Musical Theatre as a genre

Posted on | February 20, 2008 | No Comments

Musical Theatre has always been my first love (sorry, John). Hmm, perhaps this should have been written closer to February 14th! The first professional show I went to see was Barnum, in Sydney, with Reg Livermore in the lead role. My mother and grandmother used to take me to see matinees of shows, sometimes even when they couldn’t afford it – I seem to recall one matinee (I think it might have been Pirates of Penzance with Marina Prior and Simon Gallagher) where my sister and I went in and my Mum waited outside for interval and the end. My family encouraged my love of acting, singing, and performing. I started in local drama school and amateur productions. I met my husband through musical theatre (the show was West Side Story – I was Rosalia and he was the stage manager!). My all time favourite role is Sally Brown in Snoopy – it was a little university production, we rehearsed in the holidays and ran the show when semester started up again!

Music Theatre has a special place in the contemporary singer’s repertoire. You can be singing “legit” quality music theatre (Phantom of the Opera, Sound of Music, any Gilbert and Sullivan, Brigadoon, Carousel etc) and producing a speech quality classical sound. Or you could be singing “Broadway Belt” style music theatre – think Cabaret, Chicago, A Chorus Line, or a mix of both – Les Miserables and Wicked. Newer shows include rock, pop and R&B styles such as, We Will Rock You, Rent, Dreamgirls.

To sing music theatre styles authentically requires lots of stylistic changes! What is your favourite style of music? What do you love singing? I love the drama of music theatre singing. The stories, the melodic lines which take you further into the story of the show. Some couples have “their” song, we have a whole musical! Go and see your favourite form of music live – spend the money and take the time. Whether it is a rock band, a classical concert, opera or music theatre. Whatever inspires you to keep practising, keep doing the scales, keep working on that tricky note. One day, that person earning their living by singing could be you!

Comments