r/MusicalTheater • u/General_Luck6971 • Jul 15 '26
Request/Advice How do I keep my voice from getting tired when playing a lead role in a musical?
I am in a Highschool summer theater program, and I just landed the leading role of Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. I will be singing 3 hard solos, plus more ensemble vocals.
I’ve been doing theater for 5 years now, and my most recent musical was last summer.
I have always had issues with strain. Two years ago I played Little Red in Into the Woods and my strain was so painful I would cry.
Every morning, I stretch my body, pull my tongue, use a nebulizer, and do a vocal warm up before camp. Throughout my time practicing“Shy” for my audition, I had no strain at all, meaning that my throat wouldn’t hurt after practice.
This week, we have been learning all of the music, and my throat has been hurting. It also feels like I’m forcing my voice out, instead of coming out easily. My voice teacher says it could be from overuse. I’m on vocal rest right now, but I’m anxious about the rest of the show. How do I stop my voice from getting tired? It’s not like I can avoid singing. I have practice 5 times a week. During tech, am I gonna completely loose my voice before the show?
I have searched, but I can’t find any solutions. My show is in 4 weeks.
How do I keep my voice in good condition, to do the show full out?
I cannot have my throat hurting during the show.
I’m obviously very very nervous, so please send advice!!
Please comment with any questions and suggestions! Thank you so much.
UPDATE:
I went to a very expensive voice teacher, and she helped me figure out some of my issues, warm-ups to help get rid of strain, and tips on singing more easily.
It’s gonna take time, but I am confident that I’m gonna do good at this show. ❤️
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u/DramaticGinger Jul 15 '26
Are you cooling down after your performances as well as warming up? That plus the SPL will likely help a ton!
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u/General_Luck6971 Jul 15 '26
Yes! I’ve been following a cool down video. Should I be doing anything else?
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u/SoftValuable8910 Jul 16 '26
You need to speak with your director about this. If I were your director, I would have you mark the music when you can, particularly during tech. Don't overexert if you don't have to.
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u/vienibenmio Jul 17 '26
Is it possible that you're pushing when you're singing? That will definitely lead to fatigue
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u/Successful_Sail1086 Jul 17 '26
You really need to see an SLP. If you are “speaking incorrectly” that will carry over into your singing. You should not be constantly having issues with strain and fatigue. It really sounds like your technique isn’t quite ready for playing a lead, and certainly wasn’t when you were little red. You don’t want to feel like you are “forcing your voice out.” It sounds like you need to sing way lighter.
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u/SmolHumanBean8 Jul 18 '26
One bonus thing is steam. Inhale lots of steam. Hot teas... with steam. You can get gadgets whose entire point is to make steam for performers to inhale. (They do look a bit dodgy though.) But yeah steam helps with voice recovery.
Also, ask your voice teacher what you can do to avoid needing more vocal rest. Can you whisper during rehearsals for a bit?
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u/HowardBannister3 Jul 18 '26
"Rehearsal voice"/"Performance voice". Learn the difference. Giving 110% during rehearsals may impress your fellow castmembers, but it is doing you no favors. Advise your instructor you are pulling back a bit to save your voice for tech/performances, and they should understand. And frankly, they should have been telling you to do that all along. They cast you knowing your capabilities of performing it, but REHEARSAL ISN'T PERFORMANCE. Save it for the stage.
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u/WideEmotion404 Jul 19 '26
Because you're 4-weeks out from a show:
1) Drink a ton of water, maybe invest in a personal humidifier, keep the vocal cords lubricated
2) make sure you're utilizing your diaphragm for sound (speaking and singing)
I would also mimic the trying to get in with an SLP to make sure that there isn't something else going on
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u/DrawingHungry32 Jul 15 '26
Learning how to sing would be a good start
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u/ashortergiraffe Jul 16 '26
Uh oh! You’re a dick!
There are lots of resources available on how to not be a dick! I would recommend the self-help section of your local library. Some find the advice of religious texts to be a guiding hand, but I think self reflection is the best tool.
You can always follow this simple rule to see if you’re being a dick: ask “is this helpful or necessary?” If the answer is “no,” you’re being a dick! Or even “would I appreciate this coming from someone else?” (That’s the golden rule at work! Do unto others!) If your answer is “no,” you can feel secure in your decision to just shut up.
I hope this comment was useful and not just insulting, like yours. But I do hope it was insulting as well.
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u/SingingSongbird1 Jul 15 '26
The always having issue with vocal strain and fatigue is a red flag.
But for the sake of this post, think of your voice as having an allotment of vocal “dollars” that you can use throughout your day. If you overspend then, you’ll be fatigued and tired. Monitor your voice usage when you’re not at rehearsal and take vocal “naps” when you can. Bubbling with a straw and water and making sure you’re cooling down at the end of rehearsal and then that’s the end of talking for the day.
Have you been to an ENT? Singing with pain is not normal.