Vocal Endurance Through The Course of a Musical, with special guest, Broadway star Jennifer Sanchez
What is the most grueling role you’ve ever performed, what made it so hard, and how long did you play the role (including rehearsals)?
I recently played Charity in Sweet Charity and what made the role so challenging is that she never shuts up! Ha! And she rarely leaves the stage so I had to get sneaky and build in moments when I could do little vocalises during scene transitions etc. Her keys are also really low so I ended up adjusting my speaking voice too. We ran for two months, but if we’d gone longer, I think I would have gotten into vocal therapy during the run. I actually got a vocal node during my senior year of college doing “Songs For a New World.” I hadn’t learned how to healthily cry/yell/belt yet and I was substituting emotion for technique, so I hurt myself. But vocal rest and vocal therapy saved me. Learning how to speak (on the voice and not on my cords) was a game changer. I only mention the college injury because it really has informed my professional work, including Charity!
You mentioned vocal therapy - I’ve done vocal therapy, too, btw. For the readers, can you describe the difference between voice lessons and voice therapy?
For me, vocal therapy was about retraining muscle memory, breaking lazy habits and learning a whole new way to speak! I guess one difference is it’s less about creating a pretty sound and more about starting from scratch in how to create sound in a healthy way. I had to start very quietly and remain there for a while until I got used to this new way of speaking. I used to have a very gravel-y speaking quality (I think people call it vocal fry and it’s popular in film acting) which can sound sexy and fun and CAN be used when you need or want it! But if it’s the only way you know how to speak, the voice will fatigue quickly. I still use some of the therapy exercises and will speak-sing “many many men” or “moon over Miami” before a scene to get my placement right.
Ha ha, I love that you mentioned the resonant voice exercises like “moon over Miami,” - some of my students will know exactly what you’re talking about :)
Did you have any moments in that role, or any other role, where you were worried about getting nodes or becoming hoarse? How did you manage those moments, both physically and mentally/emotionally?
During my last stage role in “Real Women Have Curves,” I got bronchitis during the run. I had to miss 5 shows and I came back before I was totally ready and was on steroids and a bunch of medications. I got away with it because it wasn’t a huge sing, but I think that was the scariest because I couldn’t even tell where my voice was. To get through I really had to trust the microphone and not push, even when my ear told me to push. I was religious about my routine (misting/hydrating/vocal therapy/vocal rest) but it was tough. I guess my biggest lesson was that you can’t control it all. Sometimes you get sick or hoarse or lose the voice and if you can’t phonate, you have to call out.
If you could only give one piece of advice to musical theater singers to make sure they can get through months of rehearsals and shows without killing their voices, what would it be?
Warm down! After a big sing or long day tech day, a nice warm down and vocal therapy/rest will save you. Also. Your voice will more likely be lost at the opening night party than in the show. Of course, we are all built differently. I have friends who can celebrate and yell and laugh all night long and be ok the next day. I am sadly not one of them lol.
TOTALLY agree about the vocal perils of the opening party. For your warm downs, can you give one or two examples of exercises you do?
OOVO Sing Ring
I do anything that feels yummy on my cords! 5 note scale warm down from 5 to 1 (sol - fa - mi - re -do) on your fave vowel. I like: ooh-wah x 5. and then maybe the same thing but sliding through the 5 notes. I like to finish with low humming. And you go down the scale instead of up! Note: this is a very quiet exercise. Soft and restorative, taking it slowly and gently. You don’t need to stretch the range. It’s just a massage for the cords so they can reset. Warming down through a fat boba straw is also really good! (Especially for beginners because it’s harder to push). I also have one of these Sing Rings which I love. It’s fashion and function and a great convo starter lol. But you have to make sure you are ready to move from the boba size straw to this smaller size.
Do you have any other tips or secret tricks for when you’re feeling vocal fatigue, soreness, or hoarseness?
Other than rest and vocal therapy, I love the MyPurMist 2! Ooh, I also recently learned how to do a massage on my face and neck and mouth. It feels so good and releases so much tension! I’m addicted to gummy bears during shows. I’m not sure if it’s physical or psychological but I keep them with my water bottle. And I hate water so I always add that hydrating stuff to my water.
I hate water too, a strange trait I seem to have inherited from my mom, ha ha! What type of “hydrating stuff” do you add to your water - any brands you recommend, etc?
I will use anything haha! I’d recommend testing out brands and seeing what works for you - ie making sure it doesn’t trigger reflux etc. Nuun tablets are a go to for me but I’ll use Liquid IV or Whole Foods generic brand - there’s electrolyte drops out there too that I hear are good. I’ll even drink watered down Gatorade but you have to be careful with that if you’re in costume! Red stains!
You’ve performed many roles on Broadway and all the top stages in the US! What do you do to keep your voice in shape, year after year?
I am currently taking voice lessons once a week, but sometimes it’s every other week. I’ve also gone through seasons where I have taken lesson breaks but one thing I will say: I have never gone long periods without singing at all. I always find myself singing something- whether it’s for myself or for work - and I think that keeps the voice going.
Jennifer Sánchez (she/her) is a Brooklynite by way of New Mexico. Jennifer is an actress, singer/musician and award winning songwriter.
Her Broadway credits include: The Rose Tattoo, Sunday in the Park with George, On Your Feet, Spiderman: Turn off the Dark, Ghost, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and West Side Story. Jennifer was most recently seen playing Roaslí in the world premiere of “Real Women Have Curves” at the American Repertory Theater.
She has performed at the Hollywood Bowl, The Tony Awards and The White House for President Obama. You can find her single “Heartbeat”, honoring NYC’s essential workers, on all digital music platforms.
Insta: @hennihennisanchez