You are here:

Acting in Plays, Singing/Auditions for Into the Woods

Advertisement

Expert: - 4/9/2009


Question
Hi Sean,

Our music theatre degree is putting on Into the Woods (the real version, not that silly Junior thing). I am keen for the Witch. I'm a soprano, but my mix and belt range is substantial; I can act and I look the part.

For the audition, we have to sing a Sondheim song not from the show, whereupon it will be work shopped by the director. I was thinking 'Everyday a Little Death' from A Little Night Music. What do you think?

We also have to do a prose reading (excluding poetry). An excerpt by Dulcie from Ruby Moon (by Matt Cameron) springs to mind, but what else is there? We were told the prose could be simply reading a passage from a book; it's to show we can tell a story.

I've never had a major part before and I get the feeling one of the older girls will get it (I'm in second year), so realistically I think I'm looking at one of the stepsisters. Will auditioning with a 'Witch song' jeopardize my chances of scoring a part at all?

Sorry for the bombardment of information; the auditions are 17th April. Thanks!

Hayley


Answer
Hello, Hayley –

Thank you for the question.  My sincere apologies for the delay in answering.  I assume the Cast List is up by now.

The role of "The Witch" in Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS is for a substantial mezzo-soprano with a serious belt.  It is not the territory of a soprano.  Had I been able to connect with you sooner and even with an eye to the future – or perhaps you got the part! – the vocal texture of "The Witch" is markedly different than that of "The Baker's Wife, a role that may be more in your reach.  "Cinderella" needs to have the lilt and ping of a soprano.

Nevertheless, the opportunity will present itself again.  INTO THE WOODS is done all the time.  If in fact you are a viable candidate for "The Witch", then consider Sondheim's "There Won't Be Trumpets" (ANYONE CAN WHISTLE).

Choosing monologues is outside my expertise.  My job is to help you with the presentation of the one you have chosen.   

Please let me hear from you again.

I am a professional singing teacher and vocal coach in San Francisco.  When you want to book an appointment, contact me through Craig's List – http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/lss/1123151017.html
I am also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com.  All my articles and interviews about the performing arts provide a link to my personal e-mail.

Take a look at my You Tubes:

Lorena Feijóo - A Look at "Giselle" with Seán Martinfield
SAMSON & DELILAH – Meet Seán Martinfield
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES – A Preview Look with Seán Martinfield

Below are links to my recent interviews and articles about what's happening on San Francisco's cultural scene:
CELEBRATE THE 1906 EARTHQUAKE –"SAN FRANCISCO"– At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=23289

PAUL JACOBS, ORGANIST – At Davies Symphony Hall, April 22nd – 26th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=23207

SF LYRIC OPERA Presents – Rigoletto, April 17th—April 26th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=23090

THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM PRESENTS – Chagall And The Artists Of The Russian Jewish Theater, 1919-1949
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22321

RUBEN MARTIN – Principal Dancer with San Francisco Ballet http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107

SUEDE – Tonight & Tuesday At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22047

KING TUT – Returns to the de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21921

SCOTT NEVINS – At the Rrazz Room, Tonight and Saturday
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

SF BALLET – Program 6 Opens Friday Night, April 3rd
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21440

KEELY SMITH – Making Magic at the Rrazz Room Through April 5th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21301

VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR – Director Matt Tyrnauer At The de Young Museum
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21266

ACT A LADY – Opens Saturday Night At The New Conservatory Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=21171

GREASE – Begins Tonight At The Golden Gate Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20959

HÉLÈNE RENAUT – Local Recording Artist Tonight At The Adobe Book Shop
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20604

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S REQUIEM – This Saturday At Mission Dolores Basilica
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20440

CD – BRUCKNER'S 5TH SYMPHONY – NEW RELEASE FROM TELARC
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20288

CHELSEA HANDLER – Hosts 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards May 9th in San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20244

PIANIST JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET – This Week With SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20189

SF BALLET – PROGRAMS 4 & 5 OPEN THIS WEEK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20142

CD Release – ANCIENT FUTURE Recordings Observes 30th Anniversary
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=20110

SWAN LAKE – San Francisco Ballet’s New Vision, Gone Fishin’
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19868

THE DRAGON’S GIFT – The Sacred Arts of Bhutan
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19801

FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS – Remembered in Souvenir at A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19716

CHI McCLEAN – CD Release at the Cafe du Nord, March 4th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19736

BURN THE FLOOR – Hot Latin and Ballroom Dancing Now at Post Street Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19658

ARTISTIC LUXURY – Fabergé, Tiffany, and Lalique
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19503

STAGE BRIEFS – WICKED, SF FOLLIES, TENNESSEE IN THE SUMMER
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19386

WICKED – Now at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19280

SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL – Presents A Valentine’s All-Day Event
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19208

SF FOLLIES THE PERFECT ROAST OF SAN FRANCISCO PERSONALITIES, SAN FRANCISCO’S PAST AND PRESENT
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19152

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS – DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY, FALSETTOS, and ZANNA, DON’T!
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19068

THE DEAD SYMPHONY – West Coast premiere of symphonic tribute to the Grateful Dead
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=19022

ZUILL BAILEY – Dynamic Cellist Makes Telarc Debut
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18898

CD – THE FOUR SEASONS – Telarc Introduces Violinist Christina Day Martinson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18684

FALSETTOS – Begins Thursday January 8th At Theatre Rhinoceros
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18550

SF BOYS CHORUS AT INAUGURATION – An Interview with Ian Robertson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18330

NEW YEAR’S EVE – MARIN MAZZIE & JASON DANIELEY At the SF Symphony Concert
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18338

DAVID CONTE’S GIFT OF THE MAGI – Receives West Coast Premiere
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=18047

BRIAN PATTERSON – Local Hunk In Bay Area Premiere of ZANNA, DON’T
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17927

CD – LA BOHÈME, Grammy Nomination for Sound Engineer Michael Bishop
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17846

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – What Becomes A Legend Most
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17798

AUSTRALIA – For Baz Luhrmann, There’s No Place Like Home
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17716

MILK – A Magnificent Film
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17658

CHRISTINE ANDREAS – A Conversation with Beautiful Broadway and Cabaret Star
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17442

CD Review – REVOLUTIONARY, Cameron Carpenter, Organist
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17408

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – Lon Chaney Silences SF Symphony For Halloween Night, Friday at 8:00
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17181

SAMUEL RAMEY IS BORIS GODUNOV
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17140

CD – BRAHMS: Ein Deutsches Requiem
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17012

IDOMENEO – Star Treatment For Mozart Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65

CD – DAS LIED VON DER ERDE: Superb Live Recording by Stuart Skelton and Thomas Hampson
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16897

DIE TOTE STADT - A BAD HAIR DAY IN THE DEAD CITY
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16512

BONESETTER’S DAUGHTER – New Opera Stands Alone
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16321

THE WOMEN – NOT WHO YOU ARE EXPECTING
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16231

SIMON BOCCANEGRA – WASHES ASHORE FOR OPENING NIGHT AT SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=16116

TOM ORR – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15981

BERNADETTE PETERS – A Triumph In San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=15150

JENNIFER SIEBEL – A Conversation with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=6361

NORMA SHEARER in “MARIE ANTOINETTE” – At the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=8783

Best regards,
Seán Martinfield

Acting in Plays, Singing

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Sean Martinfield

Expertise

I am a professional vocal coach in San Francisco. In addition to answers from a previous web site (Askme.com - where my "tag" was "VocalCoach") I have published over 2000 responses related to vocal training - particularly as it relates to Musical Theatre and Opera. I have 24 years of experience as Personal Trainer to singers and actors in the San Francisco Bay Area. I sang professionally for 20 years and know what it means to live the life of a musician. I can determine your voice category, i.e., Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Alto Belter, etc., and how to broaden and strengthen your range. Need an audition song for a Broadway Musical? I will give you suggestions that are appropriate to your vocal category and to requirements specified in the audition notice. I have also created a vocal methodology, "The Belter`s Method". It will enable those in Musical Theatre to practice more efficiently because it focuses on the demands of professional performers as well as to those auditioning for school and community productions, and as University and Conservatory performing arts majors. If what you want is a better voice and more control over your career moves and choices, contact me. Also, as the Editor of SanFranciscoSentinel.com, it is my privilege to review productions at the San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony, as well as Broadway National Tours booked into San Francisco's Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theatres. I also review works by A.C.T (the American Conservatory Theatre) and Magic Theatre. I cover select films, tributes and retrospects, and various international film festivals – particulary those booked into The City's opulent Castro Theatre – including the LGBT Frameline Festival, International Film Festival, Silent Film Festival, Jewish Film Festival, etc. For private vocal instruction, I can be contacted through SanFranciscoSentinel.com. Look under: Seán Martinfield, Sentinel Editor and Publisher.

Experience

As a vocal coach, I work primarily with singers and actors throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. My students range from absolute beginners to working professionals, from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. The vast majority of my clients come to me through recommendation. I know how to identify any singer's vocal category, i.e., soprano, tenor, alto, baritone, etc. I know how to muscle-up every singer's vocal range and to expand it beyond conventional definitions. I have developed a vocal methodology for those who want to know how to belt, THE BELTER'S METHOD. As a singer who spent half of his career doing Bel Canto, I know that classical or Italian methodologies do not work in Standard American music. Bel Canto cannot be "adapted" to meet the needs of contemporary American music, including the demands of the Musical Theatre. There are a number of major components to my work as a vocal coach. The first is to identify the client's vocal category and to strengthen and maximize the vocal range accordingly. Then it's about teaching a reliable vocal workout that will enable the client to gain better control of their musicianship. That includes scale work to expand the vocal range and to improve placement, breath control, and diction. Then we work on material for the audition portfolio, the immediate job or assignment, a recording session, etc. My task to is to better equip singers and actors who are hoping to or relying upon their performance skills and vocal endurance to maintain a career in the Performing Arts. My clients regularly appear in cabarets and musical productions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Some have worked in New York and gone on National Tours. For more information, Contact me at: Broadwaybelters@yahoo.com

Education/Credentials
San Francisco State University – BA in Theatre Arts; graduate work in Theatre, Philosophy, and Comparative Reiligion. Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley – Graduate work in Ethics

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.