singers who try to act or actors who can sing

[Amneris]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:48pm

which would you rather see in a top quality broadway show?

Singers who try to act ?
Or
Actors who can sing the song..maybe not like Sutton Foster but, with heart and soul?

Which would a casting director choose?

Just lurking some threads , it seems a lot of us are very picky about many things.. Me personally , I'd rather have someone on that stage who can rip your heart out with the text rather than having it sound power house.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:53pm

It depends on how bad the situation is. I'd rather see someone who acn't act but can sing if the "can't sing" that you're talking about is someone tone deaf. If it's someone who's just okay at singing but is an amazing actor, then I'd rather see them then an okay actor, amazing singer. However if the choice was terrible actor/amazing singer or terrible singer/amazing actor, I'd want to see the terrible actor.

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:53pm

Actors who try to sing - perhaps because I'm one of them. But they can have a stunning voice, and no facial expression, and I'll be bored. A reason why I'm not a huge fan of opera. If they are putting their all into a song, and hit a wrong note a bit, that's perfectly ok in my book.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 9:53pm

I think it's a total catch-22 to pick one that's universally better, or one even that you ultimately like better, since "better" is quite personally subjective.

For example - I've seen a lot of singers who can't act for sh*t, but they've been stunt-cast pop stars. Then you have someone like... okay, I'm going to use Adam Pascal as an example; I think he's a good one. This is a guy who grew up wanted to be a rock star. He happens to be able to act - and under the right circumstances, do it decently, though he's certainly not the best actor anyone's ever seen. He's primarily a singer, but he certainly can hold his own as an actor. In that case of the pop stars, though, I'd easily pick an actor who just happens to be able to sing over someone like that. But then again, I've seen actors who try to sing, and the result makes you want to rip your ears off.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:02pm

I think it really depends on the part...sometimes it's more important for someone to able to sing than to act; take Cosette from Les Mis. Does she REALLY need to be a good actress? Probably not. But does she have to sing those high notes well? Certainly. but than you have shows like Spamalot where most of the guys really don't have to be stellar singers. So I think it depends on the role.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:15pm

Sutton Foster is one of those rare gems who can act AND sing these days. The teenyboppers these days seem to be lacking that ability. However, we do have Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz selling songs every night, too.

But I'd rather see actors try to sing. Look at the Marvin trilogy. No one really has a fantastic voice but God do they sell those numbers.

[morosco]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:18pm

If you don't know the director well, you might consider having a one on one discussion during a break or after a rehearsal. Some directors don't like being challenged with new ideas on the spot in front of everyone.

[Jwei123]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:20pm

I'd honestly have a singer who can't act.

[romanov]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:21pm

It depends on the kind of singing required. Pure musical comedy: go with the actor who can put the song over even if he/she doesn't have the best singing voice. On the other hand can you imagine a Magnolia Hawks who can't sing very well?

Iluvtheatretrash, your picture reminds me so much of the young Truman Capote's picture on the back of his first novel Other Voices, Other Rooms. And I mean that complimentary. Please don't equate it with the elder Truman Capote. Your picture is amazingly simililar in tone to the Capote one.

[amourdujour]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:22pm

I'm an acting singer. Strong in singing, decent at acting. I guess I'd have to pick both! As long as you have one person who acts and one who sings, the show is okay, right?

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:23pm

Most certainly an actor that sings, unless, as someone else said, it's a part that really doesn't require much, but shows with those kinds of roles aren't really ones I'd want to see anyway.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:27pm

Almost always an actor who sings. If you can get an audience to connect to your story, they won't even care whether or not you're belting an E.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:30pm

Probably an actor who tries to sing. Beacuse a) you can change the song to fit them best. b) If they can act the song, people will love it. c) it's horrible to see a great voice with zero acting skill

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 10:34pm

Isn't the bar set too low? Isn't Broadway supposed to be the pinnacle of musical comedy performance? If a performer has a lead or even major featured roled in a Broadway show, he/she should be way above "average" in both capacities. You can't tell me the talent isn't out there - I've seen it. But I've seen the same thing happen here as anywhere - mediocre people get a stranglehold on power and kill off the competition - which would be anyone threatening to raise the standard and audience expectations. It's getting more and more prevalent with stunt casting choices and, of course, some odd TONY nominations.


Of course, I not talking about the really excellent performers and shows - there are still some, thank God. But all in all, I think standards are getting lower.

[MTRBOI24]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 11:12pm

What about an actor/singer/dancer. thats what id take. And I think thats what a director would want.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 11:43pm

Dancer really depends on the show. IT's not always necessary. BUt there's NO reason why in any given musical you shouldn't have an actor and a singer who can sing equally well and have that equally well be amazing.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 5/15/05 at 11:45pm

As long as they're hot, I don't care about the other things.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:08am

I agree with Pinguin--it really does depend on the role. To take an extreme example, if you're doing "My Fair Lady," the actor playing Higgins doesn't have to be a great singer, but he needs to be a fantastic actor to really pull it off. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you're doing "Phantom," singing is going to be a lot more important than the acting, since 98% of the Phantom's lines are sung, and as long as he can be generally mysterious yet sympathetic, great acting ability is more of an added bonus than a requirement.

But really, since there are plenty of people out there who are equally good at acting and singing, why not just find such a person for the part?

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:35am

I'm sorry what? Acting on top is a bonus. Ummm wrong. I'm sorry but acting on stage with or without music is acting. You should never put some wash of general emotion wheter you're singing or not. You should be going through things moment by moment rather than coasting on music because that's not professional. It's the biggest mistake to think that you can stop acting when the songs happen. What does one do in the book scenes if you can't act? Hum? Songs are basically scenes with music. You need to explore as an actor why things are repeated, why the note is where it is and what you want in the song and ACT it. So I reiterate I want to see BOTH. It doesn't depend on the role. You need to do both to be good.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:55am

Wait though. We're talking about Broadway. Should we have to choose between actor who can sing or a singer who can act. We should get both, right? And in many shows, all three (dancing).

[KelRel]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 8:05am

Emcee! Did you just say something not worshipfully good about Adam?!?!
"I'm going to use Adam Pascal as an example; I think he's a good one. This is a guy who grew up wanted to be a rock star. He happens to be able to act - and under the right circumstances, do it decently, though he's certainly not the best actor anyone's ever seen."

That's it the world is coming to an end. Make your preperations everybody!

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 8:13am

Well, if I had to pick one, it would be an actor who can sing. Anyone who's ever seen or heard Judi Dench's legendary rendition of Send In The Clowns will know exactly why.

[Sluggy]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 9:41am

popcultureboy, you beat me to it! That's exactly the example I was thinking of! If anyone hasn't seen Judi Dench's performance, find a copy of Hey, Mr. Producer! (Cameron Mackintosh tribute.) She will tear your heart out!

[Chloe]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:14am

Yes, KelRel, get into that fallout shelter now! But actually, Emcee has always had a pretty balanced view considering how much of a fan she is.

It struck me that not everyone may have the same definition of a "good singer." To me it's not enough to be able to create a nice vocal sound - a good singer is someone with the musicianship and acting ability to be able to communicate the emotion of the song. Some very good singers may not be as comfortable with dialog as with lyrics, but if their part is mostly musical, they can still succeed with it.

[eslgr8]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:15am

What is it about Americans wanting to pigeonhole performers? If someone debuts as a singer, they're considered a singer forever. If someone starts out as an actor, that's how people here see them. I know that in many if not most Asian and European countries, actors sing and singers act to the extent that this question wouldn't even be asked. In England Ewan MacGregor can have a pop hit, because he is a singer as well as an actor (see Moulin Rouge). Frank Sinatra won an Oscar as an actor. Julie Andrews has continued her career as an actress even after ending her career as a singer. And Sheri Rene Scott is one of the best singers around, but she is also an actress of great range. Musicals should be cast with actors who are also singers, or singers who are also actors. It is or should be the same thing.