of both high-wire acting and singing.
05:59Take for instance her signature song, Green Finch and Linnet Bird.
06:03Crafted for sopranos, it requires performers to almost emulate the high-pitched vocals
06:07of the bird she sings about.
06:09And that's no easier than it sounds.
06:26Number 5.
06:27Eliza Schuyler-Hamilton, Hamilton.
06:40One of the most notable soprano roles to hit the stage in recent years is none other than
06:44Hamilton's leading lady, Eliza Schuyler.
06:47Based on the real-life American philanthropist and wife of founding father Alexander Hamilton,
06:51Eliza, as the main character, has it all and more.
06:55Lots of memorable songs, a wealth of emotional depth, and she even closes the show.
07:00From Burn to That Would Be Enough, she is the beating pulse of this musical phenomenon.
07:16How lucky sopranos are to be alive right now to portray her.
07:31Number 4.
07:32Cosette, Les Miserables.
07:41One of the biggest musicals of all time, Les Miserables is a theatrical epic with a giant
07:47cast of characters.
07:48There's something for all actors.
07:49But sopranos need to look no further than Cosette, the musical's ingenue extraordinaire.
08:05Younger performers can shine on Castle on a Cloud, and In My Life provides more experienced
08:10sopranos with a chance to really let their vocals shine.
08:22With a sweet and kind disposition, Cosette is a beacon of hope and light despite the
08:27production's sad and harrowing plot.
08:32In fact, she is even the face of the show.
08:35Number 3.
08:36Maria, West Side Story.
08:50For sopranos, West Side Story's Maria is the most beautiful sound they've ever heard.
08:54From Carol Lawrence to Natalie Wood to Rachel Zegler, this role is the gift that keeps on
08:59giving and giving.
09:00As most know, the show is a contemporary take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
09:05Maria is one half of an ill-fated young and intense love story where the stakes are as
09:09high as her notes.
09:26She's the voice behind memorable musical theater classics like I Feel Pretty and Tonight.
09:30And the beauty of the music and lyrics and the emotions at play make the role an irresistible
09:36challenge.
09:37It's totally understandable why sopranos would give it all to play her.
09:52Number 2.
09:53Christine Daae, The Phantom of the Opera.
10:05She is musical theater's angel of music and every soprano's dream.
10:09The Phantom of the Opera's Christine Daae is a role that not only requires a performer
10:13to be a knockout vocalist, but also a triple threat.
10:31Between her singing, dancing, and acting, her talents are limitless.
10:36For 30-plus years, The Phantom haunted Broadway and the West End, and many sopranos earned
10:40the opportunity to lend their operatic vocals to the demanding role.
10:57Time will only tell if this mega-musical will return to the Great White Way, but if
11:02and when it does, there will be a whole new generation of Christines waiting in the wings.
11:24Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:28Hope Cladwell, You're in Town.
11:30This role has a lot of hopefuls waiting to play her.
11:48Natasha, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.
11:52Fans can't wait to travel back to 19th century Russia for this part.
12:06Francesca Johnson, The Bridges of Madison County.
12:09This part proves being a soprano is always better.
12:26Sarah Brown, Guys and Dolls.
12:29Ding dong, sopranos are knocking down all the doors to play this part.
12:47Jane Doe, Ride the Cyclone.
12:49This gravity-defying role isn't for the faint of heart.
13:19Glinda, Wicked.
13:35For over 20 years, Wicked has been a major part of the Broadway zeitgeist.
13:39In 2003, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown Tony Award winner Kristen Chenoweth originated
13:44the role of Glinda, thus creating a part that would inspire young sopranos to pursue
13:48musical theater with a vengeance.
13:50The ditzy, bubbly, and comedic role isn't just all fun and games.
13:54Glinda has a lot of emotional depth and goes through plenty of character development, especially
13:59in the second act of the show.
14:11It's no surprise that she's one of the most popular soprano roles ever created.
14:26Which one of these soprano roles would be a dream of yours to play?
14:29Let us know in the comments.