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Question
I am auditioning for Once Upon a Mattress at the end of April. I am a 31 year old mezzo. Do you have any suggestions for me as to good song choices? I'm not particular about which part, but there are several younger women (early 20's) involved in the company, so I'm thinking the main role may be already "pre"chosen, so I'm probably looking at the role of the queen or one of the more minor parts.
Hi, Megan –
Thank you for the question.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS by Mary Rodgers offers a number of serious challenges – starting with the role of "Winnifred". Besides it being the territory of an all-out belter, the role requires someone with hugely aggressive energy and understands the art of being a clown. Carol Burnett defines the role absolutely. If you feel the role is not for you, then go for the Queen. It's a fun part and worth competing for. Otherwise, I'd find myself another show. Once Upon A Mattress can sometimes fall pretty flat.
Add these songs to your audition repertoire:
Can You Use Any Money Today? – CALL ME MADAM
I'm Going Back – BELLS ARE RINGING
Ev'rything I've Got – BY JUPITER
From This Moment On – KISS ME, KATE
I am a vocal coach to working singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm also the Editor and Publisher of SanFranciscoSentinel.com All my articles and interviews provide a link to my personal e-mail.
Below are links to my articles and youtubes on San Francisco's entertainment and cultural scene:
"Would You Like A Souvenir?" – Sean Martinfield and Janet Roitz explore a song from Film Noir classic NORA PRENTISS (1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOiqTp0tjvg
"My Silver Dollar Man" – from MARKED WOMAN (starring Bette Davis, 1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJMuY8aKFV8
ARE WE THERE YET? — At the Contemporary Jewish Museum, March 31st – July 31st
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=113077
"PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI" – Final Performance, April 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112894
KILLER QUEEN – The Story of "Paco the Pink Pounder"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112730
“CALIENTE” – Opens Tonight, 3/10, at Teatro ZinZanni
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112653
RAGAZZI BOYS CHORUS – Celebrates the Extended American Family, "Made In America"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112644
KURT MASUR – Conducts the SF Symphony in All–Mendelssohn Concert, 3/10–12
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=112263
FLORAL DESIGNER NATASHA LISITSA – Creating the Fantastical in the Wilsey Court for “Bouquets To Art 2011″
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111892
EDITOR'S CHOICE — HÉLÈNE RENAUT, Vinyl Release Celebration at Cafe du Nord, 3/7
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111697
ZHENG CAO – A Conversation with A Miracle Artist
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=111219
MELODY MOORE – Soprano shines in SF Ballet’s “Nanna’s Lied”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=110816
MARNIE BRECKENRIDGE – An Interview with “La Princesse” of Philip Glass’ Orphée
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=109326
SF BALLET –Program 4, All Tchaikovsky
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=110251
ODC THEATER – Presents Sarah Michelson and Richard Maxwell's "Devotion"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=109708
AVENUE Q – A Totally Fabulous Place To Be
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108981
ZUBIN MEHTA & THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC – At Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108853
ROTHKO CHAPEL and MOZART’S REQUIEM – SF Symphony and Chorus, 2/23—2/26
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108820
ORPHÉE – Ensemble Parallèle Presents SF Premiere of Opera by Philip Glass
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108569
SCHWABACHER DEBUT RECITALS – Begins February 20th at Temple Emanu-El
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108484
CATS — Returns to San Francisco, May 5th – 15th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108256
CONSTANTINE MAROULIS – Comes to the Curran Theatre in “Rock of Ages”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108426
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT – Best Picture Nominee Cast Donates To On-line Charity Auction
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108226
DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY – This Sunday at Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=108093
MARC HUESTIS PRESENTS – Lesley Ann Warren, Valentine's Day At The Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107913
EDITORIAL – A confession about ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107690
PULP FASHION: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave at the Legion of Honor
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107453
YURI POSSOKHOV'S RAkU — Stunning World Premiere At San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=107256
PROGRAM 2 – Opens Tonight At San Francisco Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106942
CLYBOURNE PARK – A Bright Debut for Director Jonathan Moscone at A.C.T.
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106753
THE RITE – Right into the trash
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106465
NOIR CITY 9 — Festival closes today at the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=106265
GISELLE – And the Legend of the Wilis
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=105461
COMPANY C CONTEMPORARY BALLET – Opens 9th Season
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104823
GISELLE – Opens SF Ballet's 78th Season, 1/29/11
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99745
“NUREMBURG: It’s Lesson For Today” – Rare Documentary Restored
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104677
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA – Opens September 9th with with Iréne Theorin as “Turandot”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104443
PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – Thrillpeddlers Extends Hit Show Through April 9th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104310
BUDRUS – A Documentary on uniting Palestinians and Israelis
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=104134
NADJA SALERNO-SONNENBERG – and New Century Chamber Orchestra Announce February 2011 Tour
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103892
LORRAINE HUNT LIEBERSON – Featured Artist On Philharmonia Baroque's New Recording Label
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103202
CAMERON CARPENTER – Organist signs with CAMI Music and Konzertdirektion Schmid
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102415
THE ELIXIR OF LOVE FOR FAMILIES (The Movie) – Free Screenings At The Herbst
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=103120
BEETHOVEN – A Two-Week Gig At San Francisco Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102789
ASIAN ART MUSEUM – Proposed financial agreement provides long term stable financing
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102738
2ND ANNUAL GERMAN GEMS – Comes to the Castro Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102599
PIANIST HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD – This Week with the SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=102180
FILM NOIR FESTIVAL – At the Castro Theatre, 1/21–30
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101857
THE PALACE OF FINE ARTS – Opening Celebration, January 14th
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=101597
A Conversation with Elza van den Heever
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=99268
HEART OF A SOLDIER – SF Opera Commissions New Work
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=98518
ARTHUR SZYK: Miniature Paintings and Modern Illuminations
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97709
SF SYMPHONY – Announces 2011/12 Centennial Celebration
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97495
I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS – What were they smoking?
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=97281
SHREK THE MUSICAL – Ogres and Freaks and Spells, “Oh, my!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96975
THE BLACK SWAN – Don’t Save The Drippings
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=96580
CD: MAHLER’S “Songs With Orchestra” – SF Symphony Completes Mahler Recording Project
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95840
YIGIT PURA – Local Pastry Chef Wins Bravo’s “Top Chef Just Desserts”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95774
GENIUS WITHIN: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95683
KARITA MATTILA – “Viva To The Diva!”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=95163
CLUB FOOT ORCHESTRA – A Conversation with Richard Marriot
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94863
ELZA VAN DEN HEEVER – Performs Strauss’ Four Last Songs with SF Symphony
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94646
TIMOTHY SEELIG – Takes His Baton To SF Gay Men’s Chorus
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94577
RECLAIMED: Paintings From The Collection of Jacques Goudstikker
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=94007
WEST SIDE STORY – Most of it, anyway
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93786
PLÁCIDO DOMINGO – An Interview with the Tenor turned Baritone for “Cyrano”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=93275
SCHEHERAZADE – A Spectacular Opening Night for Alonzo King Lines Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=92361
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – World Premiere of Five Shakespeare Sonnets, November 11–13
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=91632
Dr. ELISA STEPHENS – My Visit with the President
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=90791
TENOR RAMÓN VARGAS – A Worthy “Werther” At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88856
AÏDA – Spectacular Opening Night At San Francisco Opera
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88247
JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA – Now At The Victoria Theatre
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=88014
DREAMGIRLS – High Gloss and Not Much Soul
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86316
CUBAN BALLET – An Interview with Octavio Roca
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=86049
A Look At "Giselle" with Ballerina Lorena Feijóo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-a6Oa-0j4
DOLORA ZAJICK – Internationally Acclaimed Mezzo To Receive Merola Distinguished Alumni Award
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=85363
BACH & FRIENDS – West Coast Premiere At The Kabuki, 7/14
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=80577
FROM BEGINNING TO END – At the Castro Theatre, FRAMELINE34
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=78854
SABINA ALLEMANN – Former SF Ballet Ballerina Returns In A.C.T.'s "The Tosca Project"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76516
CD/DVD Release: CAMERON LIVE! – Organist Cameron Carpenter
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76093
THE RUFFATTI ORGAN & CAMERON CARPENTER at DAVIES HALL
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=76169
JEANETTE MacDONALD – Hollywood Diva Remembered at the War Memorial Opera House
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=75637
AMANDA McBROOM – A rose for new CD, "CHANSON"
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68879
CAMERON CARPENTER – Stellar Organist Returns to San Francisco
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=68311
HANDEL'S "ORLANDO" – An Interview with Conductor Nicholas McGagen
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=67774
CAMERON CARPENTER – At Davies Symphony Hall
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=64126
PEARLS OVER SHANGHAI – An Interview with Russell Blackwood
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=63625
PIANIST MISHA DICHTER – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=59695
ZUILL BAILEY – A Conversation
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=58241
DAVID PERRY – On the “Dos and Don’ts of Social Media”
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56487
NATHAN GUNN – Sings Schubert's Die Schöne Müllerin
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=56056
CAMINOS FLAMENCOS – A Conversation with Yaelisa
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51761
A CONVERSATION WITH LUCIE ARNAZ – This Week At The Rrazz Room
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=51605
JANE MONHEIT – This Sunday At The Empire Ballroom
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=48083
DIANE BAKER – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=32007
CAMERON CARPENTER – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=24462
AT LAST! – ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY – An Interview with Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=27122
A Conversation with Ruben Martin Cintas, Principal Dancer with SF Ballet
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=22107
Best regards,
Seán Martinfield
http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?cat=65
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Answers by Expert:
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
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