purple9

Desperate for advise! My son has the leading role in a community theater production that opens tonight. The role is vocally strenuos and as of last night he was really feeling the strain. Besides vocal rest & tea does anyone have any advise?? There is no undrestudy!
Thanks!

anne1244

Systemic hydration; total vocal rest; and STEAM! A personal steamer is great but you can use the pot with just boiled water and a towel over your head and the pot. Steam 5-10 minutes several times a day. Good luck!

cartera45

Is he sick or has he lost his voice due to overuse and strain? If it is the latter, then he needs to figure out why this is happening and make changes to avoid it.

I agree with steaming and complete vocal rest. However, there is no way of knowing if the cords are swollen and inflamed, and if they are, he shouldn't sing at all.

If he is auditioning this fall and winter, he needs to really be careful and try to get to the bottom of why he has lost his voice - unless he has a virus of some sort. This is why it is often the best choice not to participate in theater productions during audition season. I know it's hard for these kids to go a semester - or even two - without performing but the risk can be great when important auditions are around the corner.

Good luck to him. I know it is frustrating.

anothermom-w-q

Purple- I bumped an old thread with important information. I wish him the best of luck. It is a difficult position to be in, when people are counting on you and it might be best for you not to sing.

classicalbk

I don't know if this is the case here but I've seen where directors demand an all out performance every night before opening. A friend of mine makes a point of going full out two weeks in advance, but then she holds WAY back during "crunch" week. Then she has all sorts of voice for the final dress rehearsal. Some directors really get annoyed if you hold back but just like a dancer, it's important to listen to your body. (Does this happen at the university level or is it an issue with community/high school theatre?)

purple9

It was a case of pushing during crunch week. He was supposed to be on vocal rest then was asked to MC the school homecoming pep rally ......and he did!! Boy did he learn a lesson. I think teens think that there bodies & voices are indestructible. It was a great lesson at a good time in his career. Now he knows that his "body is his instrument" and he needs to take care of it. He is playing Pippin - which is a voacally strenuos role. He did beautiful did not miss a note . 4 more performance to go! Thanks for all your ideas....they worked.

cartera45

Glad he got through it - whew! It will be a good lesson learned if he treats his voice with more care in the future. It should be a lesson to the director too - 5 performances with no understudy? Why?