Hi there.
This is a response to the "young stardom" question.
I matured very early on. At age 11 I was cast in my first semiprofessional
adult musical theatre role -- granted a small one (I was a Boylen Sister in
Annie), but much was expected of me acting-wise and vocally. To explain: by
that time I was already 5'6", and deceiving many directors. In order to fool
them into thinking I was older than my years, I manipulated my voice to
eliminate the so-called vocal chink which plagues so many young girls. Since
I looked like an adult I figured I had to sound like one too or my chances of
getting roles were nil. It worked out really well for me, and I had an
extremely busy performing career for a preteen and teenager. Anyway, after
doing this through middle school and high school, when I got to college my
teacher was appalled at the tension I had built up in my throat, etc. My
upper range was so tight and strained from the many years of heavy singing
with little technique, that she made me do a 180 -- she took away all of my
high notes, and I was not allowed to sing above the staff until my sophomore
year. This was killer for me, because up until then I had been performing
nonstop since I was 9. HOWEVER, this was the best thing she could have done.
Slowly she loosened up my whole voice, eliminated much of the sub-glottal
pressure that I had created, and we have slowly opened up the rest of my
range. By senior year I was allowed to sing C's again, and they finally felt
comfortable.
I do not regret what I did in my youth. The stage experience that I got was
priceless. Performing is more natural to me than ... well, just about
anything! However, last year as I began my masters, I crashed a bit. Too
many years of singing rep too old for me (even in college as a mezzo, I was
asked to do way too much--had I returned to my masters program this year, my
teacher and a few coaches were suggesting that I sing Augusta Tabor in Baby
Doe...I DON'T THINK SO). So, I'm taking a year off now and coming to terms
with my age (I'm only 23, yet sometimes I feel ancient), and taking a break
from the heavy singing that was expected of me in my youth and in school.
Yes, I'm still doing a lot of singing, but it's more on my own terms this
year. I mentioned a few days ago that I got a primarily dancing role in
Forum, and I'm so excited to take it, because I need a few months where I can
give my tired little voice a major rest. It's going to be great, and I hope
to come out of it raring to go!!!
Hope this wasn't too much info!!
Lauren
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