AIDA Toni Braxton standby Question...

Posted: 7/28/03 at 4:46pm

Ok, so I've heard they've lowered the songs to suit Toni,
first of all which songs are they, and most importantly...when Toni's Standby goes on two shows a week does she has to sing the entire score in Toni's key or does the show go back up? If so, that's very hard for the performers...

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 4:48pm

Half and half. Some songs stay low, others go back to the normal key.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 6:15pm

By the way, be sure to try and catch the stand-by. Her name is saycon sengbloh.

Posted: 7/28/03 at 6:17pm

awesome so seycon sings the score in Toni's key, or the orginal?

[Grand Motel]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 8:05pm

did you read my post? Some stay low, others go back to normal.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 4:36pm

yah I read the post but "Some stay low, others go back to normal." isn't very specific, now is it?

Ok, WHICH songs are adjusted, and WHICH songs stay the same?

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:13pm

I saw her interview on The View yesterday. She sang a snipet from "The Gods Love Nubia". Not only were the songs to low, they were to breathy and "pop". How does THAT voice reach the back of the theatre?

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:13pm

Really REALLY mic-ed up, lol

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:14pm

She is a talented singer. I would not mind seeing Aida again with her in it.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:29pm

also, question, does saycon sengbloh have to wear a weave like Toni's or does she wear the normal hair style for "Aida" you know, short, with dreads.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:44pm

when I saw her on ytour, Saycon had hetr hair in braids. But not ones like Toni.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 5:46pm

oh, you saw her on tour, which meant she had to change and learn the score slightly differently when Toni came along, how sad. I feel for Saycon...

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:27pm

Wow the picture of Toni is awesome!

it's the 7th one down
TONI as AIDA Updated On: 7/29/03 at 06:27 PM

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:47pm

In the National Tour that I saw in Philly, Paulette Ivory had a whole head of hair (braided of course) which I couldn't tell if it was a wig/hairpiece or not. But then before the overture started, there was an announcement about how there was a talk back session after the show with the actors for anyone who wanted to stay (I've never heard of that for a Broadway show or tour but needless to say, we stayed) and moved down to the front row. And I saw for myself - - real hair.
OK... well... African American women certainly get extensions and braids etc... but her headshot was similar, so I'm guessing it was her choice. I guess as long as it looks ok, the Aida can have whatever.
Additionally...
I never understood Heather Headley's AIDA hair. In the program book, some pictures she has no braids... just her short short hair... and then others she has the braids that are just odd... there's just a few of them across her head and pull together in the back. I'm no stylist, but it looked to me like the hair dude said, she needs some hair... let's give her 7 braids, and call it quits. It doesn't look like a feesible hairstyle.
My 2 cents,
david.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:50pm

the hair peice Heather wears is actually a hairpeice in the show. If I'm not mistaken she wears it only in certain moments of the show, not throughout the whole thing.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:50pm

I agree, David.

BTW, what did you think of Paulette Ivory?? I loved her performance and she was such a sweet woman at the stage door after the show.

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:51pm

my god, crazyatenewyork, how many times have u seen AIDA??? and with who in the cast???

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:53pm

I thought she was FABULOUS! My one complaint was that she didn't hit the (only) high note at the end of... hmmm... I think it was The Dance of the Robe (whatever song they all chant "Aida, Aida").
But no biggie. It was funny, I knew she was British/English because her bio said so...
But in the show, she conformed and spoke with an american accent, I guess to be consistent with the rest of the cast.
She was so cute at the meet and greet thingy, all proper sounding. And very warm and humble.
:)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:53pm

I have seen it with Paulette, Heather, Simone, Maya, Saycon, Merle, and Simone.

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:54pm

To Clarify:
I didn't mean that she attempted to hit it and cracked or it sounded bad... she didn't even go for it, just took it down a note or two!
.d

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:54pm

I don't think ANYONE but Heather hits the high note. Actually, I don't think it's even written that way, I think Heather just did it cause she can. (I know what you're talking about. The last 30 seconds of Dance of The Robes is an amazing soliquey for a Musical Theatre Woman ending in an INSANE belt note!!)

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:56pm

I just don't think it's a high note... but Aida is for an alto (in my opinion) so... maybe it's out of that range!

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:57pm

to BELT that is an INSANE note, to soprano it, not that high. What note is it actually...anyone??

an E or F?? Updated On: 7/29/03 at 06:57 PM

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 7/29/03 at 6:59pm

you win!
But I don't know the note exactly... I'm sure someone on here does!!

Posted: 7/29/03 at 7:01pm

Belting a C is pretty difficult for most women, and this is like an E or F or something insane, and you're right, it does come outta nowhere and it's the highest Aida note in the show, if she sings it. I'm just gonna assume that Toni doesn't lol.