Nancy in Oliver! audition song

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 11:11pm

I am not sure where to post this, but I have an audition coming up for a local production of Oliver! and I *hope* to earn the role of Nancy. However, I have never seen the show and know basically nothing about it. So I wondered if anyone knew of a good audition song that is in that same range perhaps? (we need to pick 16 bars from a standard showtune). Thanks for any help you can offer!

Posted: 7/16/08 at 6:05am

I suggest you watch the movie asap. How do you know you want to play the part of Nancy when you have never seen the show?? Songs: You need to show a mezzo belt range, don't pick anything written after 1969. I suggest looking at other British shows like Half a sixpence, Me and my girl, etc. Also look at British Music Hall (turn of the century art form, a lot of Nancy's songs are in that style). Women like Marie Lloyd made lots of great songs famous (When I take my morning promenade, The boy in the gallery, etc.)

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 7/16/08 at 8:42am

Thanks for the help! Sorry, just to clarify, I know the basic plot and heard a few of the songs, I just haven't ever seen it performed or the movie, which I will try to get my hands on as soon as possible. Thanks again!

[Jon]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 10:50am

I think they raised some of the keys for Nancy in the movie. In the original score, her songs are REALLY low.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 12:14pm

For the production I am auditioning for it says she needs to be a soprano.. I really have NO idea what to sing. I did I Have Confidence with my vocal instructor so I thought I would do that but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 2:54pm

If they will use a soprano there will be no pretty little head voice moments. Nancy is an earthy chest voiced woman and definitely not an ingenue.

Buy the cast recording. The original Nancy, Georgia Brown, was low mezzo verging on a nice baritone but without much rasp. Unless the producers are going to rescore her songs up (and pay for all that transposing...?) that's the music that is going to arrive from the licensing firm.

Shani Wallis who did the film did have a soprano voice, but she wasn't tough. She had no hard edge. She was a victim and not a fighter.

Posted: 7/19/08 at 12:12pm

I couldn't agree more with the post above me.

[bwaylover86]

Posted: 7/19/08 at 11:30pm

Now I am all confused haha it does say soprano on the audition sheet so I guess I will just go with that? Any more song suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Jon]

Posted: 7/23/08 at 10:50am

The highest note Nancy sings is the C an octave above middle C. Irt should be belted if possible. She goes downm to the F below middle C. She is NOT a soprano.