42nd street

music is life · 42nd street

Hey everybody!

My audition isn't for some time, but I thought might as well be prepared for the role. So anyways, this is a high school musical and I was wondering how other high schools did their musical. Like, does it matter if you know how to tap dance really well? Does that really affect what role you get? And also, I have heard the soundtrack and I was also wondering does Dorothy Brock really sound that old-fashioned in high school musicals?

Thanks!

TripleThreat86

I did 42nd Street my junior year and I'm probably not the best to give advice (seeing that our show was TERRIBLE!). However, I am doing the show again professionally this summer and can tell you the basic breakdown. If you are a chorus member, there can be some pretty heavy dance numbers--42nd Street, Lullaby of Broadway, You're Getting to be a Habit with Me, We're in the Money, etc. However, Dorothy and Julian don't do any dancing at all. There are also two other characters (Bert and some girl whose name escapes me...) also do no dancing. Peggy Sawyer needs to be able to sing, dance, and "not dance," which can sometimes be even harder. All of the female leads (Dorothy, Peggy, and nameless girl) sing a great deal and, yes, Dorothy should sound older because she is supposed to be the older fading star while Peggy is the new up-and-coming star. There are a few minor roles, like Annie, who don't do much but have a few lines a sing a little bit. As far as guys, Andy Lee has to dance heavily--which makes sense... he's the choreographer. Pat doesn't sing or dance really, Julian must sing a lot (strong baritone) but no dancing, Bert has to sing and move well, Billy must sing and dance A LOT (a well-trained dancing high tenor... tough role), and one other guy (also whose name escapes me) doesn't do much either. The harder roles in this show as far as singing and dancing are the chorus, so don't feel bad if that's where you were to end up-- it's still a GREAT role!

Hope this all helps. I know its jumbled and I probably didn't answer any of your questions, but hopefully you can get something out of it. If you have any other questions, shoot me a message-- I'll have the script on me in mid-June and can answer any other questions in more detail. Break a leg!

music is life

Thanks! That helped a lot!!

Is the nameless girl you're talking about Maggie Jones, one of the writers?

cabaretfreak

The writer girl does some dancing, just not a ton

music is life

Could someone maybe tell me the vocal ranges for the female roles, and if they need to know how to belt or not. Somebody told me that some of the singers have to sing brassy. Could someone tell me which ones do?

Thank you!

bell

im doing 42nd street right now and its soooo much fun!!! im doing it at a childrens theatre with kids frum 8-18. we all took a tap dancing class before auditions with the choreographer. its a huge dance show, so tap was important for us, but since its a high school i dunno. find out if your gonna have to tap at auditions, and if so maybe find someone in your town that could teach you some basic steps.

............................................................................................

peggy-soprano....dorthy-alto....maggie-alto(those r the girl leads)
.......................................................................................
the chorus girls, anythime annie, lorraine,phyliss, etc. have pretty heavy tapping in the show. peggy and maggie do also. dorthy doesnt dance as much however.

jeckyll · 42nd street

hi!i am going for billy lawlor in this show. I have singing auditions monday dance tuesday and callbacks wed. I am a very high tenor and a super super strong dancer. However I dont do tap but i have been catching on quick,. i have trouble singing on tempo and last yr didnt get the elad due to that however my teacher watns me to get the lead he said but i ened to work on it. when i sing with the band i fal lapart. this yr i think im over htat fear but have yet to practice iwth any piano sicne its an "unfair" advantage. I am practicing with a vocal coach an hr before my audition on monday. i am singing dames. DOes anybody have the script or scenes of billy's ? itd be a great help. also netips on bill yteh demand of the role, character etc.....

EricaRose13

My high school is doing 42nd Street too! and we just got cast a few weeks ago. I'm actually a soprano with a strong mix belt and a very low range, but I do tend to sound a little bit older, and I was cast as Dorothy. If I was a strong tapper I probably would've been up for Peggy because I'm also petite, but while I can tap, I only know what I know from a few ensemble roles in tap shows here and there, but I'm not a seasoned tapper. Peggy and Dorothy should be able to belt and have powerful voices. Maggie also has to sound older (because she is older, she's kind of a motherly figure to the lead dancer girls) and it's usually preferred that Maggie taps for "Go into your Dance" The Maggie in our production doesn't tap at all but she's very good for the part vocally and dramatically, so it really just depends. But Peggy really has to be a great tapper and singer.

crluvalotbear

i think bar none, the best parts in that show are the chorus people--- great songs, great dancing. screw having a solo! waaay more fun.

music is life	42nd street Hey everybody! My audition isn't for some time, but I thought might as well be prepared for the role. So anyways, this is a high school musical and I was wondering how other high schools did their musical. Like, does it matter if you know how to tap dance really well? Does that really affect what role you get? And also, I have heard the soundtrack and I was also wondering does Dorothy Brock really sound that old-fashioned in high school musicals? Thanks!
TripleThreat86	I did 42nd Street my junior year and I'm probably not the best to give advice (seeing that our show was TERRIBLE!). However, I am doing the show again professionally this summer and can tell you the basic breakdown. If you are a chorus member, there can be some pretty heavy dance numbers--42nd Street, Lullaby of Broadway, You're Getting to be a Habit with Me, We're in the Money, etc. However, Dorothy and Julian don't do any dancing at all. There are also two other characters (Bert and some girl whose name escapes me...) also do no dancing. Peggy Sawyer needs to be able to sing, dance, and "not dance," which can sometimes be even harder. All of the female leads (Dorothy, Peggy, and nameless girl) sing a great deal and, yes, Dorothy should sound older because she is supposed to be the older fading star while Peggy is the new up-and-coming star. There are a few minor roles, like Annie, who don't do much but have a few lines a sing a little bit. As far as guys, Andy Lee has to dance heavily--which makes sense... he's the choreographer. Pat doesn't sing or dance really, Julian must sing a lot (strong baritone) but no dancing, Bert has to sing and move well, Billy must sing and dance A LOT (a well-trained dancing high tenor... tough role), and one other guy (also whose name escapes me) doesn't do much either. The harder roles in this show as far as singing and dancing are the chorus, so don't feel bad if that's where you were to end up-- it's still a GREAT role! Hope this all helps. I know its jumbled and I probably didn't answer any of your questions, but hopefully you can get something out of it. If you have any other questions, shoot me a message-- I'll have the script on me in mid-June and can answer any other questions in more detail. Break a leg!
music is life	Thanks! That helped a lot!! Is the nameless girl you're talking about Maggie Jones, one of the writers?
cabaretfreak	The writer girl does some dancing, just not a ton
music is life	Could someone maybe tell me the vocal ranges for the female roles, and if they need to know how to belt or not. Somebody told me that some of the singers have to sing brassy. Could someone tell me which ones do? Thank you!
bell	im doing 42nd street right now and its soooo much fun!!! im doing it at a childrens theatre with kids frum 8-18. we all took a tap dancing class before auditions with the choreographer. its a huge dance show, so tap was important for us, but since its a high school i dunno. find out if your gonna have to tap at auditions, and if so maybe find someone in your town that could teach you some basic steps. ............................................................................................ peggy-soprano....dorthy-alto....maggie-alto(those r the girl leads) ....................................................................................... the chorus girls, anythime annie, lorraine,phyliss, etc. have pretty heavy tapping in the show. peggy and maggie do also. dorthy doesnt dance as much however.
jeckyll	42nd street hi!i am going for billy lawlor in this show. I have singing auditions monday dance tuesday and callbacks wed. I am a very high tenor and a super super strong dancer. However I dont do tap but i have been catching on quick,. i have trouble singing on tempo and last yr didnt get the elad due to that however my teacher watns me to get the lead he said but i ened to work on it. when i sing with the band i fal lapart. this yr i think im over htat fear but have yet to practice iwth any piano sicne its an "unfair" advantage. I am practicing with a vocal coach an hr before my audition on monday. i am singing dames. DOes anybody have the script or scenes of billy's ? itd be a great help. also netips on bill yteh demand of the role, character etc.....
EricaRose13	My high school is doing 42nd Street too! and we just got cast a few weeks ago. I'm actually a soprano with a strong mix belt and a very low range, but I do tend to sound a little bit older, and I was cast as Dorothy. If I was a strong tapper I probably would've been up for Peggy because I'm also petite, but while I can tap, I only know what I know from a few ensemble roles in tap shows here and there, but I'm not a seasoned tapper. Peggy and Dorothy should be able to belt and have powerful voices. Maggie also has to sound older (because she is older, she's kind of a motherly figure to the lead dancer girls) and it's usually preferred that Maggie taps for "Go into your Dance" The Maggie in our production doesn't tap at all but she's very good for the part vocally and dramatically, so it really just depends. But Peggy really has to be a great tapper and singer.
crluvalotbear	i think bar none, the best parts in that show are the chorus people--- great songs, great dancing. screw having a solo! waaay more fun.

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42nd street

42nd street