<p>Hey friends! My names Brian, and I'm interested in a career in musical theater (which I'm assuming you know, as the board I'm commenting on....)
Anyway, I have a rather deep voice. I am a bass 2 in my all state chorus, as I was in my all south chorus. My range is a little over two octaves, but definitely on the lower scale.
In any case, are my chances shot in musical theater because I've been (sorry for the cliched term) "hitched" with my voice? I know broadway and musicals in general adore tenors, and I don't think I could ever hit those notes.
Does anyone have advice for me? Perhaps shows for me to check out? I'm not sure, I want this career, but I don't know what my chances are.</p>
<p>My son is currently an All State bass 2 as well (soph in HS). He has been told that his upper range will improve as he matures. He has been working with a great voice teacher for the past year and we definitely see a difference. </p>
<p>That being said, we’ve been told by several MT schools (including the one my D attends) that they are always looking for strong baritones, since they are rarer than tenors. You have an advantage if you “look” like a baritone (which my son does not). You will probably be playing a lot of villains and old men. </p>
<p>My son is considering schools in which he will get strong voice training (BM schools), so that he can make a decision whether to go into MT or classical for grad school. As a bass/baritone who looks young, we know that he will need to attend graduate school before he is employable. </p>
<p>Best luck following your dream and pray for lots of “golden age” revivals on Broadway!</p>
<p>Brian - I’ve said this before and I’m saying again, as a bass you will be highly sought after when you audition for college programs. A good bass is hard to find these days! I only say this because I know it to be absolutely true. There have been many discussions on these boards about “type” and how programs are often looking to fill the stable with certain types. A good bass is decidedly one of those types that is hard to get. I do not know if you can act or dance - but your vocal range is an asset. Now, when it comes to casting - the bass often lands you in the chorus - but, it depends on what shows your school chooses. If you are doing Jesus Chris Superstar - you are a sure-in for the High Priest! Good luck in your future!</p>
<p>Thanks guys 
That does make me feel better! Im not too childish looking, haha, but I can grow a full beard which does make me look about twice my age! Why do I feel like that’s a silly thing tto be happy about!?! I just use my vocal director of my chorus at my high school as my vocal teacher, although I don’t get to work on range with him. I don’t really know where id go for true vocal training, and even if its worth it going into my senior year.
I like to hope I can act and dance :). I was recently Edna in Hairspray (favorite.part.EVER) and im in a senior company dance group. I wouldn’t even mind being a background singer in a ppopular musical, but if I could end up on a national tour or some really big gig, id find that my dream came true! so, what you said made me feel great! thanks guys!</p>
<p>A bass. That is auditioning for a MT program. Oh my. You will have no issues at all in terms of your vocal range.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, that’s a real confidence booster! I don’t know if I should end up auditioning though. Im worried about my song selection, (which I have none. Lol!) Vocal range (although your comments make me feel better!) As well as my dance skills. Do you guys know of anyone that’s started this late in the game, like the end of their junior year, and have still made it into MT programs? This has always been a dream of mine to become a proffesional musical theater actor, and you guys make me feel like its an actual possibility! Thanks so much! :)</p>
<p>First, I will tell you the same thing I tell all potential theatre performers. If you aren’t sure, don’t go into theatre. If you can do something else and be happy, then by all means do something else. It isn’t that you can’t continue to do theatre - there are some really strong semi-professional and community theatres in the world. Use those as an outlet. </p>
<p>If you cannot envision doing anything but theatre for a living, then pursue it. Don’t concern yourself with “the competition.” Don’t even think about your high school resume. Nobody cares, it means so very little. Speaking for my own program, we do not even consider resume in the decision process. </p>
<p>I don’t care if you found theatre yesterday. I care about your passion, your ability to train, your raw talent. My job is to train you, your job is to work your butt off for four years to become as polished as you possibly can be. </p>
<p>You have a few months to find a repertoire that works for you and for your voice. Find a trusted individual to help you with song selection. Make sure the songs are from the world of theatre, and find one that is a ballad (there are a ton of those for those with a low range - Look up Howard Keel). </p>
<p>You aren’t starting late in the game at all. You are starting when it is right for you to start. Don’t read these boards and assume everyone came to theatre at the age of three and has been training ever since. One of the most fantastic actors I know has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry. So don’t sweat it. </p>
<p>If I were to give you one piece of advice. Read. Read every play you can get your hands on. Read every day. You either love the literature, or you’ll not spend more than a couple of years doing this for a living. If you love performing, you’ll be fine as long as you are performing. But if you love the theatre, you’ll be fine all the time. Don’t become a performer, become an artist. Bring something beyond a nice set of pipes or a lovely jete’ and you’ll go much further.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>A bass. That is auditioning for a MT program. Oh my.</p>
<p>kjgc is absolutely right. Colleges will be interested. But his advice is also right on the mark. You have work to do this summer. Good luck!</p>
<p>It’s not that I can’t do anything else but theater, it’s that I don’t WANT to do anything else but theater. (Which, in effect, I guess is the same thing!) I will look into audition songs asap! I actually just sang a song from Les Mis for my chorus concert (The name is escaping me, but it begins "On this page, I write my last confession…) which I feel showcased my voice fairly well! I’ll also look into the name you mentioned kjgc! Do you have any suggestions for some good plays to read and check out? I’ve read a couple of classics, (i.e. Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, The Importance of Being Earnest) and although I’m not a huge Shakespeare fan, I appreciate the satires and dramatics in the majority of his plays. So, like I said, any suggestions?
Thanks doctorjohn! I will certainly get to work right away, perhaps I’ll ask my vocal director if he knows any good bass theater songs!</p>
<p>Very good post from kjgc!</p>
<p>Re: your song from Les Miz – when you are choosing repertoire for your college auditions, remember that most schools would prefer you to stick with characters near your own age. Jean ValJean is an old man when he sings this song, so although it’s a terrific number, it’s not age-appropriate.</p>
<p>Staryulover - You may have already read through these, but just in case, here are a couple of great threads to read through as you begin your audition preparation:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-apply-information-h-s-juniors-seniors.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1057439-audition-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1057439-audition-advice.html</a></p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>There are plenty of songs for bass/baritone - esp anything written before 1970. Take a look at South Pacific, Camelot, Carousel, Man of LaMancha, Oklahoma, etc. But it is very difficult to find age-appropriate materials. Most bass/baritone material is written for older men. My son uses Kansas City (from Oklahoma) for auditions quite a bit, as well as I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight (from Camelot). Newer stuff is a bit trickier – Razzle Dazzle (from Chicago) but it’s a little over used in my opinion. Sondheim has some good baritone songs, but son only uses them when he auditions for a Sondheim show. Apparently, they are too hard for some accompanists. Just keep listening to musical sound tracks and you’ll find songs that fit you.</p>
<p>I’ll throw some bass songs out there…</p>
<p>Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific
Theres No Reason in the World from Milk and Honey
I Will Follow You from Milk and Honey
If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot
Shes My Love from Carnival
Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin from Oklahoma!
Cest Moi from Camelot
Where is the Life of Late I Led? From Kiss Me, Kate</p>
<p>My son was a bass II in all-state chorus and he is pursuing musical theatre as a career. It can be done and there are many beautiful songs for young baritone/Basses.<br>
Her Face from Carnival
Do I Love Her Because She’s Beautiful - Cinderella
Lot of Livin to Do - Bye Bye Birdie
It Takes a lot of Men to Make a Gun from Assassins</p>
<p>Thought this was relevant given Ken’s advice to read every play you can:
[Most</a> important American plays: Overall voting - The Denver Post](<a href=“Most important American plays: Overall voting – The Denver Post”>Most important American plays: Overall voting – The Denver Post)</p>
<p>Ok. I just looked through that list. And there are some great plays on it. There are some I will not understand how they ended up published let alone on a list of the top 200+ plays. :)</p>
<p>But it doesn’t much matter. Shakespeare isn’t easy, but worth it. Just read. Listen to musicals, and read the books. Read the classics and read the contemporary. Pick a list, go to the library, whatever. Time reading scripts isn’t wasted even if it is “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” (How did that make the list?!) The more you know about the literature and history the better prepared you will be.</p>
<p>I knew I should have posted a disclaimer about the rankings ;)</p>
<p>I cannot recommend enough, “The New Broadway song companion : an annotated guide to musical theatre literature by voice type and song style” by David P. DeVenney (I found out about this book from a post by Eve Himelheber in the thread on “Books and Other Resources for MT Students”). The book lists over 700 songs for Bass/Baritone grouped by type (Ballad, Up Tempo, Character, etc.) and will save you hours and hours of time looking for songs. You can check the range for each song quickly and decide if its appropriate or how much of a key change would be required for you to sing it (or if its a “don’t bother”).</p>
<p>As a bass, I can say that there are tons of fun songs and many showstoppers for low voices in the Broadway canon.</p>
<p>Stary, how cool, you were Edna in Hairspray! We did Hairspray too. Do you know what show you’re doing next year (if you were Edna this year, I guess you’re pretty good. You’ll probably be a lead next year too!) I wonder if they choose the shows based on the talent of the kids that will be returning. What show would be great for a deep voice lead?</p>