Acting Tips Please!?

Question

I'm a 13 year old girl and the summer theatre that I am going to has just cast parts for the show Seussical the Musical Jr. It's a show that basically combines most of Dr. Seuss's stories. The main story is a romantic tale between Horton the elephant and Gertrude McFuzz the bird. I just recieved the role of Horton. I'm choosing to play the part as a boy, firstly because it makes more sense, but also because this is my 13th play and I really would like to try to pull off a great challange. Can any expirienced actor give me some tips about how I act more like an elephant/boy, make my voice sound less girly without going down the octave (I'm a double soprano (aka very high!)), and any other tips that would help me. Thanks a million.

(ps. My 9 year old brother got the part of JoJo and he would also appreciate advice! He can read music and has a good voice, but this is only his first play!)

(pps. I've done this play before so I know the songs and lines but last time I was just a Who!)

Answer 1

you can look for acting jobs here: hollywood-opportunities(dotcom)

Answer 2

Going down the octave would certainly help, but might also put a lot of unneeded strain on your voice. As for voicing a character like Horton the elephant, it really all depends on how YOU yourself see the character. If you see Horton as a big, lumbering lummox of an elephant, deepen your voice and play it like a big dumb elephant. If you see him as more of a whimsical type of character (think Jim Carrey's portrayal in the film version of Horton Heard a Who!), then play it that way.

As for sounding less girly...being a double soprano it might be difficult, but with work you might be able to pull off dropping in pitch. Even if you can't go down the full octave, at least lowering your pitch a small bit would help. (I don't know this piece of music, but if Horton sings around middle C range, try hopping up to Alto C, rather than keeping your normal soprano C.)

Finally, start watching some people of the male gender. If you're looking to play the character as boyish, watch some of your male classmates. If you want more of an adult version, try watching a father, uncle, or an older friend. Even a late teenager (16-18 range) would be a good model for this.

Lastly, if I'm not mistaken (I THINK I know my Dr. Seuss but I'm not sure :P), Jojo is the little Who that doesn't speak until the very end, correct? If this is different in the musical version, disregard this advice, but it might help if while singing, he starts off at the beginning of the musical rather quiet (but loud enough to be heard by the audience, of course), and increases steadily in volume until the end, where he saves Whoville!

Hope I've been of some help. :D

Answer 3

Don't play the role, be the role. Live in the moment. Focus on your characters feelings, and emotions. That way, you become the character, not a 13 year old girl playing the character. . .

I hope I helped!

Answer 4

become your character think like a boy i guess haha