What do you sing when your "type" and voice conflict?
What do you sing when your "type" and voice conflict?
What do you sing when your "type" and voice conflict?#0
Posted: 5/17/05 at 4:48pmI was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for songs because I'm not exactly sure what songs are appropriate for me to sing. See, my problem is I'm 21 and have an ingenue voice (lyric soprano, in the vein of Shirley Jones with a "character actor's" body (I'm fat). I always have problem choosing songs when they ask for "type specific songs" I'm sort of at a loss because the only character in a Broadway show who fits my type is Tracy Turnblad and unfortunatly I can't belt. I'm often use R&H songs as they fit my voice well, but I'm not sure if that's what I'm supposed to do. Does anyone have any ideas?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/13/03
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#1
Posted: 5/17/05 at 5:18pm
You might want to take a clue from Barbara Cook's repertoire. She's a large gal....and granted, she much older than you...but she doesn't give a damn about whether the song fits her physical type.
Rather than picking songs from musicals....investigate the old standards...Cole Porter...
You are at a disadvantage because you are such a specific type...so you have to be confident and good enough that they HAVE to cast you.
I should listen to my own advice....big older mature leading man type here.
Neither one of us is gonna be able to blend into the chorus.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#2
Posted: 5/17/05 at 5:28pm
It is tough to have that problem. For example, I look like a tenor, because I'm tall and blonde and have a boyish face, but I'm actually a bass-baritone! I'm 22 at the moment, but can pass for late twenties/early thirties onstage. I'm frequently cast as the father/authority figure, and will probably get cast as such more and more as I grow older. I also do a lot of comedic roles.
You might also discover that comedic roles are a good fit for you. Some of these part require belting, but many do not. Also, when you're old enough, you may fit very nicely into the "mother" roles, of which there are many!
Don't fret--we character actors have to wait a little longer to grow into our types, but we'll get there eventually! And you don't have to be able to belt to be a good musical theater character actress. There are many role out there other than Tracy Turnblad. These might be some to look into for both the present and future:
Golde, "Fiddler on the Roof"
Domina, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"
Mrs. Lovett, "Sweeney Todd"
Madame Thenardier, "Les Miserables"
Sara Jane Moore, "Assassins"
Mrs. Peterson, "Bye Bye Birdie"
Nettie Fowler, "Carousel"
Mrs. Potts, "Beauty and the Beast"
Aunt Eller, "Oklahoma"
Emma Goldman, "Ragtime"
Best of luck!
TDB
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#3
Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:24pm
Thanks for both of your suggestions. I realize that it won't be until I'm in my 50's that I'll probably really fit anywhere. I often get cast as either old women or men because of it despite having what some has described as a "baby face". Hee hee, sometimes I wish musicals had a little more diversity, but what are ya gonna do:)
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#4
Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:44pm
Buffy, I have the exact same problem. I'm a full figured gal, and last year I completly lost my belt due to finding my upper register and going more into Opera. I still want to do Broadway, but I can't belt anymore! I haven't used my chest voice in... about a year and a half.
Best of luck.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#5
Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:52pm
I look like "the other woman" type but I have a sweeter high mezzo voice. My repetoire has songs like "unexpected song" and "my true love" when I look like I should be playing Velma in Chicago, a role I sadly wish I could play. 
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#6
Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:10pmI used to be in the same boat that you are...I was fat and I'm short and there weren't many parts for me. And let's face it "type casting" is never going to go away so I did what I had to do and I lost weight...over 30lbs actually. And it's really helped me...it really helped me build my confidence and get recognized for my talent. I would recommend that as an opinion. Because the truth be told in this business you have to do whatever you can to be the best that you can be. And when I was fat there weren't really many options for parts for myself. I don't mean this as to offend you or anything I'm jsut telling you of my experience and how it has really helped me as a performer.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/19/04
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#7
Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:11pmI guess I have the same problem as TDB. I'm tall and lanky and blonde yet I'm definitely a Lower Baritone. Oh well, I'm only 15 so who knows, maybe I'll end up a baritenor or something. I'm just working on being able to sing higher in full voice.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#8
Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:33pmNo I'm not offended. I'm trying to loose a bit of weight right now, but I know no matter how hard I try (unless I literally become anorexic) I will never be small. My mom is a size 16 and barely eats anything (thought admittedly she doesn't exercise). I've always been chubby, so unfortunatly, I don't think I'll ever fit the ingenue type, even if I should lose weight.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/4/04
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#9
Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:44pmI've been listening to West Side Story a lot lately, and pratice my belt to Maria, and Something's Coming. Larry Kert did an amazing job in that show vocally and, thanks to him Tony is my new dream role. When I was 13 I used to be a bass/baritone but I'm slowly moving up to baritone/tenor (I'm 15 now). It really pays off singing everyday and stretching your vocal chords. Good luck with anything you do though.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#10
Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:04pm
Hate to open up a can of worms, but even harder for minorities to land a role in theatre. Since roles are mostly written for Caucasians, and especially Asian features tend to be really noticable. So for me, it's not really "type", but race. It's annoying. Inevitable, but annoying.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#11
Posted: 5/17/05 at 10:24pmI understand, and I think it depends on the director. I think it's surely tough professionally, but I think it's getting a bit more color-blind, little by little. I never really did like type casting much. I sort of get type-casted ethnically as well. I'm Irish and German but most think I look Hispanic, Italian or mixed.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#12
Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:29pmI'm another with this problem. I'm heavy and older and yet have a strong, legit soprano. Every part I'm physically right for seems to call for a mezzo belt - which I can do, but definitely couldn't keep up on a regular basis, so it doesn't count.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#13
Posted: 5/17/05 at 11:31pmCut portion sizes in half and get at least one hour a day of aerobic exercise. Hope that helps! xo
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#14
Posted: 5/18/05 at 3:31am
not cool Namo..not cool
Be proud of who you are! sing what makes you sound best! I'm a bit curvy, and it's really hard for me to get the roles I want..but if you have talent hopefully the people casting will see through that!
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#15
Posted: 5/18/05 at 9:44amI know exactly what you mean. I most often sing Alto but msot fo the good songs (for example Disneyland which I really wanted to sing but couldn't ---- high notes..can't belt) I go for the Alto and do serious serious research for the not so well known shows and songs. You can always generally find one.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#16
Posted: 5/18/05 at 11:43ambuffyactsing- I was in the same situation too but then I joined the gym and that made all the difference. I have a small metabolism and no matter what I ate it didn;t matter..exercise is what helped me loose
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#17
Posted: 5/18/05 at 11:45amstephaniethestar...unfortunatly they won't...well if you're serious as I am about pursuing a broadway career. They aren't going to put someone fat in a part that calls for someone skinny. It's the truth. More than most of the time. And if you are serious about this business than you ahev to sacrafice.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#18
Posted: 5/18/05 at 12:22pm
Not everything needs to be belted. I'm sure as a trained singer, you have a strong middle register. AND - not every secondary soubrette role needs to be belted either. Try some comedic things that might not have a traditional voice type.
"Crossword Puzzle" (Starting Here, Starting Now)
"This Place Is Mine" (Yeston's Phantom)
"Mr. Snow" (Carousel)
Meg Brockie's songs from Brigadoon
I would use something like this to show personality and range and then when they ask for a ballad, you can sing/act something you do well but not necessarily be cast as. It's more important to casting directors that you are committed to your material and perform/act/sing it well. So what if you're not a lanky chorine. Their careers will only last so long, while if you have the chops and perservance, yours can last a lifetime.
Good luck.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#19
Posted: 5/18/05 at 2:43pm
Another option is to explore Opera and Operetta.
My roommate in college is/was by no means 'big' but definitely not the ingenue type - except that her voice was one of the most amazing I"ve ever heard - colorotura (sp?) soprano, really gorgeous, very ingenue. She'd been a lil thinner and (of course, cause it's still high school and comm theatre) done some roles like Laurie in Oklahoma, Sarah in Guys and Dolls, all that jazz in high school.
When she got to college she had a very hard time in that the theatre dept wouldn't cast her anywhere near what her voice fit or the roles she'd been used to. She was 100% embraced by the music dept and has gone on to do more opera and operetta (which I think is very similar to musical theatre) roles.
The main thing I've learned is that with Opera and Operetta, they're much less about the look and much more about the talent. They'll cast a very large woman as Carmen if she's the best one, y'know?
Plus shows like PIrates of Penzance are uber fun. I'd maybe explore that a lil bit cause you could still be very sucessful just as you are. Plus it's something to do while you're fitting more into your type or working on losing weight, and you're still keeping your instrument workin'.
Hope that helps - just another option.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#20
Posted: 5/18/05 at 3:27pm
Yeah, it's great to be proud of who you are and whatnot, but it also helps to be realistic. I know i'll never be a leading man on broadway unless i slim down, which is what i'm currently attempting to do.
Anyways, you should try "A Quiet Night at Home" from BARE. It's a good song. Not sure if it fits your range, I dont know much about women's voices.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#21
Posted: 5/18/05 at 3:33pm
rKrispyt, I'm doing the same thing right now. I found out I had this awesome upper register. I used to be really into Broadway before but now I really find that Opera is my true passion.
Though Broadway is still my obsession.
re: What do you sing when your 'type' and voice conflict?#22
Posted: 5/18/05 at 5:36pm
How about songs that Alice Ghostly or Jane Connell did - though neither of them were corpulent, they di dplay roles that could be played that way - frumps, etc.
And they bith had some great comedy songs written for them - with extended ranges.
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