Do Jason Robert Brown songs need to be sung as written?

[THDavis]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 1:23pm

I'm audition for Songs for a New World soon and one of the notes in the piece is at the very peak of my range. So much so that I feel I need a backup in case I feel it's not going to continue through the amount of time I need to hold it for. However, I don't want to create a plan B unless I know that it's okay. I mean, it's overall a directors decision, but can anyone tell me whether or not I'm alright to hit the note and come off it in a sort of riff that just sits lower?
Updated On: 12/2/09 at 01:23 PM

[Pgenre]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 1:37pm

SUNG not "sang".

P

[tazber]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 1:40pm

For an audition I would stick as close to the original arrangement as possible.
If you think you may not be able to hit that note then definitely choose another song.

[THDavis]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 4:10pm

Ha ha, P I thought the same thing right after I wrote it but I wasn't sure, so I threw caution to the wind

It's a callback and the pieces are selected for us. I put my vocal range on my audition sheet and my resume and they still called me back for the tenor role, however the song goes to an Ab and I can only sing a G. I mean, with the adrenaline it's very possible the Ab will be there but I don't want to not be prepared, so do you think they'll look down upon it with a different ending to the note?

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 4:21pm

I wouldn't worry about the note. The less you think about it the easier it will be to hit it, and if you don't it may not affect the casting. They obviously called you back for a reason. Tone and delivery can easily outshine hitting a note.

I played Man 1 last year and it was one of the most challenging vocal roles to figure out. I in no way sound like a Billy Porter type, so I had to find my own way on everything. I have mixed feelings about my final results, but it was a great learning experience nonetheless.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 4:23pm

If it's a callback and they are asking you to sing that song, then they probably want to know quite specifically if you can sing that note and sustain it as written. If you try to come off it with a riff, they will probably see right through it. I would hold it solidly as long as I could, but cut off strong when I need to. I'm sure they understand they have the option of lowering the key or making some necessary change, but for a callback, it's not wise to take any artistic licenses of your own to the music.

[THDavis]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 6:07pm

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. I'll just go in to it as written and let them make their decisions.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/2/09 at 8:19pm

^What Mister Matt said. Just go for the note. If you don't have it, but are clearly the best singer for the role in every other way, one note shouldn't keep you from getting it in a non-professional setting.

[THDavis]

Posted: 12/7/09 at 5:35pm

Thanks for all of the advice everyone! As it turns out, they didn't even have my sing to that measure and I got cast! Thanks!

[Q]

Posted: 12/7/09 at 5:53pm

I don't think they should be sung at all.