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  • 1.  Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-22-2018 22:22
    Hi all,

    I have a young lady who will be a senior next year who is a strong, soulful mezzo. She's a great actress and has worked her tush off since Freshman year. She's had meaty roles before, but not starring. I feel like it is her time. I want to pick a musical for next year that will really showcase her.

    Difficult part is I have limited boys (usually about 10-12 each year), and if I'm lucky I'll get one who can actually carry a tune.

    Suggestions?

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    Rachel Snow
    Drama and Technical Theater Teacher
    Alhambra High School
    Alhambra CA
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  • 2.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-23-2018 09:39
    Don't know about the range, but Evita came to my mind.

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    Kati Heintzman
    Thespian Advisor
    Middletown City Schools
    Middletown OH
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-24-2018 11:01
    Two that come to mind immediately, although very different from one another- "Once Upon a Mattress" and "Oliver!". Winifred and Nancy are both dynamic roles, the first comedic and the second dramatic. Both shows provide opportunities for cross-casting. "Mattress" really only has one legit singing role for a male (Sir Harry). Most of "Oliver!"'s singing roles require character voices. And Oliver and Dodger, as well as all of Fagin's boys, could be played by women. Good box office draws, too.

    Michael Bergman

    "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time" 
    ― Thomas Merton









    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-23-2018 10:04
    ​An old one, but a great female lead is "Call Me Madam".

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    Ellen Di Filippo
    Tracy CA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-24-2018 05:51
    Hello, Dolly?

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    Holly Thompson
    Worthington OH
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-24-2018 15:54
    Most of the musicals that feature scores for lower female singers are going to be old-fashioned:
     Bells are ringing
    Wonderful town
    Applause
    Woman of the year
    cabaret
    coco
    annie get your gun ( or anything Ethel  Merman )
    Basically anything that starred Lauren Bacall, angela Lansbury, Judy holiday, or a variety of movie stars back in the 50s to 70s will work. 
     Same with shows that starred Chita Rivera or Gwen Verdon The Apple Tree might work too -  and technically you need very few guys for it 
     The others listed above work as well! 

     If you go to musicals101.com it will give you a huge list of musicals that you can look at -it's a fantastic resource


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    Brandon Becker
    Denver CO
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-26-2018 00:54
    We did Applause the year Bacall died and we did Annie Get Your Gun a few years before that. 2 of my best!

    Maria Stadtmueller

    Sent from my iPhone
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    One Cup of This (Before Bed) Burns Belly Fat Like Crazy!
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  • 8.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 03-28-2018 21:08
    Once Upon a Mattress.  We did it this fall and Winifred and Aggravain were both played by girl with mezzo or alto ranges.  Aggravain is a bigger role than most people realize, and if you have a strong comedic actor, she can absolutely steal the show - ours did.

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    Laura Steenson
    Theatre Director
    Reynolds High School
    Troutdale OR
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Musicals to Showcase Mezzo

    Posted 04-02-2018 10:10
    It's not the starring role, but Marmee in Little Women has some AMAZING songs, and she's a mezzo. That show is great as well when you have limited option as far as men go, and it highlights each part really well.

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    Tiffany Garner

    American Leadership Academy Gilbert Arizona
    Orem UT
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    Original Message


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