Contemporary Musical Theater Repertoire: Women in Mid to Later Life

There are a large number of ‘mid-to-late life’ female musical theater singers who are singing better than ever as they age. I am sure they work very hard at it. And at the same time, they’ve learned to let go of their younger selves to make room for the warmth, depth and passion the mid to later life years can bring.  Please add your additions to this list in the comments.

If you are a women “of a certain age,” you can sing just about anything if you invest in good arrangements. If an ingenue sings the song in the original musical theater version, you can work with a good arranger or pianist to have something arranged for you that helps to express you today. This does cost money, but then you have an arrangement that is yours to sing in cabaret, auditions and other programs. But we do have a new body of song starting to build up that expresses the many facets and experiences of growing older.

My Most Beautiful Day (Tuck Everlasting)

I haven’t Got a Prayer (Sister Act) Sung by Mother Abbess (starts at about 30′)

Dividing Day and Fable  (Light in the Piazza) sung by Margaret

Close the Door (Anastasia) sung by Dowager Empress

Better Yourself (War Paint) sung by Elizabeth Arden

Now You Know (War Paint) sung by Helena Rubenstein

So Big/So Small (Dear Evan Hanson) sung by Heidi

(Also, listen to Renee Fleming’s latest CD release with an arrangement for her of this song.)

Land of Yesterday (Anastasia) sung by Countess Lilly

Just One Step (Songs for a New World) sung by Woman 2

Love and Love Alone (The Visit) sung by Claire

Almost and Always Better  (Bridges of Madison County) sung by Francesca

Big, Blonde and Beautiful (Hairspray) sung by Mother Maybelle

Days of Plenty and Here Alone, (Little Women) sung by Marmee

(the video quality of this recording is poor, but it’s the the great Maureen McGovern  singing!

Days and Days (Fun Home) sung by Allison

Another Winter in Summer Town and Will You (Grey Gardens) sung by Edie

And last, but not least, check out the second act songs from the musical John and Jen by Andrew Lippa. Jen has a grown son in the second act

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