Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

#1

Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:36am

Reading a (wonderful) interview with Philip Quast on Theatre.com, I was surprised to discover that he isn't a trained singer. It's strange how some people naturally have proper placement and technique without ever having been taught how to do it. Who are some other prominent musical theatre performers that have great voices but never had singing lessons? I know Carolee Carmello is one...any others?

#2

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:39am

Ethel Merman

#3

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:44am

I read an interview where Rachel York said she's never had formal training.

lc

#4

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:46am

Linda Eder was never formally trained.

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#5

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 10:56am

Julia Murney had one, it was disastorous (sp?) and then Carolee Carmello told her to forget about it.

Updated On: 8/19/06 at 10:56 AM

#6

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:00am

I forgot that Merman never took lessons either. But then again, she was more of a "character singer" anyway.

Also, I just remembered--Harry Groener.

#7

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:02am

Eden Espinosa

and I'm not positive, but I don't think Julie Andrews was a trained singer.

#8

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:03am

"Eden Espinosa"

That's not true. In her ask a star she said she did in Highschool.

#9

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:07am

yeah, like two. Eden has not been formally trained.

#10

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:07am

^yeah, she's had a little but she did say it wasn't much at all. Like, it was just to help her get some stamina and stuff- but basically she's had very LITTLE training.

Umm, I cant really think of anyone else- but I'm also def no expert with knowing about lots of different broadway stars haha

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#11

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:20am

Jennifer Holliday, which may explain why she had so much trouble and missed so many performances during Dreamgirls. Several Broadway singers who came out of the gospel/r&b tradition had no formal training and some learn how to cope with an 8 performance a week schedule and others do not.

Not to be snarky, but was LaChanze formally trained?

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Updated On: 8/19/06 at 11:20 AM

#12

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:21am

I think Julie Andrews did have some training, but not a lot. Her stepfather was a musician or something and found her outstanding range. I could be mistaken.

#13

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:28am

To call Ethel Merman a character singer is such a sad insult. The Merm WAS the voice of theearly 1930's. Like Fred Astaire, another "character singer" Merman popularized dozens of immortal hits. Like Janis Joplin and Bruce Sprinsteen and Billy Joel and Paul McCartney, she was the voice of her times.

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#14

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:39am

At the age of seven, Julie was taken to audition for singing teacher Lillian Stiles-Allen, who though impressed with her talent, was reluctant to train Julie for fear of damaging her young vocal chords. Throat specialists finally determined that little Julie had a fully developed adult larynx, explaining her incredible four-octave range and removing any fear of possible damage.

As her vocal training continued, Julie became a popular British child performer and at the age of twelve was cast in her first West End revue, Starlight Roof.
Reel Classics Julie Page

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#15

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:41am

Julie Andrews was trained from an early age after they discovered her range.

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#16

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:41am

oh and Megan Mullally has never taken more than one voice lesson..or acting class for that matter.

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-Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.

#17

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 11:43am

I remember once seeing an old 'one reeler' called 'Devil Sea' on a cable movie channel ages ago..made in the early 30s with a very young Ethel Merman..and instead of the usual brassy style she actually had a very lovely yet strong voice.

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-Politics is like driving. To go backward, put it in R. To go forward, put it in D.

#18

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 12:51pm

Eden has had a few voice lesson's. One of them was only for vocal stamina to do 8 shows a week.

#19

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:36pm

k never mind about julie then.

"snarky" is a funny word, margo.

#20

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 1:47pm

Randal Keith.

#21

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 2:07pm

Hugh Jackman and Michael Ball.

Thanks for the tip on the Quast interview. Very interesting.

#22

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:05pm

Yeah, it's a great interview.

But Hugh Jackman must have had voice lessons--he sounds very "trained."

#23

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 3:14pm

Carol Burnett.

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#24

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 4:13pm

"But Hugh Jackman must have had voice lessons--he sounds very "trained." "

He is now -- I seem to recall him talking about working with a Czech Opera singer prior to going into BFO. But I've heard him tell this story several times about when he was sent to audition for the Australian cast of Beauty and the Beast. He said that he thought his agent was crazy to send him to this audtion, as he'd never sung in his life. He went, and got the part with the priviso that he take some lessons. The rest, as they say, is history...

#25

re: Musical theatre stars who never took singing lessons?

Posted: 8/19/06 at 5:03pm

Audra McDonald. That's an untrained voice if I ever heard one...