Unit 5: Rehearsing for Performance

Little Shop Of Horrors

Synopsis

Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical , by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman , about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shops of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman . The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll,doo-wop  and early Motown , includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour".

sourced from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Shop_of_Horrors_(musical)#1983_West_End

I did not have a major role, I played one of the dental nurses. Look at the clip above.

In the rehearsal process I learnt all the songs over the duration of the rehearsal period  so that I could sing them on and off stage.

I help with the set as well as costumes by going to get the dresses for the rosettes and other tasks, painting and wallpapering the set and putting down tiles.


Avenue Q

Avenue Q is an American musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx , who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty  and the show was directed by Jason Moore . Avenue Q is an "autobiographical and biographical" coming-of-age parable, addressing and satirising the issues and anxieties associated with entering adulthood. Its characters lament that as children, they were assured by their parents, and by children's television programs such as PBS's Sesame Street , that they were "special" and "could do anything"; but as adults, they have discovered to their surprise and dismay that in the real world their options are limited, and they are no more "special" than anyone else. The musical is notable for the use of puppets, animated by unconcealed puppeteers, alongside human actors.

Originally conceived as a television series, the show was developed as a stage production at the 2002 National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut . It opened Off- Broadway  in March 2003, co-produced by The New Group  and the Vineyard Theatre , and transferred to Broadway  in July 2003 where it won three Tony Awards , including Best Musical , and spawned Las Vegas and West End  productions, two national tours, and a variety of international productions.

With 2,534 performances, Avenue Q ranks 23rd on the list of longest running shows in Broadway history. The show ended its Broadway run on September 13, 2009, and then reopened Off-Broadway at New World Stages  in October 2009.

Sourced from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_Q

Avenue Q's Website is jam packed with info

The avenue Q website http://www.avenueqthemusical.co.uk/#/home/

Although I did not have a role it was very fun rehearsing for Avenue Q because of the comedy factor and the amazing catchey songs, during the rehearsal period I learnt all the songs nesercery, and nearer to the show practiced with a puppet for one of the songs, I also helped with the set by painting and wallpapering.

Here two of the amazing songs.

Singing Technique 4

Evaluation of the Cabaret 

I felt that the Cabaret with my class went very well. My solo Liner Eder's adaptation of I Don Quixote Man of La Mancha, went very well. I think I sang the song well, my only downfall was that I could no longer hit the amazing high notes at the time that I was able to do with such ease a year and a half earlier, which disappointed me.

I felt that a few of our ensamble songs needed more practice as we only learned some of the lyrics on the day, so therefore it wasn't as good as it could have been. Here's Linder Eder singing the song and a picture of myself singing the song, and a picture of me and my class after the performance:

Singing Technique 3

Setting targets 

Setting targets is essential for the development of my voice, and if you want to improve any skill over time.  The best targets are SMART ones:

I have set myself some targets for the Easter holidays:

1. Working on vocal range to get to the stage that I was at last year as I have ever so slightly dropped a bit.

2. Working on breath control. I personally need to work on this as I have been ill recently, my breath control is not as good as it previously was, also with my asthma being worse, now I need to learn how to control my breath whilst singing, so that no issues occur.

Choosing appropriate technical exercises 

Technical exercises help you improve your tone and technique. It is important to choose the right exercises for yourself so that you don't injure your voice, make sure that the exercises you choose sit in your vocal range and are comfortable to do, use Shelley Kristen or even use YouTube.  Here are some of Shelley Kristen's exercises and some that are for my own vocal range.

Under taking a regular practice regime 

Holiday practice regime 

1. Humming - to warm up voice as soon as i get up.

2. Scales and Arpeggios - for vocal range 

3. Manyya - for breath control 

4. Hey u exercise - for projection 

5. 3-4 Solo songs - to practice and to be off book 

6. Any group songs - so that I can be off book and know what I'm doing so that I can sing as an ensemble.

then repeat in the late evening. 

Term time practice regime

1. Humming- to warm up voice as soon as i get up.

2. Scales and Arpeggios- for vocal range 

3. Manyya- for breath control 

4. Hey u exercise- for projection 

then in the evening when home

1. Humming - to warm up voice as soon as i get up.

2. Scales and Arpeggios - for vocal range 

3. Manyya - for breath control 

4. Hey u exercise - for projection 

5. 3-4 Solo songs - to practice and to be off book 

6. Any group songs - so that I can be off book and know what I'm doing so that I can sing as an ensemble.

7. Sight reading exercises - to keep in time with music 

8. Sight singing exercises - to practice singing back a phrases 

Reviewing progress

Reviewing progress is an essential last stage in improving a skill. I have made great progress over the lasts few months with voice control eg. with breath and range as well as projection (what has been a great challenge as I am softly spoken) and diction and pronunciation whilst singing so that now I'm understood better.

Singing Technique 2

The Development Of Tone

Expressing your emotions through your tone of voice is really important in singing. My development of tone has improved greatly over the past few months, by using the Shelley Kristen exercises
and building up the strength of my voice this has improved the development of tone.  Shelley Kristen has a wide range of vocal exercises that help improve different elements of your voice. For instance,
-ng placement helps the development of the general tone of your voice.

Singing Technique 1

The vocal folds, also known commonly as vocal cords or voice reeds, are composed of twin infoldings of mucous membrane stretched horizontally, from back to front, across the larynx. They vibrate, modulating the flow of air being expelled from the lungs during phonation.

Open during inhalation, closed when holding one's breath, and vibrating speech or singing (oscillating 440 times per second when singing A above middle C), the folds are controlled via the vagus nerve. They are white because of scant blood circulation.
for 

( sourced from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_folds )

Posture diagram

It is important to warm up your voice before you begin singing a song. We do this by using vocal warm ups and exercises like diaphragm kicks, voice placement, range, scales, lip and tongue trills, sirens and kazoos and humming.  You also need to make sure that you have good posture and breath deeply.



For the past couple of week i have been preparing for my cabaret, to warm up my voice I used the Shelley Kristen warm-up CD every morning, and then went through the song I'm performing for the cabaret, Don Quixote Man of La Mancha. As well as this I have been preparing for our showcase with the first year Musical Theatre class, as well as going through songs and dances with a friend at my house.