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Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers

Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers

CopleyScott17
#1Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 7:55am

I'm totally tone deaf but used to think I could maybe pull off Pilate in "Jesus Christ Superstar."  His songs seem almost in the same vein as the Rex Harrison speak/sing stuff, but maybe a tad more challenging.  Curious what others out here think on the topic.

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binau
#2Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 8:04am

Tewfiq in The Band’s Visit?


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

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PennClassic
#3Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 12:14pm

With regard to female characters, I think that Desiree Armfeldt in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is one role that can be done by non-singers.  Glynis Johns, who was in the original Broadway production, primarily "acted" her version of SEND IN THE CLOWNS and put it across beautifully.  Jean Simmons, who was in the touring company, basically gave it a similiar treatment.  Elizabeth Taylor, who did the 1977 film version, was another non-singer who performed the part.  I know the film was not well-received.  However, I would have loved to see Julie Andrews do the film instead of Miss Taylor. 

Updated On: 5/4/23 at 12:14 PM

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bwaylyric
#4Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 4:05pm

Captain Von Trapp

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The Distinctive Baritone
#5Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 4:35pm

CopleyScott17 said: "I'm totally tone deaf but used to think I could maybe pull off Pilate in "Jesus Christ Superstar." His songs seem almost in the same vein as the Rex Harrison speak/sing stuff, but maybe a tad more challenging. Curious what others out here think on the topic."

Pilate is often played by an "actor who sings" rather than a "singer" per se. "Pilate's Dream" and really the entire role could be done with Rex Harrison-style speak-singing. That said, the last few bars that he sings ("Don't let me stop your great self-destruction..." ) go really high - up to a B4 or something. It could be "screamed" rather than sung, but an untrained singer would definitely need a bit of coaching to do it without killing their voice.

To address another part of your question however, there aren't a lot of roles in the Broadway musical canon that can be performed by someone who is completely tone deaf. There's a whole thread from a few years back on non-singing roles in musicals, but even the typical examples of "actor who sings" roles like Pilate, Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Harold Hill in The Music Man, etc., as well as a couple of the roles mentioned by others so far (Captain von Trapp and the two leads of A Little Night Music) do require one to be able to generally sing on pitch, even if they don't sound "pretty."

Updated On: 8/29/22 at 04:35 PM

Dollypop
#6Best Role/Songs for Non-Singers
Posted: 8/29/22 at 10:18pm

bwaylyric said: "Captain Von Trapp"

 

Are you for real? That role calls for a bass/baritone!


"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)
Updated On: 8/29/22 at 10:18 PM


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