Low male voice repertoire in contemporary musical theatre: a studio and performance guide of selected songs 1996-2020 by

Chapter 4:
 
LEGIT
 
SONGS 
The descriptive term legit, has been used to describe a style of singing in musical theatre most 
closely associated with the classical singing voice. Characteristics include but are not limited to a 
consistent, even vibrato, even timbre throughout range, and classical “loft” or spacious resonance. A term 
most often associated with singing styles of musicals prior to 1968, the term legit can now be associated 
with works from the contemporary era of musical theatre, defining a musical as “sung-through”.
1
The 
contemporary legit sound can be more speech oriented, and Saunders Barton notes that revivals of 
traditional musicals may be sung in this more contemporary speech-like style.
2
Christy Turnbow defines 
the legit sound for men as influenced by classical technique, with a “robust, round sound that is very 
vowel focused”.
3
The term can be a qualifier like in the instances above or refer to current musical 
theatre music whose score is “written for traditional acoustic instruments and singers” without the 
influence of pop/rock.
4
Taking into consideration these varied definitions, each of the following 
examples have both elements of legit singing style and legit musical elements of composition, although 
the shows themselves may have stronger influences in pop or rock styles. These selections come from 
three contemporary musicals; The Civil War (1998), Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown 
(2011), and The Prom (2018). Each song entry includes suggestions of material from other shows which 
might suit individual low male voices in similar ways. 
1
Christy Turnbow, “Crossover Corner: Belt, Mix, and Legit - Three Little Words Used So Many Ways,” 
CS Music, July 18, 2019, accessed September 13, 2020, https://www.csmusic.net/content/articles/crossover-corner-
2/. 
2
Spivey and Barton, Cross-Training in the Voice Studio, 96. 
3
Turnbow. 
4
Ibid. 

---

20 
Table 4.1. “Father How Long?”