The Art of Interpretation: The Lasting Impression of a Performance
Step onto the stage, where a single note can stir hearts, and a well-delivered lyric has the power to bring tears or laughter. In the captivating world of musical theater, technical skill alone is not enough to leave a lasting impression. It is the art of interpretation, the ability to infuse every word and melody with truthful emotion, that sets performances ablaze and captivates audiences. It is the paramount component to booking work as a musical theater performer and it is a skill that must be nurtured and practiced. But what is it about the emotional interpretation of a performer that creates lasting impression?
"The beauty of musical theatre is that it allows us to experience the human condition through the power of song and story."
- Audra McDonald
Why is a performer’s emotional interpretation of the lyric essential?
In the world of musical theatre, stories are progressed by way of the acting, singing, and dancing of the performer. However, it is the unique emotional interpretation that each performer brings to their performance that brings that story to life. It is the feature of each show that leaves the last impression long after the final bow and inspires viewers to say “I want to do that!”. But why is emotional interpretation crucial for musical theatre performance?
Emotion is the universal language that connects us all. It transcends barriers of language, culture, and background, allowing performers to forge a deep bond with their audience. When you tap into the wellspring of emotions and infuse them into your songs, you create a profound and immediate connection, allowing listeners to feel seen, understood, and moved.
Emotional interpretation breathes life into the characters you portray. It brings depth, authenticity, and believability to their stories, making them relatable and compelling. By understanding and embodying the emotions behind the lyrics and melodies, you can transport your audience to different worlds, evoke empathy, and spark their imagination. Your individual emotional interpretation of the lyric is what lingers in the memories of theatergoers long after the final notes have faded away. It is the emotional resonance, the moments of sheer vulnerability and rawness, that leaves that lasting impression. It is what compels audiences to return to the theater, seeking that transformative experience time and time again.
It is such a gift when we are able to hear frequently performed songs differently than ever before. I have included 3 well-known musical theatre songs that have caused me to listen to the lyrics and understand the stories more deeply. These three artists are widely known to leave a lasting impression from how truthful they come to their craft of storytelling. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
You don’t need the set, or stage, for a lasting impression
Over the years, I have heard countless singers sing Fly, Fly Away - CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and Shoshana has caused me to listen to it a bit differently than ever before. This was a performance filmed in NYC’s Marie’s Crisis. The impromptu nature, as well as the humble environment of a NYC musical theatre piano bar, allows for the storytelling to be that much more intimate and potent. It shows how emotional connection alone can make for a moving performance - not necessarily the flashing lights of the stage or the spectacle of the production.
What I love about her performance of this text is that it sounds like an extension of a monologue or dialogue - which is what the art of song is meant to serve as in musical theatre. It is meant to be a more emotionally heightened state of speech where, speaking the words alone, does not capture the essence of the character’s experience. As an audience, we want to connect as deeply to what the character is feeling as possible. Notice how Shoshana begins the song with a vocalism that is simply an extension of her speech - it sounds like she’s merely telling us a story and happens to be matching pitches. She then crescendos into a more sung sound out of dramatic necessity rather than performative obligation.
Try monologuing the lyrics of your song if you think the character is alone - notice where you breathe grammatically rather than musically. Honor the punctuation of the text. Find the words that you find yourself accenting or focusing on. If you think the character of your song is speaking directly to a person, find a peer to dialogue the text with. Ask them to react and respond if the text calls for it - see how that influences the authenticity of your storytelling.
*Note on Riffing:
This performance is not technically flawless - you can hear the moments of vocal pushing/strain in Shoshana’s voice. While it can be more technically efficient, we are going to put that to the side for a moment as we take a look at how she is riffing. I have been a part of over a dozen industry showcases and one of the biggest notes industry gives to auditioning singers is the purpose a riff serves. If you are riffing as a form of vocal gymnastics, they would rather you not. It is essential to find truth and purpose in your riffs that relates to the emotional state of the character given the circumstances of the song. At the end of the clip, you can hear Shoshana get particularly emotional AFTER having riffed throughout the final iteration of the chorus. It was because those riffs occurred in response to how much she hurt she felt from feeling left behind by Frankie Jr. If you want to add riffing to your song, start simple! Add an ornamentation in various spots and ask yourself if they serve an emotional purpose or if it’s just because “it sounds nice”. From there, you can continue to build until the riff feels necessary rather than presentational.
Have a connection with your entire body for more engaging storytelling
If you watch this Tony-award winning performance of Celie in THE COLOR PURPLE as portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, you will observe how instinctual, full-body engagement not only enhances the vocalism of the singer, but also aids in creating a lasting impression of the story being told. THE COLOR PURPLE follows the tragic life story of Celie, who has endured gut-wrenching horrors such as being raped by her father, forcibly separated from her children and her sister, as well as domestic violence by the man she was forced to marry. As she reaches middle age, Celie discovers a newfound independence and love for herself that she never thought she would experience or deserve. She sings “I’m Here” to express the overwhelming feelings of gratitude and power that she once only dreamt of but never thought she would possess. For the first time, she is trusting in herself that she is capable of devising the life she’s always wanted.
Starting at 2:40, Cynthia engages the lower half of her body by slowly squatting and getting closer to the ground so as to convey Celie’s newly discovered strength and power. You can observe this again starting at 3:24 - she is connected to every part of her body to communicate the security and confidence she has in herself - she is “here”, in a state of being joyful and free; unbound by anyone or anything. It is a feeling every human wishes to experience in their lifetime which is likely why Cynthia’s performance was commonly received with a standing ovation combined with many tears.
Developing a connection to one’s body in singing is not a small task - it often requires the observation and guidance of a knowledgeable technician. It can be a vocal technician knowledgable in movement and alignment, a movement coach, or an alignment coach. Read their bios closely to verify that they are trained to guide the body in movement - not all technicians are created equal. Once you find a competent instructor, be sure that they are aiding in getting you to develop a relationship with your body’s instincts and not choreographing you to do specific physical movements, or gestures, as acting beats. Guidance along those lines is counterintuitive to telling a truthful story.
If you are not looking to consult a movement coach at this time and you continue to find yourself in a state of “parking and barking”, as it is commonly referred, begin by walking around the studio with intention. Be present with the words and listen to what your instincts are telling you. Remind your mind that you are a three-dimensional being that moves in three dimension space. To the unknowing eye, it appears as though Cynthia is simply walking through an imagined space in the performance above. Try to do the same with your song - imagine an environment in which you would be saying the words of your song and walk through the space observing all the details around you. Once you find yourself in your imagination, be present with the words and see what happens!
Get lost in your imagination - not in expectation or mimicry
Joy Woods rendition of “Somewhere That’s Green” - THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is my current obsession. I have heard this song countless times and she breathed such wonderful life into the text that have been sharing it with students since I discovered it. The text is about Audrey dreaming of a life away from her abusive husband and being happy in a simple, suburban home with Seymour. As you watch Joy’s performance, look into her eyes - you can see that she is truly lost in her imagination. You can see her fantasizing her true desires in real time and she never loses focus of that fantasy. And she does something that I thought was brilliant which was leveraging the presence of Alan Menken as a person to tell this story to. You will see her reference Alan a number of times throughout the song as a way of acknowledging that he is tracking with her imagination until she gets completely overtaken by the feeling of having a life without abuse.
Next time you are in a coaching or singing with your voice teacher, see what it feels like to utilize them as a storytelling device. Imagine you are bringing them into the world you are creating through the lyric. Allow for their playing to shape the environment you are sharing your story within. What would happen if you make choices based on engaging their attention? They are person listening to your story - make it so they truly listen to the words your singing. Prepare in real time with them by having a conversation about what you think the text means to you. Describe what you think the character is experiencing in the moment of the song and what they want from saying these words. Connecting with the accompanist/teacher in the room is a great way to practice preparation work as a storyteller and creating a lasting impression as a performer.
"Musical theatre has the ability to touch hearts, change lives, and inspire generations through the art of storytelling."
- Jason Robert Brown
The art of interpretation is a topic that I do not claim to be an expert on. It is one that is multifaceted and will continue to be discussed extensively in these articles. This was just the introduction to understanding why a musical theatre performer should care about finding the truth in their storytelling so they create a lasting impression for audiences to remember. Remember that there is beauty in the simplicity of sharing a story, that your body is part of your instrument, and that your imagination is the key to tapping into a deeper, and more truthful emotional state. Practice allowing for your voice to have technical imperfections in service of the connection to the text. Try moving around a given space while singing and feeling your whole body. And finally, discuss your preparation work of a song with your voice teacher or song coach - create a dialogue about the specifics of the circumstances and bring yourself to understand the perspective of the character.
If you have made it this far in the post, I appreciate the time you have taken to learn more information on the art of interpretation and the importance of creating a lasting impression with your performance. In future posts, we will discuss methods of preparation as well as how to find songs that speak to you as an artist. My biggest hope is that these thoughts have caused you to think of some things in your practice of singing a bit differently and ultimately get you one step closer to unlocking the power in your voice. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to go to the “CONTACT” page and send an email. I would love to work with you to discover what unlocking the power of your voice means for YOU!
- Mackenzie Bykowski
M.M, Adv. Cert.