1st Audition Successes -- Insane Luck

[Act0r721]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 11:18am

Does anyone know who has made it into a Broadway show on their first audition? I am wondering about those who just kind of did it on a whim, especially if they weren't even studying musical theater (or whatnot) before.

I'm pretty sure I heard that Lea Michele randomly auditioned for "Les Mis" and got it.

Or other professions.

From iMDb about the movie "Kids": Rosario Dawson, who plays Ruby, was spotted by Harmony Korine and Larry Clark sitting on the stoop of an East Village tenement.

I also heard a rumor that Jay-Z was eating in a restaurant in Barbados. Some girl was singing along to the radio and he signed her, Rihanna, on the spot.
Updated On: 7/17/07 at 11:18 AM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 11:20am

Supposedly, Betty Buckley's first audition after getting off the bus was for 1776.

[DEFYxGRAViTY721]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 11:56am

wrong post, sorry.
Updated On: 7/17/07 at 11:56 AM

[Julian2]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 12:54pm

"I am wondering about those who just kind of did it on a whim, especially if they weren't even studying musical theater (or whatnot) before."

Kristen Chenoweth. Not sure what it was for (Broadway, off, etc), but that's basically what happened. She talks about on a recent Downstage Center podcast.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 1:58pm

doodle-that was the one that popped into my head when I saw the heading.
I heard the story at her concert ages ago. (Like 10 years)
She got off the bus from Texas and auditioned for the role of Martha Jefferson and got it. They had to get rid of her southern twang, though. And she did say the early performances were rough-she tripped over the costume and fell into John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. She was scared they were going to cut the part because it was so small anyway. But, they kept the part, shortened her skirt a little and she did the role.

[proptart101]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 2:20pm

A pit guitarist I know says that his first audition was a lark, a dare from a friend who had faith in him. Never even tried anything like that before.

He got the gig, toured for 2 years as Sting's guitarist, and now is working on B'way constantly.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 2:30pm

Cheyenne Jackson's story is pretty remarkable, too.

[Matters]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:15pm

Erica Peck who got Scaramouche in the Toronto production of We Will Rock You. She went to an open audition and was hand picked by Queen to play the lead. I think she's the youngest cast member, she was in the middle of studying musical theatre at sheridan college when she got the part.

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:18pm

What's Cheyenne's story?

[Just_John]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:25pm

I think Megan hilty's first audition was for Wicked, she didn't get it right away, but she got it.

[NativeNewYorker]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:42pm

Cheyenne and Marc Kudisch worked together in Seattle, and Marc told him to let him know if he ever moved to NYC. Marc got him a meeting with his agents, Cheyenne auditioned for Millie, tried to coverup the fact that he couldn't tapdance (it's all in Seth's Chatterbox interview with him), got the ensemble/understudy role (for Kudisch and Gavin Creel's roles) and just three years later, he's a a giant billboard in Times Square!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 4:01pm

"Kristen Chenoweth. Not sure what it was for (Broadway, off, etc), but that's basically what happened. She talks about on a recent Downstage Center podcast."

Kristin Chenoweth auditioned for an off-Broadway show when she was really only coming to New York to help a friend move. She auditioned and got the job, along with her Equity Card.
Updated On: 7/17/07 at 04:01 PM

[another_reprise]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 6:28pm

Didn't Adam Pascal just show up to an audition fot RENT w/ no theater background/experience whatsoever just to "see what it's like"?

[[e-mail]]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:35pm

Yes, but with Kristen as I recall it wasn't "any old" off-broadway show, but a relatively big deal, i think kander & ebb wrote it? Maybe I"m wrong.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:40pm

"Yes, but with Kristen as I recall it wasn't "any old" off-broadway show, but a relatively big deal, i think kander & ebb wrote it? Maybe I"m wrong."

Steel Pier with a score by Kander and Ebb was her first Broadway show. I don't know how long after that came after she got her Equity Card.

[Sargar]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:46pm

Didn't Adam Pascal just show up to an audition fot RENT w/ no theater background/experience whatsoever just to "see what it's like"?

Pretty much- they loved him, but their biggest gripe was that he always sang with his eyes closed.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:05pm

I heard that Adam Pascal had never had a part before, never done any theatre, like, ever, and he got the part of Roger for the off-broadway RENT.

[Act0r721]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 12:27pm

Wow on Adam Pascal. That just makes me wonder how many people are out there that have incredible voices and could be huge successes, but just aren't going down that route.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:37pm

Katie Clarke got Clara in Light in the Piazza right out of college. I'm pretty sure it was from her first audition.

[cooperross]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:48pm

"Kristin Chenoweth auditioned for an off-Broadway show when she was really only coming to New York to help a friend move. She auditioned and got the job, along with her Equity Card."

The show was 'Animal Crackers' at the Papermill Playhouse.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 1:50pm

Laura Benanti showed up for a call for SOUND OF MUSIC and was hired as Rebecca Luker's understudy.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 2:26pm

I believe I saw/heard/read something about Adam Pascal having trouble remembering the lyrics to One Song Glory, so they had him sing the song sitting on the table so they could write the lyrics there.

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 6:28pm

Yep, if you notice the blocking for "One Song Glory", Roger stays on the table most of the time because they had to tape index cards with the lyrics to the table so Adam could remember them. Oh Adam, how far you've come.