Singing a song from the show you're auditioning for

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:04pm

What's your opinion on this? Should it not be done? Is it too much like showing up in costume for an audition? Or is it good, and will let the people who cast the parts really see how you would handle the show?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/3/06 at 10:23pm

in my mind, at least, it comes off as really really really really desperate. it's like going up to someone you've never met before and proposing.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 12:11pm

I was told by a director at at theatre camp once that it makes you look like you have a giant ego

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 1:12pm

I hate it, just do not do it. I usually do prepare some songs from the show for callbacks before the audition but I NEVER use them for the audition unless specifically asked.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 2:54pm

I went into to audition for a production of Grease and they seemed shocked that I had prepared 2 songs from The Threepenny Opera rather than Grease. I would NEVER audition with a song from the show, not only because it is tacky but you get typecast into whatever you sing.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 5:34pm

At our main local community theatre, auditioners are told that their audition piece can NOT be from the show.

At my school, for chorus you can audition with anything, but for a lead, you have to audition with a song from the show.

[matt schneider]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 6:12pm

neverer should be done unless asked for, had that happen to me once.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 7:40pm

I wouldn't recommend doing that unless they ask for it. At my school, you HAVE to sing something from the show. Outside of school, I choose songs from different shows.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 8:01pm

As a general rule, don't. Sometimes they prefer it, like the producers of HAIRSPRAY. Also, at my school, our director doesn't mind in the least. But, if you have to ask, the answer is no.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:03pm

I neve sing from the show, but I know 2 cases in which it worked in favor of the performers. Two years ago, our Eliza in My Fair Lady sang Loverly for her audition. Last year, in Anything Goes, our Reno sang Anything Goes for ehr audition. But I think that was also because those two were extremely talenetd and clearly right for the parts. No one else could have done them as well.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:04pm

I neve sing from the show, but I know 3 cases in which it worked in favor of the performers. Two years ago, our Eliza in My Fair Lady sang Loverly for her audition. Last year, in Anything Goes, our Reno sang Anything Goes for her audition. Also last year, our Rosemary in H2$ sang Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm. But I think that was also because those three were extremely talenetd and clearly right for the parts. No one else could have done them as well.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 9:37pm

Thanks for your replies. I'm glad now that I didn't sing a song from the show at my last audition.

[Theaterdude872]

Posted: 7/4/06 at 10:31pm

I have a question that relates to this.

Let's say you're auditioning for a show, and the role you want requires an accent or a specific type of singing. In that case, would it be okay to use a song from the show in order to show the director that you can do that accent or type of singing?

[singingbeauty]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 1:27am

ok first of all i don't neccessarily think that singing the song from the show is all...i mean that is how some equity theaters cast roles..when idina menzel auditioned for wicked she had to sing defying gravity and she wore green blush and lipstick...the directors said they really got a feel of who she was and how good she could really be at the role...
as for doing an accent for the show..i think that shows talent when i auditioned for fiddler they had me try a jewish accent and ended up as tzeitel... and when i recently auditioned for annie get your gun i sang you can't get a man with a gun and so did most people, the difference was that i used an accent in my audition and actually i showed up in plaid shirt and jeans and i ended up as a great role as winnie tate...so i guess it depends on the situation and what kind of theater you are auditioning for..

[dancnqn5]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 12:20pm

The difference with Idina singing Wicked (or any major equity show for that matter) is they usually sing songs from the show for callback material, as part of the sides they are given. You still sing a separate song for your principle audition. Now, Idina may not have had to sing a song other than from the show because she was an established performer, but I don't know.

Singing songs that are similar in type or sound to the roles you want to play is a great thing. Singing a song from the show, not so much. Not only will the directors be so sick of the music already, you might be making choices that they don't agree with. If you don't sing the song the way they want, you could lose your shot at that role. Just speaking from experience and lots of musical theatre classes.

[Dancinqueen123]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 8:39pm

When I audition for a musical at my school, the director gives everyone auditioning a shhet with a cut of some of the songs from the show for us to choose from at the audition. A set of songs for girls, and a set of songs for guys. He tells us if we want to audition with something else we can, but he would prefer it if we picked one of the songs he gave us. He says that way he can see if the part we're singing fopr would be good for us, he can also see who would be that best at what parts.

[matt schneider]

Posted: 7/5/06 at 11:29pm

Of it is a case of accents I would still avoid songs for the musical, but find a different song that uses the same accent to show you can do it.

[ForTheLoveOfLea]

Posted: 7/6/06 at 12:41pm

I think its best to worry about accents in callbacks. In auditions they just want to hear what you can bring to the song you are singing.

Singing material similar to the show is fine, I believe. Especially if you are aiming for one particular character. With singing from the same show, I probably would advise against it even though some directors don't mind. Its best to cover all bases and sing something different and worry about the songs from the show for callbacks.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:30pm

Don't do it. As far as dialects/accents go these are usually more important in a call-back situation. Using similar style is a great way to utilize your knowledge of the show you're auditioning for. For a role such as Charlie Brown, I'd pull "Bye Room" from John and Jen to use. It's up-beat (like "The Kite") and is the same situation in that I (a 20 year old) am transforming to a little kid getting ready to camp. Charlie Brown is young and showing the exuberance and youngness in John is something that can help you along in an audition. Good luck with everything!

Cheers,

Christopher

[SarahBeth]

Posted: 7/7/06 at 8:49pm

The first thing I was taught was that singing a song from the show you're auditioning for is not the best idea. You may come off as big headed and having an ego. Instead sing a song that is in similar style.

[broadway_baby_17]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:06pm

well my old vocal coach told me not oto because everyone will be singing the same song as you which is true with 9-15 haha one time i was at an oliver audition and everyone sang consider yourself..... and about the accents i was at a to kill a mockingbird audition and this girl kept one doing a scarlet o'hera(sp) accent and he told her to stop and she kept on it she even did it for the scout auditon it was hilarious

[kenmarksnj]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 4:13pm

Guys, just remember these rules:

1. Never audition for a show with a song from that show.

2. Never use an accent at an audition unless asked to sing the song for a second time WITH an accent. This will be asked specifically by the director or it may not.

3. If the character you are auditioning for is the type who sings love ballads, sing a love ballad (not from the show). If the character is the type who sings uptempo standards, sing an uptempo standard (not from the show).

A lot of this is common sense and once you audition a lot you really start to understand the logic behind some of the rules which, at first glance, seem to not have a lot of reasoning behind them and appear as rules rather than guidelines to help YOU, the actor. The guidelines that directors and casting directors follow can often help YOU improve the way you look and sound in an audition. Remember, the directors and casting directors are HOPING and PRAYING that Y O U will be the person they can cast. The sooner they find their actor, the sooner they can go OTW.

(off to wardrobe)

[triplethreat]

Posted: 7/8/06 at 11:38pm

i dont think you should audition with song from the show, you should only do it if the audtition requires it, but i've always been taught to sing something else.

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:24pm

You should sing something in the STYLE of the show that you are auditioning for, unless they specify otherwise. However, you should be PREPARED to sing the songs from the show if they ask. Of course all rules can be broken. I sang the last 16 bars of Soliloqouy in Carousel, and got the 6 week gig. But that's just cause Im so gosh darned good, matched only bt my humility. It is never recommended to do that really..unless you can cream the song. To Cream: (v) def. The act of a professional/vocal coach telling you are successful in nailing a song, and not your best friend or mother.