Professional training

[jaso_n]

Posted: 10/19/05 at 11:04pm

I don't want you smarties coming in this thread and NOT answering the question so I'll say right off the bat --- I KNOW PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR SINGING, DANCING, AND ACTING. I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW.

But.

I have the opportunity to get formal training in voice (voice teacher at university heard me sing and says that she'd love to work with me). If I wanted to get into musicals, what would carry me farther? A good voice, a good dancer, or a good actor?

[WalveMalve]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:38am

Good voice is the most important for musical theatre. An audition always starts with a 16-bar song. It's solely that which can get you a call back. It is then that acting and dancing tend to come into play. You should also be able to act through song.

[Broadway_Baby2]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 10:16am

I agree, a great voice will get you the callback, but if you're dead during your song, or you can't act through a scene, then the voice doesn't really matter. Dancing isn't in every show, but you'll probably have to dance to make a living in the chorus and supporting roles.

If you take voice with this woman does it interfere with some other opportunity to take dance or acting classes? I see no reason at this point why you shouldn't go for it. If it doesn't work out, or something better comes along, you can always quit and find another voice teacher.

[briarbrad]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:22pm

Unless you want to be a chorus boy, you MUST be an actor to get anywhere.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 1:34pm

if the voice teacher is good, and she knows that you are interested in musical theatre, then she should help you be energetic and emotional while you sing.

my voice teacher teaches me how to sing AND act the songs that i sing.
Updated On: 10/20/05 at 01:34 PM

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 2:27pm

Yes...voice training is the most important?...that's why you see Rosie O'Donnell, Harvey Fierstein, et. al. starring in musicals these days.

Seriously...acting is the most important in all of theatre. It doesn't matter how good you sing if you can't act it doesn't matter. I've often been told (by casting directors) that they would rather have an actor who sings than a singer who acts.

Having said that, a LOT of casting directors are dumb. They will be the first to admit it. They look at the headshots and listen rather than watching you sing the song..so you can rely on your voice for that period, but once you get callbacks, the actors are the ones who get the work.

My advice is to take as many different types of classes as you can. Learnign has never been a bad thing. Also, even if a method doesn't work for you, stick with it, because I guarantee you'll come away with something.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 6:03pm

If you have a trained voice, it'll be much easier for you to learn all types of songs from different shoes, and allows you to show your versatility to casting directors. Plus, a trained voice is usually much easier to work with, and In my opinion nicer to listen to.

[jaso_n]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 6:46pm

You mention Rosie O'Donnell and Harvey Fierstein, but lets flip that. Frenchie Davis, for example, is a much better singer than actress but she has been getting shows.

[Broadway_Baby2]

Posted: 10/20/05 at 7:02pm

As far as Rosie O'Donnel and movie stars and such getting cast on Broadway, it is purely a financial decision. Those people are cast because they will bring in more revenue than an unknown person. It's not because they're better actors, it's because the public will pay to go see a show they've already seen, or wouldn't otherwise see, just to say that they've seen this big person.

[nydirector2]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 2:12pm

Yes..star casting is for financial reasons....but they at least have some kind of acting ability. You wouldn't put someone on stage who is unwatchable, right?