strange question

#1

strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:16pm

Ok this question is really strange, but after my most recent trip to NYC I've been thinking about this..Why do Broadway performers spit so much while singing? I've never seen anyone in a community theatre production spit, yet in every Broadway show I've seen I've noticed atleast one actor/actress spit a lot..I know this is a weird question but if anyone has an idea...

#2

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:19pm

Because they sing louder?

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#3

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:22pm

I'm guessing it may just be a coincidence that you have seen more broadway people spit than community theatre people. However it could have to do with the fact that a broadway theatre is generally bigger than regional theatres. The actors on broadway may feel more pressure to ennunciate and be heard in a large theater and therefore occasionally spit.

#4

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:22pm

they went to the Michael Cerveris school of pronounciation.

#5

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:29pm

They (have to) try harder.

#6

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:32pm

Horton must be right, during "no place like london" i saw Cerveris spit through the whole thing... It might be the dialects they are using...

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#7

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:35pm

It's called enunciation.

#8

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 8:45pm

On somewhat of the same subject-- sweating.

Yes, they work extremely hard. Yes, they are under hot lots. Yes, sometimes they dance like there's no tomorrow...

But jeez- I've seen people run outside for 10 miles and they don't sweat as much!

The actors shake their head on stage and if you're in a row close to the stage, you get a shower of their sweat!

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#9

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 10:48pm

ew i was in the front row of sa and jonathan groff gave me a shower....... gross

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#10

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 10:53pm

I think it has something to do with correct vocal placement while singing. I've found that as my placement and singing has improved over the last couple of years, I've suddenly ended up with more saliva in the front of my mouth while I'm singing. This can unfortunately result in...you know...
Sorry, maybe that was a little too graphic. It's weird I know

#11

re: strange question

Posted: 1/8/07 at 10:58pm

all I know is that its GOOD to spit in theater. Theatrical acting and singing coaches will tell you that if you're not spitting, you're not annunciating enough

(Aaand.. I think Jon Groff might just be one of the few people I really wouldn't mind getting spit on from hehe. Just kidding! spit is always yucky, no matter how beautiful the person it comes from may be )

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#12

re: strange question

Posted: 1/9/07 at 10:18pm

I don't think it's just Broadway, it's music in general.

I've been close to the stage at a few concerts, and the performers spit a lot as well...I still think it has to do with enunciating correctly but it's certainly not limited to Broadway.

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#13

re: strange question

Posted: 1/9/07 at 11:06pm

Not just Broadway and not just music.

When I was in high school, I was a student usher at a regional production of "Private Lives." The female lead...oh, dear Lord...the way she spit. She was just blasting her partner in the face every time she spoke.

Anytime I've "confronted" Hugh Panaro about his insane spitting, he's just blame ennuciation.

#14

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:05pm

Another theory: usually you don't see spit as much unless the light catches it just right. A Broadway show will have hundreds more (if not thousands more) lighting instruments than a community theatre or school production, thus more lights on stage hitting at a variety of angles could result in the spit being lit better. I could be way off base here, but it's possible that it's not that the actors are spitting that much more, but just that you're more likely to see it.

#15

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:08pm

Definitely enunciation. I always notice more spitting in good Shakespeare productions than anywhere else.

#16

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:10pm

Reading the thread just reminds me of the one Friends episode when Joey is acting in the war movie..

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#17

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:17pm

I missed that episode.
When I saw LESTAT, I noticed Hugh spit a lot!
Poor Jim, et al.

#18

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:18pm

Brian O Brynne is a real spitter. If you sit in the first few rows of any show he is in, bring rain gear

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#19

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:25pm

That FRIENDS episode is a classic - with Gary Oldman as the British movie star. After working with him, Joey is convinced that spitting equals great acting.

#20

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:32pm

At the last Broadway show I saw two members of the cast crapped their pants onstage -- is that normal on Broadway? I realize it's pretty common in community shows but I didn't expect Broadway performers to do it as well. Urination, sure, but not feces.

#21

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:45pm

on the sweating issue...

if you go running 10 miles outside you dress to do that.
Sometimes on stage you are running around or under lights or just sitting still but you happen to be doing it in an all wool costume or layers or coats and all kinds of stuff, so that could cause a little sweat.
OR if you were me my junior year of college playing Mrs. Peachum in May in a theater thats air conditioning was on the fritz and with a petticoat, corset, wig piece, and a 3 layered costume made of wool and heavy curtains and upholstery- you might not just sweat but PASS OUT during the last scene of the show (which in 3Penny happens to be a hanging, so dramatically it worked very well)

#22

re: strange question

Posted: 1/10/07 at 10:51pm

I was wondering that question too, but my friend told me it was an enunciating thing. John Lithgow in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels- buckets and buckets of spit. Gross, but it was an honor seeing him perform, no matter how much he spitted.

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