November 17, 2021 • 35 mins
Broadway, movies, TV - singer/actor/voiceover artist Vanessa Hudgens does it all. In this interview, Eric and Vanessa talk about musicals, movies, and Vanessa’s newest project, Tick, Tick... Boom! They also discuss how they prepare her extremely versatile voice to meet the diverse challenges of voiceover work, movie musicals, and the Broadway stage.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Pushkin doing it is simple like may that good? All right?
So let's start with that man running your arms? Loosen
(00:36):
up your body. That's me warming up with Vanessa Hutchins.
She's a singer and actress and a Broadway star. We've
been working together since her high school musical days. That
was quite a while ago. She's come a long way
from then. You might also know her from her solo albums,
(00:58):
her Broadway running Jiji or when she did Grease Live
on television and also Rent Live. We Do one where
we just go we we we we we wee wee.
Vanessa has been in movies from Thirteen and Beastly to
(01:20):
Spring Breakers. In The Princess Switch. Her newest film, Tictic Boom,
as also lin Manuel Miranda's directorial film debut. She co
stars with Andrew Garfield. Today, we're going to talk about
all of that and more. This is Backstage Pass with
Eric Vitro, and I'm Eric Vitro. On this show, I
talked to some of the most talented and famous singers
(01:42):
working today about their lives, their craft, and what it
takes to make it. We're really big. I happen to
be their voice teacher and their vocal coach, so our
conversations are uniquely different from their usual interviews. Vanessa has
a wide range of talents and voices, from Marine and
Rent to Rizzo and Greece, or even voicing Sunny Star
Scout and My Little Pony, and she works all of
(02:05):
that energy and enthusiasm into her speaking voice. You know,
my voice is my voice, and I love it because
it's hella versatile and I feel like I'm just leaning
into all the different sides of my voice. I've been
doing voiceovers recently, which is very new for me, and
(02:25):
I've always wanted to do it, so just kind of
playing with my voice and seeing where I can take it,
and then seeing that put into like these characters. Oh
my cat, I love it. It's so fun. Like in
this next clip, Vanessa got to experiment with accents cast
as both characters you're about to hear and the Princess
(02:47):
switch Who are you, Lady, Margadelico, Duchess Montanaro, Stacy Janovo.
I think we were destined to run into each other.
I think that my relationship with my voice has been
like a long one because I feel like when I
was younger, I used to hate how high my voice was,
(03:07):
and so then I would like consciously try to lower it.
But then because I was doing that, then I became
really aware of my voice, my speaking voice, and then
started incorporating that into my work. Your voice, one of
the things I think is unique about it is it
always sounds so natural. You never sound like you're straining
(03:28):
when you saying. It always sounds so easy and well.
I mean like a lot of that is thanks to you.
You helped me make sure that things aren't easy and
not strained. And when they are strained, You're like, why
are you lifting your chin up? And I'm like, I
don't know, then I don't. Yeah, I love that. I
love that about your voice because I always feel very
(03:50):
relaxed listening. Oh you know, I don't worry about it. Yeah. So,
speaking of voices and voice lessons, is there an exercise
vocal exercise that you really love, Like, is your favorite?
I mean, I feel like I have a couple. When
I was younger and was not putting in as much
work as I possible we could, I wouldn't do my
full warmups. I would literally just do like slides, okay,
(04:21):
and then I'd like, go on this cage. I'm so bad.
But my favorite that I have of your warmups is
your warm down because we're getting ready for me to
go to Broadway and you're like, what's very important is
to cool your voice down because it's an exercides with
your body. You exercise and then you stretch and on
(04:45):
the tape you go, hmmm, me, mem may may come
in m hm, sit down. And I would do that
after every show to myself And then did you continue
speaking like that? Yeah? And then everything was very light
and my voice is going to be okay because I'm
(05:07):
speaking in a very soft place. Hmmm. Well that makes
me really really happy to hear. The most recent thing
we worked on together was the Kennedy Center Honors. Were
You Saying Fame? The iconic song Fame, which a very
good friend of mine wrote the lyric too for the
Debbie Allen tribute? What was that like? Was that fun?
Did you enjoy? Amazing? Yeah? I mean I feel like
(05:31):
I remember sitting down with you and being like, Okay,
I gotta really learn this song, make sure I actually
know the notes i'ms meant to be doing. And I
was just like, it's in a couple of days, but
we'll figure it. Out, I'll figure it out. It'll be fine.
That's funny you say you told me in a couple
of days, because my normal instinct if anyone else said
that would be oh no, this is insane, Like is
(05:53):
she crazy? And I think I said to you that day.
Normally i'd be really nervous about this a couple of
days before you're kidding me. But with you, I'm like, well,
it always does work out. And that's kind of always
been your motto, Yeah, because you always say that just
calm down, lacks it always works out. Yeah, because I'm
just like, there's no point on stressing something that you
(06:15):
can't change. So end of day, I'm like, I'm gonna
do my best. I'm gonna give it all that I
can and have faith that, like it will be fine
because I've been performing my entire life and I love
doing it, so I always know that, like, even if
I mess up, it will be okay because I think
(06:36):
my passion and love for it shines. Yeah. I totally
totally agree. And then the other thing in the present
is you have a great, big, wonderful, exciting movie coming
out directed by lin Manuel Miranda, the Great lin Manuel Miranda.
I have to say, right, what was that like working
with him? I mean, he's incredible. Well, he is phenomenal.
(06:58):
I remember my first time meeting him was I think
it was right after we did Greece. He was still
doing Hamilton. We went backstage with Tommy kr director on Grace,
and he had gotten Lynn the t Birds motorcycle jacket,
the leather coat. So we got up there and he
(07:18):
was wearing it, and I was just like, oh my god,
what could you go? And he was just so sweet
and complimentary, and I was just like obsessed obviously with
Hamilton as well. And then I worked on in the
Heights at the Kennedy Center where he would come by
and like hang out with us. And to be able
(07:39):
to be in his directorial debut film is so special.
It really feels like such a tight knit family theater
and to be a part of his crossovers really cool. Now,
in case you don't know, Tic Tic Boom was originally
a one man show written and performed by Jonathan Larson,
the creator of the hit musical Rent. The twenty twenty
(08:01):
one film Vanessa's In is an adaptation. It's really great.
I think that like it really takes you back to
the time and what it looked like for Jonathan Larson
living in the Lower East Side in the nineties during
the AIG's pandemic, like everybody was scared, but like living
(08:22):
and creating and doing their best. Oh, the buzz is amazing.
I can't wait through the final It's so good. I'm
so excited. Well, and then when we worked on it,
you and I just going through the music before, Yeah,
you did it. Your voice just sounded so great on
those songs, especially because a lot of what I got
to do and Tick take Boom is like harmonies and
(08:45):
like backup vocals, because that's what my character did. She
did Jonathan's backup vocals in his show along with Joshua Henry,
who is another phenomenal voice and human. But singing with
him and harmonizing with him, Oh my gosh, it just
gave me so much joy every day that, like during
our breaks, we would just sing together and harmonize with
(09:06):
each other because it was so fun and we sound
so good together, and all that work paid off. Listen
to their harmonies here in this clip from the movie
Tick Tick Boom. So now I'm going to rewinder all
(09:30):
the way back time travel. I remember our first working experience.
I'm not sure if you remember it, but it was during,
of course, the iconic high school musicals, and I remember
us being in a studio in Santa Monica and you
had that same quality where you like, all right, this
is gonna be really fun tonight. And I was like,
(09:53):
who is this girl who was so relaxed? Like where
does that come from? Is that because you did start
so young? I think so? Yeah. I mean I used
to be really shy. I was a very very very shy,
timid child. I did not like socialize. I just wanted
to hide or like play in the grass and the dirt,
(10:16):
like people scared me. I think that what took me
out of my shell was doing theater. I mean I
think I did my first play when I was seven
and where was that or six? Envisted us like by
San Diego at this little community theater and I was terrified.
(10:36):
I think I was playing ensemble parts in the beginning,
because that's what you do, and every now and then
there would be like an improv part of the day,
and my god, I would make myself as small as
humanly possible so that they wouldn't take me because I
was terrified but you know, when you're forced to go
outside of your comfort zones, it pushes you and you
(10:58):
evolve and you grow and you adapt. So I think
that really helped me come out of my shell. And
then as well, having a character to hide behind, having
one else's words to say, you know, I can bring
that life, but someone's already written down what I meant
to say. So I think that really gave me comfort
(11:19):
to just be okay in my own skin and in
my own space. And then I fell in love with
all of it. So because though you were terrified and nervous,
did you go through with it because someone were your
parents kind of pushing it? Or did you know? It
was just like I loved performing ever since I was
really young. I loved being on the stage. I loved musicals.
(11:42):
It was just something that I adored. And while it
was uncomfortable, the payoff was worth it every time, right, Right,
were your parents performers? No, they're like, you want to
do that, okay? And they weren't in the business at all,
Oh not at all. Like my dad was a firefighter
and my mom like had various jobs and we were
(12:04):
moving around a lot. And I think that God was
like Hey, you're going to be a performer kid, I've
been like okay ever since. Yeah, So I think that
probably is one reason you're so comfortable, although some people
start young and aren't comfortable and stay nervous or anxious.
For me, and I think that it's a choice as well, nerves, Like,
(12:26):
how you label it is such a big thing. Words
are so powerful because you can take that feeling and
be like, oh my gosh, I feel like I'm gonna
throw up. My stomach is so anxious. I'm so nervous.
I'm terrified. Or you can be like whoa, my stomach
feels crazy. It's like there's butterflies in there. I am
so excited. You know, it's just how you label it.
(12:48):
I think it helps. That is a great way to
put it, and that does sum up you as now
spring through my head. Everything I've seen you. We've been
in the recording studio numerous times, storge and projects or
backstage before, and that is you always you always label
it as positive. Yeah, because you have a choice. Why
(13:08):
choose some negat and like, yeah, I might take a
little work, and after a while that becomes a habit,
and that starts to become just you. Was there a
moment you remember back in those early days when you
were like, this is it for me, this is what
I'm gonna do. No, No, It kind of was and
still is just something that I love doing. I can't
(13:32):
imagine doing anything else. I mean, like the grind was continuous.
I didn't really stop. I was doing community theater, and
then I moved on to doing a show at the
Old Globe with Jack O'Brien, who is an icon. And
I was doing like extra work in commercials and then
(13:54):
would book the national commercials. So then did that, and
then started doing extra work on TV shows, and then
booked guest spots on TV shows, and then did my
first couple movies. I did A thirteen was my first spoovie,
and then Thunderbirds was my second, and then High School
Musical I think was my third. But yeah, I mean
(14:17):
I was chugging along the entire time, going on optitions
and like committed to the grind. You performed in Washington
right around I think High School Musical three was after it.
But I remember you had to sing up Christmas Medley
in Washington. Remember that, And I remember it's the same thing.
You came in and you said Okay, here's the music,
(14:38):
and I was like what it was like, like, oh
my god. I was like, this is insane. When is it.
You're like, I've got a few days. I leave tomorrow
and I was like no, You're like, why are you
doing this to me? And once again you were like, Oh,
don't worry about it, It'll be fine, I'll learn it,
and you did. I mean, I think we worked on
it for two hours and by the end of it
(14:58):
you knew the whole thing. Yeah. I mean, looking back
at that, I'm like, I wish I would have taken
a little bit more time, but but I think you
had a million other things going on. Yeah, busy girl, Now,
don't go anywhere. Backstage passed with me, Eric Vitro and
my guest Vanessa Hutchins will be right back just after this.
(15:24):
Welcome back. Here's the rest of backstage Pass with me,
Eric Vitro and the lovely Vanessa Hutchins. What was that
like for you being in New York, a California girl
on Broadway. I remember making friends with someone in him
being like you seem like such a New Yorker, Like
I feel like you belong in New York and I
(15:44):
was like, that's crazy, like me from California thinking of
myself as like just your classic California girl, which I am.
But it's so funny because the older that I've gotten,
I now have a place in New York, and I
am such a New Yorker. When I go to New
York and come back to LA I'm like, oh my god,
people are so slow. What are they doing? Like my
(16:07):
whole vibe changes. But I love it. It's just a
special place, especially being in those theaters. We were at
the Neil Simon Vanessa's talking about her first Broadway show, Gigi, Like,
I just remember walking in the first time we got
(16:31):
into the theater and they put the Marquee up and
there was a picture of Audrey Hepbron standing in front
of her Marquy when she did Gigi, which was her
first Broadway show, And I walked into the theater and
just looked around and just took it in, just thought
about like all the performers that were there before me,
and it was just really special. And that was such
(16:55):
a fun show too. I mean, the music was great,
the costumes were magnificent. I had some of the most
insane costume quick changes ever it was thrilling. Yeah. I
remember those gorgeous pictures of you when they released those.
They were unbelievable. The costume changes in a Broadway show
(17:17):
can be really really fast and really difficult, but trust me,
they're so worth it. I still remember sitting in my
seat watching Vanessa on stage and those elegant gowns, the
sleek opera gloves and the feather boas. Oh and can
we talk about the dressing room for a minute. Gosh, well,
I had to dick out my dressing on my first
broad Way to dressing room. Yeah. No, I went for it. Yeah,
(17:40):
you totally. And I painted it pink. All the flowers
that I would get, I would hang them upside down
and dry them. Oh. I put up like a tapestry.
I put up like a Paris wall paper. Right, I was.
I was doing the most. And then I was lucky
enough to be there when you did that recording session
for the cast album, and I remember, once again you
(18:02):
were excited about it. I was waiting for you on
the street. Your car pulled up, you got out and
went all right, this is gonna be fun. And I
was like, oh my god, She's always so excited and happy.
About these things and then you went in and just
nailed it so fast. Is that because you really just
had been doing it on Broadway so you felt like, oh,
I really know it and I'm confident, or did you
(18:23):
like really prep in your mind, all right, I'm recording today,
I'm going to go in Like no, I mean I
think that, like because I had been doing it so
many times from rehearsals to then previews, and like, because
it's live theater, there's no auto tune or anything, so
you do your best to make sure that you are
(18:46):
itch and that your placement is right every night. Yeah,
So it was just kind of like it became habitual
those songs. That is the thing about those live television musicals.
There is no fixing them like that is live. There's
no auto tune, there's no you know anything. You can't
go back if you make a mistake, if you crack,
(19:08):
if you forget a lyric. So you did it with
so much confidence. Do you think being on Broadway helped
you or is it just all the years leading up
to it. I mean, probably definitely helped. It's such a
high level of performers on Broadway that you want to
be up there with them, like you want to make
(19:29):
sure that you're performing at a level that is worthy
of gracing Broadway stages. But I think professionalism has always
been something that's very important to me, and it's something
that I pride myself on, So it's not something that
I take lightly, like that is my job and I'm
going to go and do the best job I can.
(19:49):
What would you say, Because you've obviously now done movie
musicals you did it live. Is there one that you
enjoy more? I think doing the live musicals to television
might be my favorite because it is the most exhilarating, challenging,
thrilling thing I think you can possibly do. Because I
love doing Broadway obviously, but it lives there and then
(20:12):
once the show's over, it's over. Like you can go
to the library to go see it, but that's it,
you know. And with the televised ones, like the world
gets to see it, which is so cool, and it
can bring families together and it's like an experience and
you can watch it back and see it but know
(20:34):
that it was actually your performance that you gave because
with movies and stuff, you lose that connection of performer
to audience and with the live to TV ones that
remains right. It's really cool and it's the craziest thing ever.
Like I remember doing Greece and running off the stage
into a golf cart, going over to another stage, running
(20:57):
onto that stage, throwing all my clothes off, putting on
new clothes on, running out, doing a scene, and then
like continuing the running like it was just madness. The
fact that that came together the way that it did
is such a miracle. But Rent too, like there's so
many moving pieces, it's crazy. And for Grease, remember it
(21:20):
started raining a little bit earlier in the day and
then I remember the wind was I think it blew
something down and it felt like a disaster. Yeah, you
guys were troopers. You just involve, you adapt when you
do get to watch, because you can't really see yourself
on Broadway. You can, like you said, if people with
library and see one taped version. But like, have you
(21:43):
watched live, Grease or Rent? Yeah, of course I feel
like I watched them both, like right afterwards, And what
do you feel when you watch it? What's that experience? Like,
it's fun, it's exciting. I mean, like with both of those,
I'm really proud with what I did. And I don't
have a hard time watching myself, Like I can enjoy
my performance and everyone else's performances, and like we worked
(22:07):
so hard on them that it's such a labor of
love to see it all come together, Like I get
to enjoy it as an audience member as well. Greece
was great, and like, I don't know if you want
to talk about this or not, but what was pretty
amazing in Greece is that some people might not know
your dad passed away the day before, the night before,
(22:28):
the night before. I was like, he was battling cancer.
But I so many times was just like, please God,
not the night before. That's all I kept saying. But
like now as I say that, I'm like, but you
were sticking all your energy into night before, night before,
so like, yeah, of course it would happen the night before,
(22:50):
but yeah it was. It was brutal, but I think that, like,
my dad was one of my bigger supporters and fans.
He would have wanted me to do what I did,
you know. And then our producer Mark dedicated it to
him at the end, which was so beautiful, right, wow, yeah,
by Mark, you mean Mark Platt. Amazing. Mark Platt's phenomenal,
(23:13):
one of the best. And my mom was there, my
sisters was there, and it was just like a really
beautiful kind of way to remember him by us all
being together and like me performing and doing what I
love and what he spent so much of his time
working towards from to help me. Yeah, I remember in
the dressing room. I wasn't sure when we warmed up
(23:35):
how it was going to go, because you said, I'm okay,
I'm going to deal with this later, let's not talk
about it, let's not dwell on it. I'm going to
compartmentalize it. But you had such a look in your eyes.
I thought, Wow, I don't know how this is gonna go.
And then if anybody didn't know that happened, they would
have never never known. I mean, you were just you
(23:55):
got out there and you soared well, Like playing Rizzo
as well is so much fun. It's so much fun.
She's just spunky and she's sassy and she like knows
how to capture guy's attention. And I was like, we're
gonna channel that bitch and like be as her as
we possibly can be. You can hear that sassy tone
(24:17):
in this clip of Vanessa as Rizzo in Grease Live.
Look at me, I'm Sandra, Dee Claus Virginity. Won't go
to betsylam legally what I cant I'm Sandra. I really
(24:38):
did have a great time. I think that, like compartmentalizing
is so real and something that you kind of have
to do sometimes to push through. But I really did
still enjoy that. Wow, that's so great, and that's what
he would have wanted, Like he said, he worked hard
to get you. Help you there. Yeah, well both of them.
(25:00):
Grease was great. Rent. Once again, Rent, we sat in
your trailer, remember you had the trailer and the first
hour before Maureen makes her fantastic entrance, you were just
having the best time watching everybody, And I thought that
was really endearing to me that you were really cheering
on everybody, all your castmates, watching them for the first hour.
(25:21):
Like some people get no, I don't want to watch it, No,
I don't want to be distracted. You were like cheering
for them and dancing around the room, and well, I
mean that's what Maureen would have been doing. So I
think there's definitely a subconscious piece of that. Me. Yeah,
was not intentional. What I was doing was enjoying the show.
(25:42):
Like I am a massive theater lover and gigantic Jonathan
Larson fan, So like watching my friends do a show
that I love and sing the music that I adore, Like,
it's just the best time. I got to like sit
front row and cheer on my friends. Yeah, no, that
(26:04):
was that was great. And then you left me in
the trailer and went all right, I'm gonna go have
a good time, and I just sat there watching and
it was great, and I was so proud of you.
Those reviews were unbelievable. They were so great of you.
I remember when we were in the trailer four rent,
you said, I love this so much, I'm going to
make sure I do something musical every single year. Yes,
(26:26):
I know, And since then I have you have. Yeah,
every year I've done at least one musical thing. Yeah.
It's medicine from my heart, and I feel that's what
I've seen over the years. You can see it in
all of Vanessa's performances, whether she's singing on stage or
acting on screen. Vanessa always as fun. I've seen you
(26:47):
kind of grow and grow up and have a lot
of life experiences, career experiences, but the truth is your
essence is always the same, Like you keep evolving and
getting better, but who you really are as a person
has not changed. So happy at all. That makes me
so happy. Well, it's like a great quality. It's a
(27:08):
really great quality. Yeah, you know, you just trying to
stay true. Yeah, well you have, and I really mean that.
It's that positive thinking that always helps her find her
way while still celebrating exactly who she is. And isn't
that something we all should be striving for while we're
trying to make our way in the world. I think
it's important to remember two things. To work hard, but
(27:31):
to also have patience, because, as Miles Davis said, man,
sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.
Stay tuned. After the break, we'll go over this week's
vocal tips and Vanessa's favorite exercise, the cooldowns. Welcome back,
(27:54):
It's time for our weekly backstage pass vocal tip. Hopefully
you're feeling inspired to sing yourself. Why just let the
stars have all the fun. Come on, let's get you
working your own voice now. I know sometimes the hardest
part of vocal training can be finding the time and
(28:16):
the inspiration to practice every day. Just ask Vanessa when
we don't work together for a while, and then I
get a job or something where I'm singing. You're like, so,
how have you been Have you been singing? You always ask,
and I'm always like, no, no, not really. Have you
been doing your Vogue warmups? You ask? I'm like, then
(28:37):
I put on my poker face. Okay, yeah, And I mean,
like when it's time to like focus in, like I
do do it every day, but I feel like consistency
is the hardest thing, like just continuing to do it
because it is a muscle, and like it doesn't stay
strong forever, like you have to keep it strong and
(28:58):
strengthening it. So that's I think always been my downfall, right,
I don't think it's a downfall. It's just it's your
process and it's working for you. So I think you
have to think of it like that. Really, the whole experience,
I feel like it is just so therapeutic, like seeing
you and talking and doing the exercises and moving around
(29:21):
the room and like being silly and like just enjoying
the process and then working on something with you and
seeing how the little tricks are things that you may
give me make such a big difference. And then like
the relief of knowing that I have those in my
back pocket going forward is just wonderful. It's like winning
(29:42):
all around. Oh, I love that. I love that you
said that. Thank you for the vocal tip this week,
inspired by Vanessa. Let's talk about developing your lower notes
and how to cool down your voice. Let's start working
on developing those lower notes to widen your range. They
should feel as easy as speaking. First, say m MEMI.
(30:04):
Try to speak the Mimi and your natural speaking voice,
but with just a little bit more for replacement than usual,
a little bit of a nasal sound. Me me, then
try m may May. Then try singing five notes and
a descending order like you heard Vanessa doing at the
(30:26):
beginning of our episode. You can try it on Mimi
or may may me me me, me, me, me, me
me me. Basses, baritones, and tenors. Start on a G
below middle C like this. Keep singing this five note pattern,
(30:47):
continually transposing it down by half steps, in other words,
changing the keys by half steps like this. Keep going
(31:11):
until you reach the lowest note you can sing comfortably.
You can always use a piano or a keyboard downloaded
onto your phone or your tablet to give you the
starting notes of each pattern sopranos and eelto start on
a G above mettle C. Remember, keep the vibrations forward
on the roof of your mouth. Just keep transposing, changing
(31:34):
the keys down by half steps until you reach your
lowest note. Go as low as you can comfortably. Now,
let's try a little cooling down. If you've ever watched
(31:56):
a marathon runner, you saw that they kept walking and
moving after the race, so the leg muscles didn't cramp up.
They never just stopped short. The same principle applies to
a singer after a major singing event like a concert,
or a long recording session or a big rehearsal. My
students always tell me that when they do a short cooldown,
or some people prefer to call it a warm down,
(32:16):
they wake up the next day feeling much better and stronger.
I break my cooldowns into two parts. Today we're going
to focus on the speaking part of the cooldown, which
is to have you focus keeping your speaking voice forward
in your mouth after you've been doing a big sing First,
say mmm hello, Now say hmm please come in. Do
(32:40):
you feel how the m really propels your voice nice
and forward in your mouth. That's a really healthy place
to speak from after you've been doing a big sing
Try it again, M, hello, M, thank you for coming
to the show. All right. I know this is probably
(33:02):
feeling very unnatural, but you only have to do it
in this exaggerated way for about fifteen minutes after that
big singing event, just to make sure you're keeping your
speaking voice and a forward, healthy range that's going to
really save your voice. After that, you can keep it forward,
but relax it so you sound more like you. If
you want to share how you're developing your low notes
(33:23):
or doing a cool down, I'd love to hear you.
Use the hashtag Backstage Pass pod on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok,
or wherever you like to post. I can't wait to
see your videos. I'll see you next week maybe maybe
me may. Backstage Pass with Eric Vitro is written and
(33:50):
hosted by me Eric Vitro and produced by Morgan Jaffee.
Katherine Girardeaux is our showrunner. Emily Rosstek is our associate producer.
Mixed and mastered by Ben Tolliday. Additional engineering help is
from Jacob Gorski. Mia Lobell is our executive producer. Our
development team Poltallmull and Justine Lange helped create the show.
(34:11):
Thanks also to Jacob Weisberg, Heather Fame, John Schnars, Carli Migliori,
Christina Sullivan, Eric Sandler, Maggie Taylor, Nicolemarano, Daniella Lucan and
Royston Deserve. Original theme music is by Jacob and Sita
Steele for Premier Music Group. We record it Resonate Studios.
Fred Taluksen does our videography and the photography is by
(34:32):
Ken Sawyer. A very special thanks to Michael Lewis for
his inspiration and the best guidance anyone could ask for.
Backstage Pass with Eric Vitro is a production of Pushkin Industries,
and if you like the show, please remember to share,
rate and review. I mean that really share it, rate
it and review it. If you love this show and
others from Pushkin Industries, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. Pushkin
(34:55):
Plus is a podcast subscription that offers bonus content and
uninterrupted listening for four ninety nine a month. Look for
Pushkin Plus on Apple podcast subscriptions. To find more Pushkin podcasts,
listen to the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you listen to podcasts,
Pushkin doing it is simple like may that good? All right?
So let's start with that man running your arms? Loosen
(00:36):
up your body. That's me warming up with Vanessa Hutchins.
She's a singer and actress and a Broadway star. We've
been working together since her high school musical days. That
was quite a while ago. She's come a long way
from then. You might also know her from her solo albums,
(00:58):
her Broadway running Jiji or when she did Grease Live
on television and also Rent Live. We Do one where
we just go we we we we we wee wee.
Vanessa has been in movies from Thirteen and Beastly to
(01:20):
Spring Breakers. In The Princess Switch. Her newest film, Tictic Boom,
as also lin Manuel Miranda's directorial film debut. She co
stars with Andrew Garfield. Today, we're going to talk about
all of that and more. This is Backstage Pass with
Eric Vitro, and I'm Eric Vitro. On this show, I
talked to some of the most talented and famous singers
(01:42):
working today about their lives, their craft, and what it
takes to make it. We're really big. I happen to
be their voice teacher and their vocal coach, so our
conversations are uniquely different from their usual interviews. Vanessa has
a wide range of talents and voices, from Marine and
Rent to Rizzo and Greece, or even voicing Sunny Star
Scout and My Little Pony, and she works all of
(02:05):
that energy and enthusiasm into her speaking voice. You know,
my voice is my voice, and I love it because
it's hella versatile and I feel like I'm just leaning
into all the different sides of my voice. I've been
doing voiceovers recently, which is very new for me, and
(02:25):
I've always wanted to do it, so just kind of
playing with my voice and seeing where I can take it,
and then seeing that put into like these characters. Oh
my cat, I love it. It's so fun. Like in
this next clip, Vanessa got to experiment with accents cast
as both characters you're about to hear and the Princess
(02:47):
switch Who are you, Lady, Margadelico, Duchess Montanaro, Stacy Janovo.
I think we were destined to run into each other.
I think that my relationship with my voice has been
like a long one because I feel like when I
was younger, I used to hate how high my voice was,
(03:07):
and so then I would like consciously try to lower it.
But then because I was doing that, then I became
really aware of my voice, my speaking voice, and then
started incorporating that into my work. Your voice, one of
the things I think is unique about it is it
always sounds so natural. You never sound like you're straining
(03:28):
when you saying. It always sounds so easy and well.
I mean like a lot of that is thanks to you.
You helped me make sure that things aren't easy and
not strained. And when they are strained, You're like, why
are you lifting your chin up? And I'm like, I
don't know, then I don't. Yeah, I love that. I
love that about your voice because I always feel very
(03:50):
relaxed listening. Oh you know, I don't worry about it. Yeah. So,
speaking of voices and voice lessons, is there an exercise
vocal exercise that you really love, Like, is your favorite?
I mean, I feel like I have a couple. When
I was younger and was not putting in as much
work as I possible we could, I wouldn't do my
full warmups. I would literally just do like slides, okay,
(04:21):
and then I'd like, go on this cage. I'm so bad.
But my favorite that I have of your warmups is
your warm down because we're getting ready for me to
go to Broadway and you're like, what's very important is
to cool your voice down because it's an exercides with
your body. You exercise and then you stretch and on
(04:45):
the tape you go, hmmm, me, mem may may come
in m hm, sit down. And I would do that
after every show to myself And then did you continue
speaking like that? Yeah? And then everything was very light
and my voice is going to be okay because I'm
(05:07):
speaking in a very soft place. Hmmm. Well that makes
me really really happy to hear. The most recent thing
we worked on together was the Kennedy Center Honors. Were
You Saying Fame? The iconic song Fame, which a very
good friend of mine wrote the lyric too for the
Debbie Allen tribute? What was that like? Was that fun?
Did you enjoy? Amazing? Yeah? I mean I feel like
(05:31):
I remember sitting down with you and being like, Okay,
I gotta really learn this song, make sure I actually
know the notes i'ms meant to be doing. And I
was just like, it's in a couple of days, but
we'll figure it. Out, I'll figure it out. It'll be fine.
That's funny you say you told me in a couple
of days, because my normal instinct if anyone else said
that would be oh no, this is insane, Like is
(05:53):
she crazy? And I think I said to you that day.
Normally i'd be really nervous about this a couple of
days before you're kidding me. But with you, I'm like, well,
it always does work out. And that's kind of always
been your motto, Yeah, because you always say that just
calm down, lacks it always works out. Yeah, because I'm
just like, there's no point on stressing something that you
(06:15):
can't change. So end of day, I'm like, I'm gonna
do my best. I'm gonna give it all that I
can and have faith that, like it will be fine
because I've been performing my entire life and I love
doing it, so I always know that, like, even if
I mess up, it will be okay because I think
(06:36):
my passion and love for it shines. Yeah. I totally
totally agree. And then the other thing in the present
is you have a great, big, wonderful, exciting movie coming
out directed by lin Manuel Miranda, the Great lin Manuel Miranda.
I have to say, right, what was that like working
with him? I mean, he's incredible. Well, he is phenomenal.
(06:58):
I remember my first time meeting him was I think
it was right after we did Greece. He was still
doing Hamilton. We went backstage with Tommy kr director on Grace,
and he had gotten Lynn the t Birds motorcycle jacket,
the leather coat. So we got up there and he
(07:18):
was wearing it, and I was just like, oh my god,
what could you go? And he was just so sweet
and complimentary, and I was just like obsessed obviously with
Hamilton as well. And then I worked on in the
Heights at the Kennedy Center where he would come by
and like hang out with us. And to be able
(07:39):
to be in his directorial debut film is so special.
It really feels like such a tight knit family theater
and to be a part of his crossovers really cool. Now,
in case you don't know, Tic Tic Boom was originally
a one man show written and performed by Jonathan Larson,
the creator of the hit musical Rent. The twenty twenty
(08:01):
one film Vanessa's In is an adaptation. It's really great.
I think that like it really takes you back to
the time and what it looked like for Jonathan Larson
living in the Lower East Side in the nineties during
the AIG's pandemic, like everybody was scared, but like living
(08:22):
and creating and doing their best. Oh, the buzz is amazing.
I can't wait through the final It's so good. I'm
so excited. Well, and then when we worked on it,
you and I just going through the music before, Yeah,
you did it. Your voice just sounded so great on
those songs, especially because a lot of what I got
to do and Tick take Boom is like harmonies and
(08:45):
like backup vocals, because that's what my character did. She
did Jonathan's backup vocals in his show along with Joshua Henry,
who is another phenomenal voice and human. But singing with
him and harmonizing with him, Oh my gosh, it just
gave me so much joy every day that, like during
our breaks, we would just sing together and harmonize with
(09:06):
each other because it was so fun and we sound
so good together, and all that work paid off. Listen
to their harmonies here in this clip from the movie
Tick Tick Boom. So now I'm going to rewinder all
(09:30):
the way back time travel. I remember our first working experience.
I'm not sure if you remember it, but it was during,
of course, the iconic high school musicals, and I remember
us being in a studio in Santa Monica and you
had that same quality where you like, all right, this
is gonna be really fun tonight. And I was like,
(09:53):
who is this girl who was so relaxed? Like where
does that come from? Is that because you did start
so young? I think so? Yeah. I mean I used
to be really shy. I was a very very very shy,
timid child. I did not like socialize. I just wanted
to hide or like play in the grass and the dirt,
(10:16):
like people scared me. I think that what took me
out of my shell was doing theater. I mean I
think I did my first play when I was seven
and where was that or six? Envisted us like by
San Diego at this little community theater and I was terrified.
(10:36):
I think I was playing ensemble parts in the beginning,
because that's what you do, and every now and then
there would be like an improv part of the day,
and my god, I would make myself as small as
humanly possible so that they wouldn't take me because I
was terrified but you know, when you're forced to go
outside of your comfort zones, it pushes you and you
(10:58):
evolve and you grow and you adapt. So I think
that really helped me come out of my shell. And
then as well, having a character to hide behind, having
one else's words to say, you know, I can bring
that life, but someone's already written down what I meant
to say. So I think that really gave me comfort
(11:19):
to just be okay in my own skin and in
my own space. And then I fell in love with
all of it. So because though you were terrified and nervous,
did you go through with it because someone were your
parents kind of pushing it? Or did you know? It
was just like I loved performing ever since I was
really young. I loved being on the stage. I loved musicals.
(11:42):
It was just something that I adored. And while it
was uncomfortable, the payoff was worth it every time, right, Right,
were your parents performers? No, they're like, you want to
do that, okay? And they weren't in the business at all,
Oh not at all. Like my dad was a firefighter
and my mom like had various jobs and we were
(12:04):
moving around a lot. And I think that God was
like Hey, you're going to be a performer kid, I've
been like okay ever since. Yeah, So I think that
probably is one reason you're so comfortable, although some people
start young and aren't comfortable and stay nervous or anxious.
For me, and I think that it's a choice as well, nerves, Like,
(12:26):
how you label it is such a big thing. Words
are so powerful because you can take that feeling and
be like, oh my gosh, I feel like I'm gonna
throw up. My stomach is so anxious. I'm so nervous.
I'm terrified. Or you can be like whoa, my stomach
feels crazy. It's like there's butterflies in there. I am
so excited. You know, it's just how you label it.
(12:48):
I think it helps. That is a great way to
put it, and that does sum up you as now
spring through my head. Everything I've seen you. We've been
in the recording studio numerous times, storge and projects or
backstage before, and that is you always you always label
it as positive. Yeah, because you have a choice. Why
(13:08):
choose some negat and like, yeah, I might take a
little work, and after a while that becomes a habit,
and that starts to become just you. Was there a
moment you remember back in those early days when you
were like, this is it for me, this is what
I'm gonna do. No, No, It kind of was and
still is just something that I love doing. I can't
(13:32):
imagine doing anything else. I mean, like the grind was continuous.
I didn't really stop. I was doing community theater, and
then I moved on to doing a show at the
Old Globe with Jack O'Brien, who is an icon. And
I was doing like extra work in commercials and then
(13:54):
would book the national commercials. So then did that, and
then started doing extra work on TV shows, and then
booked guest spots on TV shows, and then did my
first couple movies. I did A thirteen was my first spoovie,
and then Thunderbirds was my second, and then High School
Musical I think was my third. But yeah, I mean
(14:17):
I was chugging along the entire time, going on optitions
and like committed to the grind. You performed in Washington
right around I think High School Musical three was after it.
But I remember you had to sing up Christmas Medley
in Washington. Remember that, And I remember it's the same thing.
You came in and you said Okay, here's the music,
(14:38):
and I was like what it was like, like, oh
my god. I was like, this is insane. When is it.
You're like, I've got a few days. I leave tomorrow
and I was like no, You're like, why are you
doing this to me? And once again you were like, Oh,
don't worry about it, It'll be fine, I'll learn it,
and you did. I mean, I think we worked on
it for two hours and by the end of it
(14:58):
you knew the whole thing. Yeah. I mean, looking back
at that, I'm like, I wish I would have taken
a little bit more time, but but I think you
had a million other things going on. Yeah, busy girl, Now,
don't go anywhere. Backstage passed with me, Eric Vitro and
my guest Vanessa Hutchins will be right back just after this.
(15:24):
Welcome back. Here's the rest of backstage Pass with me,
Eric Vitro and the lovely Vanessa Hutchins. What was that
like for you being in New York, a California girl
on Broadway. I remember making friends with someone in him
being like you seem like such a New Yorker, Like
I feel like you belong in New York and I
(15:44):
was like, that's crazy, like me from California thinking of
myself as like just your classic California girl, which I am.
But it's so funny because the older that I've gotten,
I now have a place in New York, and I
am such a New Yorker. When I go to New
York and come back to LA I'm like, oh my god,
people are so slow. What are they doing? Like my
(16:07):
whole vibe changes. But I love it. It's just a
special place, especially being in those theaters. We were at
the Neil Simon Vanessa's talking about her first Broadway show, Gigi, Like,
I just remember walking in the first time we got
(16:31):
into the theater and they put the Marquee up and
there was a picture of Audrey Hepbron standing in front
of her Marquy when she did Gigi, which was her
first Broadway show, And I walked into the theater and
just looked around and just took it in, just thought
about like all the performers that were there before me,
and it was just really special. And that was such
(16:55):
a fun show too. I mean, the music was great,
the costumes were magnificent. I had some of the most
insane costume quick changes ever it was thrilling. Yeah. I
remember those gorgeous pictures of you when they released those.
They were unbelievable. The costume changes in a Broadway show
(17:17):
can be really really fast and really difficult, but trust me,
they're so worth it. I still remember sitting in my
seat watching Vanessa on stage and those elegant gowns, the
sleek opera gloves and the feather boas. Oh and can
we talk about the dressing room for a minute. Gosh, well,
I had to dick out my dressing on my first
broad Way to dressing room. Yeah. No, I went for it. Yeah,
(17:40):
you totally. And I painted it pink. All the flowers
that I would get, I would hang them upside down
and dry them. Oh. I put up like a tapestry.
I put up like a Paris wall paper. Right, I was.
I was doing the most. And then I was lucky
enough to be there when you did that recording session
for the cast album, and I remember, once again you
(18:02):
were excited about it. I was waiting for you on
the street. Your car pulled up, you got out and
went all right, this is gonna be fun. And I
was like, oh my god, She's always so excited and happy.
About these things and then you went in and just
nailed it so fast. Is that because you really just
had been doing it on Broadway so you felt like, oh,
I really know it and I'm confident, or did you
(18:23):
like really prep in your mind, all right, I'm recording today,
I'm going to go in Like no, I mean I
think that, like because I had been doing it so
many times from rehearsals to then previews, and like, because
it's live theater, there's no auto tune or anything, so
you do your best to make sure that you are
(18:46):
itch and that your placement is right every night. Yeah,
So it was just kind of like it became habitual
those songs. That is the thing about those live television musicals.
There is no fixing them like that is live. There's
no auto tune, there's no you know anything. You can't
go back if you make a mistake, if you crack,
(19:08):
if you forget a lyric. So you did it with
so much confidence. Do you think being on Broadway helped
you or is it just all the years leading up
to it. I mean, probably definitely helped. It's such a
high level of performers on Broadway that you want to
be up there with them, like you want to make
(19:29):
sure that you're performing at a level that is worthy
of gracing Broadway stages. But I think professionalism has always
been something that's very important to me, and it's something
that I pride myself on, So it's not something that
I take lightly, like that is my job and I'm
going to go and do the best job I can.
(19:49):
What would you say, Because you've obviously now done movie
musicals you did it live. Is there one that you
enjoy more? I think doing the live musicals to television
might be my favorite because it is the most exhilarating, challenging,
thrilling thing I think you can possibly do. Because I
love doing Broadway obviously, but it lives there and then
(20:12):
once the show's over, it's over. Like you can go
to the library to go see it, but that's it,
you know. And with the televised ones, like the world
gets to see it, which is so cool, and it
can bring families together and it's like an experience and
you can watch it back and see it but know
(20:34):
that it was actually your performance that you gave because
with movies and stuff, you lose that connection of performer
to audience and with the live to TV ones that
remains right. It's really cool and it's the craziest thing ever.
Like I remember doing Greece and running off the stage
into a golf cart, going over to another stage, running
(20:57):
onto that stage, throwing all my clothes off, putting on
new clothes on, running out, doing a scene, and then
like continuing the running like it was just madness. The
fact that that came together the way that it did
is such a miracle. But Rent too, like there's so
many moving pieces, it's crazy. And for Grease, remember it
(21:20):
started raining a little bit earlier in the day and
then I remember the wind was I think it blew
something down and it felt like a disaster. Yeah, you
guys were troopers. You just involve, you adapt when you
do get to watch, because you can't really see yourself
on Broadway. You can, like you said, if people with
library and see one taped version. But like, have you
(21:43):
watched live, Grease or Rent? Yeah, of course I feel
like I watched them both, like right afterwards, And what
do you feel when you watch it? What's that experience? Like,
it's fun, it's exciting. I mean, like with both of those,
I'm really proud with what I did. And I don't
have a hard time watching myself, Like I can enjoy
my performance and everyone else's performances, and like we worked
(22:07):
so hard on them that it's such a labor of
love to see it all come together, Like I get
to enjoy it as an audience member as well. Greece
was great, and like, I don't know if you want
to talk about this or not, but what was pretty
amazing in Greece is that some people might not know
your dad passed away the day before, the night before,
(22:28):
the night before. I was like, he was battling cancer.
But I so many times was just like, please God,
not the night before. That's all I kept saying. But
like now as I say that, I'm like, but you
were sticking all your energy into night before, night before,
so like, yeah, of course it would happen the night before,
(22:50):
but yeah it was. It was brutal, but I think that, like,
my dad was one of my bigger supporters and fans.
He would have wanted me to do what I did,
you know. And then our producer Mark dedicated it to
him at the end, which was so beautiful, right, wow, yeah,
by Mark, you mean Mark Platt. Amazing. Mark Platt's phenomenal,
(23:13):
one of the best. And my mom was there, my
sisters was there, and it was just like a really
beautiful kind of way to remember him by us all
being together and like me performing and doing what I
love and what he spent so much of his time
working towards from to help me. Yeah, I remember in
the dressing room. I wasn't sure when we warmed up
(23:35):
how it was going to go, because you said, I'm okay,
I'm going to deal with this later, let's not talk
about it, let's not dwell on it. I'm going to
compartmentalize it. But you had such a look in your eyes.
I thought, Wow, I don't know how this is gonna go.
And then if anybody didn't know that happened, they would
have never never known. I mean, you were just you
(23:55):
got out there and you soared well, Like playing Rizzo
as well is so much fun. It's so much fun.
She's just spunky and she's sassy and she like knows
how to capture guy's attention. And I was like, we're
gonna channel that bitch and like be as her as
we possibly can be. You can hear that sassy tone
(24:17):
in this clip of Vanessa as Rizzo in Grease Live.
Look at me, I'm Sandra, Dee Claus Virginity. Won't go
to betsylam legally what I cant I'm Sandra. I really
(24:38):
did have a great time. I think that, like compartmentalizing
is so real and something that you kind of have
to do sometimes to push through. But I really did
still enjoy that. Wow, that's so great, and that's what
he would have wanted, Like he said, he worked hard
to get you. Help you there. Yeah, well both of them.
(25:00):
Grease was great. Rent. Once again, Rent, we sat in
your trailer, remember you had the trailer and the first
hour before Maureen makes her fantastic entrance, you were just
having the best time watching everybody, And I thought that
was really endearing to me that you were really cheering
on everybody, all your castmates, watching them for the first hour.
(25:21):
Like some people get no, I don't want to watch it, No,
I don't want to be distracted. You were like cheering
for them and dancing around the room, and well, I
mean that's what Maureen would have been doing. So I
think there's definitely a subconscious piece of that. Me. Yeah,
was not intentional. What I was doing was enjoying the show.
(25:42):
Like I am a massive theater lover and gigantic Jonathan
Larson fan, So like watching my friends do a show
that I love and sing the music that I adore, Like,
it's just the best time. I got to like sit
front row and cheer on my friends. Yeah, no, that
(26:04):
was that was great. And then you left me in
the trailer and went all right, I'm gonna go have
a good time, and I just sat there watching and
it was great, and I was so proud of you.
Those reviews were unbelievable. They were so great of you.
I remember when we were in the trailer four rent,
you said, I love this so much, I'm going to
make sure I do something musical every single year. Yes,
(26:26):
I know, And since then I have you have. Yeah,
every year I've done at least one musical thing. Yeah.
It's medicine from my heart, and I feel that's what
I've seen over the years. You can see it in
all of Vanessa's performances, whether she's singing on stage or
acting on screen. Vanessa always as fun. I've seen you
(26:47):
kind of grow and grow up and have a lot
of life experiences, career experiences, but the truth is your
essence is always the same, Like you keep evolving and
getting better, but who you really are as a person
has not changed. So happy at all. That makes me
so happy. Well, it's like a great quality. It's a
(27:08):
really great quality. Yeah, you know, you just trying to
stay true. Yeah, well you have, and I really mean that.
It's that positive thinking that always helps her find her
way while still celebrating exactly who she is. And isn't
that something we all should be striving for while we're
trying to make our way in the world. I think
it's important to remember two things. To work hard, but
(27:31):
to also have patience, because, as Miles Davis said, man,
sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself.
Stay tuned. After the break, we'll go over this week's
vocal tips and Vanessa's favorite exercise, the cooldowns. Welcome back,
(27:54):
It's time for our weekly backstage pass vocal tip. Hopefully
you're feeling inspired to sing yourself. Why just let the
stars have all the fun. Come on, let's get you
working your own voice now. I know sometimes the hardest
part of vocal training can be finding the time and
(28:16):
the inspiration to practice every day. Just ask Vanessa when
we don't work together for a while, and then I
get a job or something where I'm singing. You're like, so,
how have you been Have you been singing? You always ask,
and I'm always like, no, no, not really. Have you
been doing your Vogue warmups? You ask? I'm like, then
(28:37):
I put on my poker face. Okay, yeah, And I mean,
like when it's time to like focus in, like I
do do it every day, but I feel like consistency
is the hardest thing, like just continuing to do it
because it is a muscle, and like it doesn't stay
strong forever, like you have to keep it strong and
(28:58):
strengthening it. So that's I think always been my downfall, right,
I don't think it's a downfall. It's just it's your
process and it's working for you. So I think you
have to think of it like that. Really, the whole experience,
I feel like it is just so therapeutic, like seeing
you and talking and doing the exercises and moving around
(29:21):
the room and like being silly and like just enjoying
the process and then working on something with you and
seeing how the little tricks are things that you may
give me make such a big difference. And then like
the relief of knowing that I have those in my
back pocket going forward is just wonderful. It's like winning
(29:42):
all around. Oh, I love that. I love that you
said that. Thank you for the vocal tip this week,
inspired by Vanessa. Let's talk about developing your lower notes
and how to cool down your voice. Let's start working
on developing those lower notes to widen your range. They
should feel as easy as speaking. First, say m MEMI.
(30:04):
Try to speak the Mimi and your natural speaking voice,
but with just a little bit more for replacement than usual,
a little bit of a nasal sound. Me me, then
try m may May. Then try singing five notes and
a descending order like you heard Vanessa doing at the
(30:26):
beginning of our episode. You can try it on Mimi
or may may me me me, me, me, me, me
me me. Basses, baritones, and tenors. Start on a G
below middle C like this. Keep singing this five note pattern,
(30:47):
continually transposing it down by half steps, in other words,
changing the keys by half steps like this. Keep going
(31:11):
until you reach the lowest note you can sing comfortably.
You can always use a piano or a keyboard downloaded
onto your phone or your tablet to give you the
starting notes of each pattern sopranos and eelto start on
a G above mettle C. Remember, keep the vibrations forward
on the roof of your mouth. Just keep transposing, changing
(31:34):
the keys down by half steps until you reach your
lowest note. Go as low as you can comfortably. Now,
let's try a little cooling down. If you've ever watched
(31:56):
a marathon runner, you saw that they kept walking and
moving after the race, so the leg muscles didn't cramp up.
They never just stopped short. The same principle applies to
a singer after a major singing event like a concert,
or a long recording session or a big rehearsal. My
students always tell me that when they do a short cooldown,
or some people prefer to call it a warm down,
(32:16):
they wake up the next day feeling much better and stronger.
I break my cooldowns into two parts. Today we're going
to focus on the speaking part of the cooldown, which
is to have you focus keeping your speaking voice forward
in your mouth after you've been doing a big sing First,
say mmm hello, Now say hmm please come in. Do
(32:40):
you feel how the m really propels your voice nice
and forward in your mouth. That's a really healthy place
to speak from after you've been doing a big sing
Try it again, M, hello, M, thank you for coming
to the show. All right. I know this is probably
(33:02):
feeling very unnatural, but you only have to do it
in this exaggerated way for about fifteen minutes after that
big singing event, just to make sure you're keeping your
speaking voice and a forward, healthy range that's going to
really save your voice. After that, you can keep it forward,
but relax it so you sound more like you. If
you want to share how you're developing your low notes
(33:23):
or doing a cool down, I'd love to hear you.
Use the hashtag Backstage Pass pod on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok,
or wherever you like to post. I can't wait to
see your videos. I'll see you next week maybe maybe
me may. Backstage Pass with Eric Vitro is written and
(33:50):
hosted by me Eric Vitro and produced by Morgan Jaffee.
Katherine Girardeaux is our showrunner. Emily Rosstek is our associate producer.
Mixed and mastered by Ben Tolliday. Additional engineering help is
from Jacob Gorski. Mia Lobell is our executive producer. Our
development team Poltallmull and Justine Lange helped create the show.
(34:11):
Thanks also to Jacob Weisberg, Heather Fame, John Schnars, Carli Migliori,
Christina Sullivan, Eric Sandler, Maggie Taylor, Nicolemarano, Daniella Lucan and
Royston Deserve. Original theme music is by Jacob and Sita
Steele for Premier Music Group. We record it Resonate Studios.
Fred Taluksen does our videography and the photography is by
(34:32):
Ken Sawyer. A very special thanks to Michael Lewis for
his inspiration and the best guidance anyone could ask for.
Backstage Pass with Eric Vitro is a production of Pushkin Industries,
and if you like the show, please remember to share,
rate and review. I mean that really share it, rate
it and review it. If you love this show and
others from Pushkin Industries, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. Pushkin
(34:55):
Plus is a podcast subscription that offers bonus content and
uninterrupted listening for four ninety nine a month. Look for
Pushkin Plus on Apple podcast subscriptions. To find more Pushkin podcasts,
listen to the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
wherever you listen to podcasts,
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.