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Acting in Plays, Singing/Male Belting
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Question
Hi. My name is Jon I'm 17 and a tenor.I plan on doing musical theatre as a career. My friends refer to me as a male alto. My range is from C below middle to the Bb above. But I can belt to a the D or Eb above. My question is that considered belting. If it is,is it usuable in musical theatre
Thanks for giving me one of the easier questions to answer. Belting has its place in musical theatre. One of the legends in musical theatre, Ethel Merman, was primarily a belter and had a very long and successful career.
Belting simply means that you're not using all of the very fine control to your voice that is learned in voice lessons. Instead, you're using the power of the air in your lungs to make the sound. In a sense, it is similar to shouting instead of projecting.
A number of musicals actually encourage belting over more lyric singing - "South Pacific"'s "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" is an excellent example.
My recommendation would be to take voice lessons (if you have not already) as this can only continually improve the quality of your voice, so that you don't have to belt; but build your wind and practice good projection, just in case you need to.
Break a leg!
-- Spyder
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Answers by Expert:
J. Spyder Isaacson
Expertise
Especially the Seattle theatre scene. Seattle is the number two theatre city of the nation, having more theatres than any other city (including Chicago!) except New York. I know the reputations of most of the local theatres, have worked with quite a number of them, and am currently earning the majority of my livelihood through live theatre. Beyond that, I have been a working professional for the past 10 years (after a long career in an unrelated field), have done just about everything in the field, and have done every possible type of theatre. Currently, I am also pursuing a new (and unexpected!) career as an animated film producer. (PLEASE NOTE that I am NOT an expert in music!) ***DO NOT*** ASK ME QUESTIONS REGARDING AUDITION SONGS OR MONOLOGUES - the answers require way too much information to be passed along by the All Experts system.
Experience
I have been an award-winning actor, singer, playwright, director and administrator (on various levels, all categories) for the past 30 years. A large part of my expertise has been with live theatre, although I do have a minor connection to filmed theater. I have done musicals, straight dramas, straight comedies, and experimental theatre.
Organizations
Theatre Puget Sound
Magical Mystery Troupe
Centerstage Theatre Conservatory Board of Trustees (former)
Express-Theatre Northwest (former)
Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater
Publications
Unrelated trade publications
Education/Credentials
B.A. in Theatre Arts, Gonzaga University
M.Ed. in Education and Technology, Western Governor's University (in progress)
Awards and Honors
Mutiple awards (ask for specifics), Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival
Valley Community Players, Best Supporting Actor
Past/Present Clients
C's Animation Studio Productions, LLC
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