Gabbing with Grether's: Hannah Solow’s Vocal Care Routine

Hi, it’s Corrie here—your resident Grether’s girlie! I recently had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Broadway star Hannah Solow backstage at the historic Lyceum Theatre, where she’s performing in Oh, Mary. We chatted all things vocal care, and let me tell you, her routine is as impressive as her on-stage performance. Here’s the inside scoop on how Hannah keeps her voice in top shape night after night.

The Famous "Gerbil Moment"

One of my favorite things Hannah shared is what she affectionately calls her "gerbil moment." With very little downtime off stage, her dresser is always at the ready with a water bottle. "In my mind, I’m a little gerbil," Hannah laughed. "They hand me the water, and I go for it."

She even told me that during Betty Gilpin’s run, they started placing a Grether’s on Betty’s water bottle mid-show. Iconic.

Hannah’s Vocal Care Arsenal

Hannah’s routine is serious business. She credits her incredible voice teacher, Sarah K. Brown, for helping her build such a solid regimen. Here’s what she keeps backstage:

• Grether's Pastilles: "I always have a Grether’s Pastille in my mouth as the first scene starts. Sometimes, if it’s not dissolving fast enough, I chew it up quickly to get that soothing effect right away!"

• Throat Massager: "I have a lot of neck tension, so I use this all the time," Hannah said.

• Gauze for Tongue Stretches: She showed me how she grabs each side of her tongue with gauze to stretch it forward and side to side—key for loosening things up. Check the full video out here. 

• Soft Palate Stretches: Special gloves are involved here. "It’s a whole thing," she joked.

• Nebulizer Steamer: A must-have to keep her voice hydrated.

• Straws (Big and Small): For straw phonation exercises that keep her voice supple and resonant.

• Manuka Honey & Ginger Crystals: Nature’s best vocal care combo.

• Tea & Hydration: No performer is without their trusty tea!

• Sheet Masks & Icy Hot: Because self-care is part of the package.

Hannah’s Quick Fixes

I asked Hannah what she does when time is tight and a full warm-up just isn’t possible. Her go-to routine:

• Tongue stretch

• Soft palate stretch

• Lip trills

• Tongue trills

“It’s quick, but it gets the job done,” she assured me.

Fully Stocked and Ready

Of course, no backstage setup is complete without a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Hannah has allergy meds, stomach meds, Tylenol—you name it. "You never know what’s going to happen mid-show," she said. "It’s good to be prepared!"

Watch the interview here