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Non singing roles in musicals
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Non singing roles in musicals#1
Posted: 4/9/18 at 8:42am
What are some notable examples of characters who don’t sing in their respective musical?
And I remember this musical I remember their brilliance And I might never sleep again...
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Non singing roles in musicals#2
Posted: 4/9/18 at 9:17am
One notable example is Thomas Mitchell's Tony-winning role in Hazel Flagg.
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Non singing roles in musicals#3
Posted: 4/9/18 at 9:23am
Mayor Shinn in the Music Man
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Non singing roles in musicals#4
Posted: 4/9/18 at 9:28am

Mrs. Higgins (My Fair Lady)

Mrs. Mullin, and the starkeeper (Carousel)

Sir Edward (The King and I)

The four adults (West Side Story)

Mayor Shinn (The Music Man)

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Non singing roles in musicals#5
Posted: 4/9/18 at 9:53am

I'm assuming you mean non SOLO singing?   Because I would think most characters sing in at least the chorus numbers.   The older the show, the more examples you have of this.  IMO.  

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Non singing roles in musicals#6
Posted: 4/9/18 at 10:11am

VP Panch in Spelling Bee
Pharaoh in Aida

Updated On: 4/9/18 at 10:11 AM
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Non singing roles in musicals#7
Posted: 4/9/18 at 10:22am

The first one that came to mind is Mae Peterson in BYE BYE BIRDIE. Anyone who uses the revised script that puts in her song from the television movie is making a terrible choice. 

"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
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Non singing roles in musicals#8
Posted: 4/9/18 at 10:27am

The adults in Spring Awakening

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Non singing roles in musicals#9
Posted: 4/9/18 at 11:38am

It's not Broadway and likely never will be, but when I did the regional premiere of "Night of the Living Dead the Musical" last year, Chily Billy Cardille was a singing role simply because I had been hired to play the role and write some songs; in revisions since, the character has been made a non-singing character role only.

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Non singing roles in musicals#10
Posted: 4/9/18 at 11:42am

Isn't Vera Baranova in On Your Toes a non-singing role? I thought Natalia Makarova was the only person to win Best Actress in a Musical for a non-singing role.

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Non singing roles in musicals#12
Posted: 4/9/18 at 12:19pm

When poor Frid in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC lost his song "Silly People", didn't he become a non-singing role?

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Non singing roles in musicals#13
Posted: 4/9/18 at 12:46pm
Lt. Brannigan in Guys and Dolls. I know that only because i played him in high school and can’t sing worth a darn.
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Non singing roles in musicals#14
Posted: 4/9/18 at 12:52pm

Man in Chair from the Drowsy Chaperone is a non-singing role.

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Non singing roles in musicals#15
Posted: 4/9/18 at 1:02pm

He sings briefly, but need not be a professional singer, in the finale.

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Non singing roles in musicals#16
Posted: 4/9/18 at 1:42pm
Pauline, the maid, in No, No, Nanette (1971).
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Non singing roles in musicals#17
Posted: 4/9/18 at 3:26pm
Sir Bedevere from Spamalot
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Non singing roles in musicals#18
Posted: 4/9/18 at 3:50pm

I don't recall Tewfiq (played by Tony Shalhoub) singing in The Band's Visit.  Maybe he hummed a bit.....?

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Non singing roles in musicals#19
Posted: 4/9/18 at 4:02pm

^Tewfiq has one song that, frankly, barely qualifies as a song. I was going to add the role to this list. 

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Non singing roles in musicals#20
Posted: 4/9/18 at 4:20pm
The doctor from passion, Nick in girl from the north country, weisman in follies
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Non singing roles in musicals#21
Posted: 4/9/18 at 5:00pm
I consider myself a pretty good singer, but have played THREE:

Roy Johnson in The Light in the Piazza
Schrank in West Side Story
Jeff in Brigadoon
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Non singing roles in musicals#22
Posted: 4/9/18 at 5:25pm

For a quite recent example that could change before Broadway, Philip Stuckey in PRETTY WOMAN is no longer a singing role. I never heard the song he initially had, but I hate that Jason Danieley no longer sings in the show. 

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Non singing roles in musicals#23
Posted: 4/9/18 at 5:40pm
Myron Hasler in The Pajama Game
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Non singing roles in musicals#24
Posted: 4/9/18 at 6:12pm

kade.ivy said: "For a quite recent example that could change before Broadway, Philip Stuckey in PRETTY WOMAN is no longer a singing role. I never heard the song he initially had, but I hate that Jason Danieley no longer sings in the show."

What a waste of talent.

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Non singing roles in musicals#25
Posted: 4/9/18 at 6:22pm
Chistery in Wicked. However the guy playing him before he becomes Chistery is in all the ensemble scenes leading up to Sentimental Man.
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Non singing roles in musicals#26
Posted: 4/9/18 at 6:27pm
Frank Farmer in The Bodyguard.

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