What are some roles that don't require a great (or pleasant) singing voice?- Page 2

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 6:51pm

I would disagree that Bobby in Company doesn't need to be a good singer. No, his songs aren't on the level of say, Mama Rose, but they do take a certain level of skill to perform well singing-wise as well as acting-wise.

[trentsketch]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 7:18pm

finishmyhat, I strongly disagree on Anthony Perkins and Greenwillow. While he doesn't have the most refined voice, his control is excellent and he's acting the song. That role requires a very wide vocal range and enormous breath support. I've had "Never Will I Marry" in my audition book for years and it's a rare audition that someone doesn't comment on the range of that song if I sing it. It has a jump of a ninth in the middle of one of the longest phrases. You can't fake that by being a good actor. You can either sing it or you can't.

I can't speak for that Evening Primrose recording as I've only heard it on the tail-end of The Frogs studio recording with Nathan Lane before the revival. Neil Patrick Harris sings that role and it sounds lovely if a bit easier than some of Sondheim's other material.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 7:24pm

Are you meaning the lead Church singer ("Bless this day...."?) is usually taken by the actress playing Susan? On the oBCR it is Teri Ralston who played Jenny.

I don't know if it's "usually" or not. I was just responding to Glinda, who said it was changed in the most recent revival, and I pointed out that it was also Susan in 1995 and in the concert. I know Teri Ralston played Jenny and sang the solo in the OBC.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 7:58pm

Jeff Moss in BELLS ARE RINGING
Herbie in GYPSY

[finishmyhat]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 8:25pm

"I would disagree that Bobby in Company doesn't need to be a good singer. No, his songs aren't on the level of say, Mama Rose, but they do take a certain level of skill to perform well singing-wise as well as acting-wise."

The same could be said for Harold Hill in The Music Man, which has been mentioned above.

This thread is about roles that don't require a great or pleasant singing voice. There is nothing great or pleasant about Dean Jones on the OBC of Company or Anthony Perkins' singing voice in general, who the role was written for. Just like a majority of the stars of Sondheim shows.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 9:35pm

Well, the skill required to sing the role of Harold Hill is a different skill, musically- "Trouble" is a different challenge than "Being Alive".

And I guess we just have to agree to disagree, because I have no problem with Dean Jones' voice on the OBC. True, it's not a "pretty" voice, necessarily, but I think he sings it well, overall. I certainly prefer his versions of the songs to other actors that have played Bobby.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 9:59pm

The reciter in Pacific Overtures

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/21/11 at 11:20pm

My first thought was Edna Turnblad from Hairspray. Isn't the point of the role supposed to be that she's an awful singer? If Harvey Fierstein/John Travolta played her, it only seems to support that notion.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:15am

Anna in The King and I was written for Gertrude Lawrence, a huge stage star who had a range of about six niotes and most of them were flat. Listen to her recording and you will hear the limited range needed for the role. The role does require a good if not great, comic actress. The King, as noted elsewhere, is also not a heavy singing role. The heavy vocal lifting is done by Lady Thiang, Tuptim and Lun Tha.

The King and I can be done with strong singers in the leads, but it is not necessary. The actors have to carry a tune and most importantly, understand how songs work, but to cast an opera singer as Anna (Rise Stevens anyone?) is asking for vocal ornamentation that wasn't written.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 1:18pm

Speaking of Kiss Me, Kate, I don't think Bill Calhoun requires a great singing voice -- he's got to be one hell of a dancer, but, vocally, it's not all that trying a role. And the one solo he has ("Bianca") is probably the weakest number in the show as a song, per se, although it does allow for the guy playing Bill to show off his dancing chops.

[JulesJules]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 1:32pm

BackwoodsBarbie I have to STRONGLY disagree about Company. Having just stage managed a production in my college I can safely say that all the parts in that show are RIDICULOUS in terms of harmonies and exposed solo lines. All the women have to have pretty high voices and so on. You can use the '95 recording as an example of Company being done with so-so singers, then again this is one of the reasons why for most of it,it simply isn't a very good recording.

I also think that regardless of how much you can "get away with" in terms of not being the best singer, there is still a certain amount of technique you need to do a show eight times a week.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 11:23am

People really consider Elaine Strich's voice pleasant?

Yes..her voice can be quite pleasant...listen to the first half of her take of "You Took Advantage of Me" (on Decca's 1954 revival casd recording of ON YOUR TOES) or even better her track "I Never Know When to Say When" from GOLDILOCKS.

Stitch was often cast as a belter... getting Merman's role in CALL ME MADAM for the road tour, Melba in the 1952 PAL JOEY, and famously Joanne in COMPANY. But when she relaxed and sang the melodies of torch songs, she could break your heart.


As for roles that don't seem to require great singing, Sancho Panza in MAN OF LA MANCHA. I know it's a comic role, but I never found bad singing to be all that comic.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 11:35am

Phyllis from FOLLIES was specifically written that way because Alexis Smith wasn't comfortable with a lot of singing. The role is usually cast with actresses who can carry a tune rather than vocal powerhouses.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 11:55am

Deena Jones in Dreamgirls has to sound pleasant, but she doesn't need a lot of vocal skill.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:01pm

Vice Principal Panch in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Amazing role for the actor so inclined.

Officers Lockstock and Barrel in URINETOWN. Not that I'd ever say that Jeff McCarthy doesn't have a wonderful voice (I love it), but the role is so well-written it doesn't need to be sung well, just makes it better if it is.

Along the lines of Sing! from A CHORUS LINE, the Banker in ONCE requires a terrible singer (or a good singer who can credibly sing terribly, which is arguably the case.)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:12pm

This might come across as snarky...but any musical role taken by Glenn Close? Just saying...from Roman in the Lone Star State

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:14pm

Zero Mostel didn't exactly have a pleasant voice, so I would throw in Tevye in Fiddler and Pseudolus in Forum.

And Jerry Herman's music is rare in that some roles can be sung by (pretty much) non-singers, or just carry-a-tune voices. Dolly Levi is one. Written for Channing, who was iconic in the role, but when those songs were really SUNG by Streisand in the film, they worked just as well. You don't have to have a good voice to play Dolly, but you have to have a strong personality in the part.

[Marcellus2]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:17pm

I feel like most of the male FORUM roles are not terribly difficult singing wise, but you must have some amazing comedic timing.

[BeadleDeedle]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:22pm

Billis in South Pacific. The role usually works best with a great actor who can just at least stay on pitch. Loved Danny Burstein in the revival, even though he even kind of had to play down his voice a bit. He sounds great on a few other recordings.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 12:46pm

Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls (Sam Levine was completely tone deaf, by his own account)

[all that jazz]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 1:23pm

I don't agree at all that Bobby doesn't need to be a strong singer. Being Alive is quite the powerful ballad, and singers usually belt the hell out of it.

I'd say the Thernadiers don't need to be strong singers.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 3:03pm

Daddy Warbucks---but what a difference when sung by Anthony Warlow.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 4:41pm

I wonder if John Adams in "1776" would fit the bill. William Daniels sold the daylights out of those songs, and I love his performance -- and yet I'm not sure I'd say he had a great singing voice per se. Maybe someone who's sung the role, or performed in the show, can weigh in on that one?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 6:48pm

I may have the chronology wrong, but I suspect Tony Perkins was long gone before "Being Alive" was finally written. As everyone now knows, it was at least the third song written for that slot.

As far as I'm concerned, Dean Jones sang it exactly right. The listener should really wonder whether Bobby will make it through the song.

Larry Kert hit every note like an angel, but wasn't as "right" for the song.

(Corrected Larry Kert's name thanks to Patti Lupone FANatic.)



Updated On: 4/7/13 at 06:48 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 7:39pm

Gaveston...is there a chance you meant Larry Kert? from RC in Austin, Texas