Audition Songs

[aniala2009]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 9:40pm

So, probably like anyone else in the class of 2009 (woot.) I'm starting to look for auditon songs. Any ideas for a mezzo-soprano on the verge of contralto? So far the only stuff I've found that works for me is from the Color Purple. But I kinda feel that it's so typical, a little black girl singing a song from a black musical, yaddah yaddah. Any ideas??

Oh yeah, and belting is my friend. My very dearest friend.

[broadwaybaby77]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 11:38pm

Have you looked at Once On This Island? There's a bunch of great songs in there AND the accompaniment lines are easy to sightread (great for auditions).

[oohshizz146]

Posted: 6/29/08 at 1:11pm

GREAT idea, broadwaybaby!! Look at the song "Mama Will Provide" if you're a belter!!!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/30/08 at 2:18pm

[This post could be sub-titled 'ONLY'.]

The only person who can make your theatre dept think "non-traditional casting" is you.

Yes, learn all the roles written for young black women. That will eventually be part of the territory.

But now audition with ONLY white leading lady songs. Make them see that it matters not at all what color most character's skin is, but whether you can move the audience. You have to teach them.

Assume that casting people cannot see anything but what is in front of them. This is a lifelong rule.

Sondheim: The Miller's Son but ONLY if you take your own accompanist to play the audition since this song, while very hard to sing, is harder if not impossible to sight-read.

Rodgers + Hammerstein: (and one of my favorites) The Gentleman is a Dope from Allegro. You start it angry but midway through you turn rueful since you keep singing "He'll never belong to me". You say something enough, you'll start to believe it, right? By the by, no one else even knows about this song in your circle. You'll be a standout. The ONLY one.

There. A strategy and two songs. Go for it girl.

[aniala2009]

Posted: 7/9/08 at 7:36pm

Thanks so much!! Suuuch a help!

[SteamHeat2]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:46am

"Ten Cents a Dance"
A great rarely heard number.

[creolebarbie]

Posted: 8/13/08 at 10:55am

Chack out Dessa Rose by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, "I Got Love" ( I used this song for college auditions last year) from Purlie and Bubbling Brown Sugar.

I'm also a black girl btw!

Break a leg and GET IT at your auditions!