[Purple8]

Is Madame de la Grande Bouche a good part in the stage musical??

[Beagle On Stage]

Yes. Like Babette, the size of her role has been increased quite a bit from the movie. She has a lot more stage time, her character has more background (she used to be a celebrated opera singer), and she has a verse-long solo in "Human Again."

[broadwaybelle22]

She is a good part and, as Beagle on Stage said, has much more of a character in the broadway version. She also has more singing parts in the show than in the movie.

[Theatregeeke]

It's a really fun part to play-I should know, I'm doing it right now. She a really over the top diva. Plus I love the part in the battle scene when I come out in a viking helmet to hit me high G. The only downside is that your costume will most likely be huge-I know mine is.

[-ching.ho-]

In the battle scene, when the Wardrobe sung at me I had to ran off stage screaming and of course being Lefou, I had to fall down.

[Theatregeeke]

When I do it to our Lefou he actually jumps off the stage and runs into the audience. They always love that.

[Savoyard]

Madame de la Grande Bouche is a fantastic character, although I didn't feel like our director really worked enough out of either of the actresses who portrayed her. They wound up coming across a little too passive. The character is supposed to be a former opera diva, for goodness sake! Ours just weren't battleaxe-ish enough for my tastes, I guess. And then the battle scene with Lefou was always kind of messed up because the Mrs. Potts and Chip timing often got off.

It's definitely a role you can have a lot of fun with. Of course, if you have my luck, you'd audition for Madame and wind up with Belle or something. I auditioned for Cogsworth and only Cogsworth, and wound up as Gaston. They didn't even let me read for Cogsworth after hearing me sing. Straight on to Gaston lines.

[piratee7]

I'm kind of shy and quiet, but I was cast as the wardrobe. Any help on how to be more "prima donna" like and "open" as my director said? Thanks, it was kind of spur of the moment, i moved from milkmaid to wardrobe. Thanks a lot, and I'm sorry that i double posted my request for a song, I know that offended a lot of people.

Thank you

[Theatregeeke]

This may sound stupid, but watch the movie of the phantom of the opera for ideas. Carlotta is the ultimate prima donna.
Remeber to just have fun with it. Everything is about you.

[piratee7]

Since she is a former opera star, i was thinking of singing her "Human Again" solo very operatically, but the one in the cast recording doesn't really do that. What do you think? Also, does she usually sing the "ha" part (the really colorful part after this next line) in Be our Guest when the cast is saying "then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest"?

Thank you!

[Chevstriss]

[MademoiselleMusicals]

[OYPBelle]

I had fun playing the role. The girl who played Babette wasn't about to give the ha part to me so I didn't get to sing it even though it fits the Wardrobe better.

[jimbothecrab]

madame is hilarious, just have fun with it. I know two girls that have played this hilarious role and both are wonderful. As for the descant, we had a chorus girl sing it because our babette really wasn't that high of a soprano, but she was hilarious![/quote]

[piratee7]

I wasn't sure if this should go under the Madame part, because it is pretty general. My stomach doesn't expand well when I'm worrying about hitting someone with my costume. How can I sing with my diaphragm and loosen up during my solo? I sound fine (i think) with everybody else singing with me, but I get so confused with the dance steps while holding on to the costume (it weighs something like 40 pounds) and breathing. I always forget to breathe with my diaphragm then I run out of breath. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[ILoveToSing2010]

i love her she is funny

[JustCrew]

Does anyone have suggestions for a good audition song for seeking the part of Madame de la Grand Bouche? Something that would show off a big operatic voice that suits Madame's range, something suitably comic or upbeat, over-the-top, diva-ish? Thanks for any input.

[LisaKitty]

[Chevstriss]

This Place is Mine from Yeston's Phantom

[JustCrew]

LisaKitty and Chevstriss, thanks for these superb suggestions!