Singing in Musical Theatre

What does it take to be a musical theatre performer? What kind of training is required to do eight shows a weekacting, dancing, and singing in a wide variety of vocal styles? This insider's look into the unique demands of musical theatre performance establishes connecting links between voice training for the singer and drama school training for the actor. By reading these revealing interviews, performers in every area of theatre can: — Discover what it takes to go from a first lesson to a solid professional techniqueConsider the requirements for singers in musical theatre today, how they have changed, and where they are going — See how different teachers approach six aspects of voice training: alignment, breathing, range resonance, articulation, and connection Understand the interconnectedness of musical theatre and theatre voice. A foreword by leading Australian actor Angela Punch McGregor personalizes the connective links among trainings as she describes her preparation for Sunset Boulevard. A must-read for anyone who is serious about voice and the theatre.Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.

Joan Melton is a pioneer in the integration of singing techniques and voice training for the actor. She is one of the few voice professionals in the world with a firm grasp of both theatre voice and singing training. A Master Teacher of the Fitzmaurice approach to theatre voice training, she lectures internationally and has taught at leading drama and music centers in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. She initiated and developed the Voice/Movement program (1996-2006) for the Department of Theatre and Dance at California State University, Fullerton, and is a published author and composer with performance credits in theatre, opera, television, and voiceover. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London, Melton holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The author, with Kenneth Tom, PhD, of the groundbreaking book, One Voice: Integrating Singing Technique and Theatre Voice Training (Heinemann), Melton is currently based in NYC.