Actors With Fake "Stage Voices"

Which Broadway actors are known to affect 'stage voices?'

Terrence Mann and Michael Cerveris are the best examples I can think of. Terrence Mann does that strange, overly deep, almost British-sounding voice in everything, and I seriously thought that was how he actually talked until I saw a few interviews with him. I thought he was actually British for awhile, but turns out he was born in Kentucky. Michael Cerveris does that strained, spitty-sounding voice that sounds as though he's going to burst out in tears, with weird mushy 's's that sounds nothing like his real voice. He even uses it on the trailer for Cirque du Freak.

I realize that most people don't realize their 'stage voices' are not their real voices. I like both performers a lot. But can anyone think of anyone else who does this?

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Updated On: 10/7/09 at 09:00 PM

Matt Cavenaugh sounds like Joe Kennedy Jr. in every shows he's been in since Grey Gardens. Not sure what that's about.

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Laura Bell Bundy in Legally Blonde.

I would have been able to stand his Tony had it not been for that horrid accent. UGH.

I would argue Kristin Chenoweth. I know that she has a naturally high voice, but she can sound more... er.. normal if she tries (like in The Music Man).

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This thread is- oh, why bother...

Marissa Jaret Winokur's squeeky high pitch teen voice for her Tracy in HAIRSPRAY.

I think Michael Cerveris is a good example. I really like him, don't get me wrong, but he definitely has an "I am acting on stage!" voice that he uses in nearly every production I've seen him in. It's sort of strange.

DottieD'Luscia, Charity was also a Gwen Verdon role.

Does she always try to copy Gwen's voice when singing or performing a role made famous by Gwen?

Barbara Streisand in her early years definitely. It's a big trend with singers turned actors or even people brand new to acting; starting in a strong character and ending up clinging onto the voice of the first role they are REALLY taught- they put so much work into that one character that they got too comfortable and now associate "acting" with the voice of that character. If the audience also saw the first role they will also be less inclined to care if it's similar (Barbra in Funny Girl, for instance), which makes it less likely that they can alter their voice later. Luckily Barbra broke out of it.

I know a guy whose first role was Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. When auditions for second show came around it took a
day of practice on his voice to break him into a new character- in the end he was fine because we broke him out of it.

I also teach an improv troupe and one of my students uses a British accent as a default everytime he's onstage. I always joke that when he actually visits Britain he'll be surprised that "everyone is always acting".

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I second Michael Cerveris. His normal voice sounds nothing like the one he uses when he's on stage.

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orangeskittles, (I'm scared to ask but) what doe you mean by, "This is wrong on so many levels".

Cynthia Nixon picked up a weird one for the revival of "The Women" that almost makes her unwatchable.

THANK YOU! Her inexplicable voice in that made my skin crawl.

Yeah, Michael Cerveris' speaking voice in real life is quite pleasant to listen to. I really would love to hear him use it one day.

Speaking of which-- Colm Wilkinson. What's up with that? Here's a video clip in which he speaks in his natural voice, and it doesn't sound like Sean Connery at all. He sounds NOTHING like his stage voice. SO weird. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGAjBWJuQI

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