What if there were no Microphones?

Just how many actors and actresses would be fired from their current musical jobs if there were no microphones in Broadway musicals?

There was a time when a performer had to SING so that they were heard at the rear of the Balcony. Now, with the great sound systems, very little is required of a lot of "stars" on Broadway.

Who do you think would keep their job and who would get fired, if for some reason there were no more microphones on Broadway?

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Well i know Kristin Chenoweth would definatly be a keeper, rumer has it she dosent even like mic's.

But if there were really no mics on broadway then the theaters would be redesigned like they used to be, and no one would have to loose their job.

But lets hope this weird no mic thing dosent happens otherwise what would we do for the Tonys

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If there were no microphones Lea Salonga would be just fine. ;=)

Or trapdoors?

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Or orchestras?

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Updated On: 8/7/04 at 02:21 AM

glinda (i cant spell the actress's name, sorry) would SO survive, because she's had opera training...except maybe not in those poppy songs like popular (which i LOVE)

the girls from little shop would survive

i have a feeling idina would not survive, i think she is an AMAZING singer but her voice is one of those that gets stuck real close...i dunno how to explain it, mebbe im wrong, its a hunch

adam pascal would survive. heather headley would become the new...celine dion or something (she'd survive too, if she were on bway)

hmmm...have u guys seen frenchie davis in rent? she's the only one that would survive ultimately.

the rest can pack their bags.

bernadette peters would survive as an actress but not as a singer. and i LOVE her so thats saying something. then again mebbe she would.

i dunno, its not about how good of a singer u are, its how much volume you have. heck, i'd survive on broadway. you'd hear me! but i wouldn't be coherent or in tune or anyhting like that.

the worst would be the lines, in the end, not the singing. peters would be at the top of that heap, and alfred molina. and other seriously trained actors.

...i just criticized my idols, but whatevz...just hope it never really happens, for all our sakes.

o and microphones also exist in order to be overheard by the band...so, goodbye band too i guess.

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Helen of TROY would be inaudible.

Both Kristin and Idina were using mics I know this because they went out in a performance last November. Both were heard fine. Last January I had a seat on stage left and could hear the ladies warming up, so yep they are miced (sp?)

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Michelle Williams.

Agreed! Keep the microphones though. Just kick out the people who need them.

Um. Yeah. That made sense. NOT!

"But if there were really no mics on broadway then the theaters would be redesigned like they used to be, and no one would have to loose their job."

Maybe I'm wrong but most of the theaters on Broadway were built in the early 1900's when there were no mics. I dont think the design of the theaters have changed much since mics have been used.

This eliminating microphones thing looks good.

I think that Idina would be the first big actress to go, she's gonna ruin her pipes if she screams any more.

Karen will still definitely be in business. Lea Salonga is pretty loud...another woman I saw is Laura Marie Duncan- she put shivers up my spine, I think that she would survive pretty well.

Other actors that MAY be fired- I'm thinking some of the main cast of Avenue Q, the ones trained to be puppeteers in front of a camera. For one example, Stephanie D'Abruzzo has a very nice singing voice, but I can't imagine her being able to project as well to a whole house without a mic. I think that the only true exception in the group would be Ann Harada.

I dont see the point of eliminating mics. If it helps an actor be heard and sound better, than I dont see the problem in using them. Personally I dont like Ethel Merman's style of singing because to me it is just yelling in order to be heard in the back of the house.