singers who try to act or actors who can sing- Page 2

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:17pm

i completely agree. you have to be able to do both these days. i think acting is so important. even if someone had an amazing voice, i wouldn't be entertained unless they acted through it. but i'd also be a little bothered if someone was an outstanding actor but then couldn't carry a tune when they went to sing. if you're going to be in musical theatre you need to be able to do both to be a truely talent performer. yes, one might be more prominent then the others, but as long as it works, then it's ok. but there has to be some sort of healthy balance.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:25pm

JazzySuite--I agree. I too WANT both great acting and singing. But unfortunately many musical theater performers continually get away with really being just singers rather than actors. Just take Shoshanna Bean in "Wicked"--she doesn't even think of herself as an actor. She's a singer who just happens to do a lot of musicals. This is very common, which is why in many cases you'll get someone playing a role like the Phantom who is a great singer, but if you handed them a role with a heavy load of dialogue (or God forbid, a role in a straight play), they would be stumped.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:31pm

Personally...I want both. If I have to pick one...an actor who sings. John Lithgow, for example. Singers who are decent actors are the whole reason a show like Rent has gone from magical to boring. It's like watching a concert or something.

[Sant]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:39pm

I'd rather take an actor who can't sing that well because they can make up in acting and performance what they lack in voice. Take Glenn Close for example.

A singer who can't act... well that's a 100 bucks wasted - you could just as well stay at home and listen to the cast recording.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 3:44pm

Hmmm... I prefer an actor that can't sing (or sing as well). They've got to at least know how to carry a tune. But I think that acting sometimes supercedes the singing in really emotional scenes when you can really be belting out all the time. This is live theatre, by the way, when the story should be as important as the music to convey an enriching experience.

Of course, being a triple threat never hurt anybody. :)

~Rosalynn

[Phantom2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 6:14pm

Two words - TRIPLE THREAT!

Very important for musical theatre. Enough said.

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 06:14 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 5:47pm

Triple threats are a wonderful thing, but they are very rare. Very few people who like to call themselves triple threats actually are--the most common case of this is a singer-dancer who refers to themself as an "actor." I don't think someone can call themselves an actor if all they can do is "musical theater" acting. There's a bit more to the craft than making "happy" or "sad/angry" faces and saying your lines with gusto...very few "actors" have actually earned that title!

OK, I'm done now.

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 5:51pm

I am with you jwei

[BWayBoy88]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:11pm

I would much rather have an actor who sings. But I think it really depends on the show. Like someone said-Cosette doesnt really need to be able to act but she needs to have a gorgeous soprano voice. While someone like Sally Bowles doesn't need to be a great singer(actually it kinda works for the character if she isnt a good singer) but she needs to be a great actress.

[alphieboy]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:29pm

The first thing I thought of when I saw this thread, was high school. Pepole in the choir trying to make a weak attempt to be in the musicals and act.

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:47pm

I think both is a must. But I also think that acting comes first.

Although I started off first as a singer and than later got well into acting I truly believe that acting comes first.

Millions of people have good voices but if you can't protray emotion through your acting you shouldn't be in musical theater. A good voice does not necessarily equal a great performer.

In my opinion actors should have both. But I do really think that acting is the backbone behind it.

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:54pm

JazzySuite--I saw shoshanna in wicked and I thought her acting was great. Alot better than Idina's that's for sure(now theirs a singer who trys to act).

[gertiecummings]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:07pm

Actors who sing. If the actor is truly in the moment, then the song will sound the way it is supposed to sound and I think that's more important than hitting the right notes each time.