Audition Song Opinion

[jimmy_oh_jimmy]

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:32pm

Does anyone know the celtic women version of simon & garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair?"..... my voice teacher (more of a classical rather than musical theater instructer) suggested it. Is there an unwritten rule that we must always sing a musical theater song for MT auditions?

Thanks

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/7/08 at 4:50pm

There is no 'rule' about musical theatre songs for musical theatre auditions.

That said, let's look at your song choice which it cannot be denied is a beautiful song. However Scarborough Fair doesn't go anywhere. There is nothing to act, only to sing. In musical theatre, lyrics almost always come first (opera is the other way around).

Whoever you're auditioning for wants to see some pizzazz, some zip and some life in a presentation. A beautiful song beautifully sung may put some people to sleep which is not the result you want.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/7/08 at 6:03pm

When you audition, you're basically saying "I am totally right for this part, and I'm going to prove it to you". If there's ever an audition where 'Scarborough Fair' would be the perfect match, acting and singingwise, then by all means, give it a bash. However, musical theatre has its own distinctive style of singing, and the best way to prove you're capable of singing in the musical theatre style is to sing a song in the musical theatre style. The only show I can think of where 'Scarborough Fair' might be an appropriate audition piece would be for 'Spring Awakening', and if you did decide to use it, you would need to knock them DEAD with your monologue. 'Cos you may make pretty music, but acting in musical theatre is much more than that, and it probably isn't the best song for those purposes. :/