Peter Pan
Peter Pan
#0Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:07pm
hey, school tryouts for Peter Pan are coming up and I really really want to be Wendy. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice they'd like to give me, anything would be soo appreciated! Im thinking of singing "Every Story is a Love Story" from AIDA, is that a good Wendy song? lol not sure...
also what information about Wendy's character in the musical of Peter Pan do you know?
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#1re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:09pm
no. Wendy is not a belt role. wendy is a soprano/mezzo role. don't sing abig belty number.
as far as 'who' wendy is. You are the actor. It is your job to find Wendy in YOU.
#2re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:09pmSing "I Give Myself Very Good Advice" from Disney's ALICE IN WONDERLAND. Has the "Wendy" mood -- plus has the advantage of being a british girl singing the song, plus having the fairy story tie-in.
#3re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:10pm
ok thanks!
i was actually thining of doing the beginning and not the belting..and dang im not a mezzo but thanks for the song advice! Ill go check that out!
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#4re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:21pm
Wendy is NORMALLY played by a soprano or a mezzo. (BTW, I HAVE seen Peter played by a male to MUCH better effect than a woman in a trouser role take)
stylistically, belting aside.. anything from Aida would be dead wrong. think more classic theatre pieces.. Rogder & Hammerstein, etc.
#5re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:23pmhmm okay thanks for your help!
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#6re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:35pm
Perhaps this may help:
http://www.peterpanfan.com/osproductionhelp.html
Also, the woman who voiced Wendy in the Disney film also voiced Alice in Disney's Alice in Wonderland. But I would suggest singing "You can learn a lot of things from the flowers" instead.
In your audition, if they have you read from the proper place in the script, act it as a child pretending to be a mother.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#7re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 5:50pm
yes it does thanks so much!
hmm then maybe Liza will be a better part for me since I mmore of a second soprano than a mezzo and all
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#9re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 6:01pmwell Im thinking that the director is going to cast a guy as peter, or is the musical strictly made for a female part as peter?
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#10re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 6:04pm
it was composed for Mary Martin... and is still usually played by a female.. but guys can most definately pull the role off.
regardless.. who cares... a dirctor can have one vision in mind, but seeing a performer at an audition can change the way they see the role.
#11re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 6:06pm
ah ha like Kristin Chenoweth in YAGMCB, how she was orignally auditioning for Patti, but they saw something in her that was SallyBrown-ish
okay im done
thanks again for the help!
and the auditions are actually not by character, you jst sing for them and they decide where they want you.
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#12re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 10:31pm
"well Im thinking that the director is going to cast a guy as peter, or is the musical strictly made for a female part as peter?"
Musically, the role of Peter Pan is not too difficult. A man or woman could do it. Its been tradition for a female to play the role ever since 1904 - when it was a non-musical.
A main reason still why woman are cast as Peter is because of their weight. Typically, woman are light-weight are are more free in the air. Men can and have done it - but its easier to find a female.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#13re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 10:41pmoooh. Yeah they're going to try to get us to fly and stuff in the show, I don't know if the school will allow it though.Hopefully that would be so awsome!!
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#14re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 10:59pm
Sally, tell your school/director this:
If you do the Peter Pan musical, and you don't have the flying, then don't do Peter Pan.
Peter Pan is known for the flying. That's a major reason why audiences come. The last thing you want during the "I'm Flying" number is to see confused and disappointed looks on audience members faces.
The flying, really, IS the show. In all honesty, I don't really like the musical (the Leigh/Charlap/Comden/Green/Styne version). I don't hate it, and I don't think there is anything fault technicially in how the show was put together nor its individual components, but I DISLIKE how the story is lightened up. I hate when actors turn Captain Hook into this campy character. I hate how the danger of the story is lost. The major battle at the end of the play should be the climax, but its usually very dull.
Don't get me wrong, it's a great family show and it works for what it is - but the story, in my opinion, should be told much darker. Peter telling Wendy about Neverland and enticing her to go there with her should be more mysterious and fantasy-like.
And then there is "I'm Flying." I don't really think there should be a song about Peter Pan flying. He does this all the time. A song about teaching the Darling kids to fly, maybe. But I think it would work better if there were no song there. Have the scene be this amazing showcase of flying. Let it be an eye-popping wonder of seeing the Darlings and Peter fly from the London skylines to the gates of Neverland. Doesn't have to be all black, smoke, and stars.
I could go on and on, but the point is, you can't do the show without really flying. That would be an injustice.
And that doesn't mean the musical hasn't been done before without flying - it has and I have seen productions of it. It ruins everything. Never have I seen nor heard about a successful attempt to do Peter Pan without flying.
Now then - what to do? Well - inform your director/principal about how the flying works. The two major flying companies, Fly By Foy and ZFX Flying Illusions both put safety first. They have seperate practice sessions to teach you what to do in air not to get hurt - and the people who control (if the company doesnt do it themselves) on how to safely and effectively work the system. There is no real danger - and to this day I have not heard of a school production of Peter Pan where the actors who fly getting hurt.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#15re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 11:15pm
wow you are extremely informative! I will keep all this mind! Thank youu
BTW, is it considered to be a bit of a suck-up act if i sing something from the musical?
"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."
#16re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 11:22pm
Lots of times, directors will tell students to sing a song from the musical.
Ask your director what he thinks about singing a song from the show. Never be afraid to ask questions - just always ask in advance - usually not at your audition.
Also, for research, go to a video rental store, or even go out and purchase the two Peter Pan videos/DVDs we have of the musical. There is one starring Mary Martin and another starring Cathy Rigby. My website, www.peterpanfan.com, has the links to purchase them online.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#17re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 11:23pm
i've learned this. it's not a great thing to do unless requested.
and i love Peter Pan! Great show :) a lot of fun.
#18re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/17/04 at 11:24pmAh yes, should have commented on that. Try avoiding singing a song from the show, unless the director WANTS or encourages you to.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#19re: Peter Pan
Posted: 11/18/04 at 5:22am
amen CapnHook! I agree on all counts....
I would personally recommend ZFX. MUCH easier and more comofrtable for everyone involved.
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