Serious Audition Help

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 8:23pm

I plan to audition at a university and pursue a B.F.A in Musical Theatre. Of course, they require the standard "16-bar ballad" and "32-bar up tempo" audition. I've chosen to do On My Own when it comes to the ballad, but I cannot for the life of me decided what to do for the 32-bar song. Any advice? By the way, I am terrible at cutting music. What should I cut from On My Own?

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 8/3/09 at 10:20pm

Well, I wouldn't know where to cut On My Own, but I think of you start the first time you sing "On My Own" you can go to the end of a verse and that's sixteen bars, so that would probably work.

For an upbeat song, the first one that comes to mind is "Out Tonight" from Rent. "It Won't Be Long Now" from "In the Heights" might work.

[dramadude2]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 12:37am

On my Own is incredibly overdone.

I would stay away from anything that's been on Broadway in the Last 5 years. That includes Rent and In the Heights.

What is your range?

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 1:26am

I agree with Dramadude. Stay away from those shows. The auditioners will probably tune out. Let us know what your physical type and range are and we can probably help you better.

[dramatothemax]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 11:20am

If you sing On My Own, you probably won't get into any colleges. So I'm assuming you're a belter.

I'm not sure how overdone Kerrigan and Lowdermilk songs are in college auditions these days, but with the exception of Say the Word, I would look at their stuff.

Look into old Gershin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kurt Veil etc. for your ballad.

Do something fun for uptempo. Maybe "Love of My Life" from Brigadoon or something along those lines.

There was a time on Broadway when a composer at a new show on Broadway every week. They were usually fluff pieces, but they have great uptempos. Check them out.

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 1:18pm

I'm a mezzo-soprano, and I'm about 5 foot 1. I would definitely say I'm a belter, but I can also do pretty good at high notes, just don't expect me to shatter glass. If I sing too high sometimes, it strains my voice beyond belief. So, I would say I definitely rely more on Elphie than I do Christine.

[dramadude2]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 1:48pm

If you're a belter, maybe look at Ooh my feet from the Most Happy Fella as your uptempo. It will show off your belt and is pretty darn funny if you can act the crap out of it.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 3:36pm

Try "Not Since Nineveh" from Kismet as your uptempo. It's mostly belt, but has a relatively high cadenza in the end.

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 8/4/09 at 9:37pm

I've done some rethinking and more rethinking and I was wondering if this would work.

Ballad-Far From The Home I Love or If I Loved You

Uptempo-Standing On The Corner or Be Italian


I would say if My Friends Could See Me Now, but Sweet Charity is probably overdone as well.