Audition for NYU

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:47am

Hi, I need some help. I'm setting up an audition for NYU and I was thinking of these songs for my pieces. I've been told I need an up tempo and a ballad. For the ballad, I'm singing "Poor Child" from Lippa's "The Wild Party." Now, for the up tempo, would it be silly to do "Dancing Through Life" from "Wicked"? Would they want something less "popular and mainstream," or would that be okay? Any advice would be great! Thank you!

-Vincent

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:48am

I would say avoid "Dancing Through Life" like the plague.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:50am

A lot of Lippa's Wild Party is a little tough on the piano player. Also, to do a song like "Poor Child" and then do another pop song like "Dancing Through Life" would be pointless. You just showed them that you can sing contemporary, so pick something that shows off your range. Just don't pick any Sondheim, Finn, LaChiussa, or Guettel. Too risky to get a crappy piano player.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:50am

You would say it, which is slightly helpful. However, why would you say it? And what experience do you have that would make me take your advice seriously? I'm not trying to be saucy or smug, please don't take it that way. I just don't want anybody who hates "Wicked" saying it simply because they don't like "Wicked." Make sense?

-Vincent

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:50am

Yeah, and it's waaaaaaaaaay too mainstream. Not to mention it's an awful song.

[Kanab69]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:51am

Hmm, I auditioned for NYU 3 years ago and much to my surprise got into CAP singing Luck Be a Lady...however, while I do think Dancing Through Life is not gonna be an auditioners favorite, if you can blow them away with it, go for it.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:53am

Well, they want two contemp. monologues, so I didn't think it would hurt to have two contemp. songs as well. I could totally be wrong, of course. I just don't want to do something from "Guys and Dolls" or "Grease" you know? Plus, there won't be a piano player, they want the music to be on a CD, so I have a friend that can play what I give her...thanks for the advice!

-Vincent

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:53am

Good luck with the audition!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:55am

Thanks!!

-Vincent

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 12:59am

I don't know if you were talking to me or Priest earlier, but my take on doing Wicked at an audition is that it's going to be completely overdone. Auditors don't want to see the same songs over and over again. It would be like going in and singing "On My Own" or "Memory." Unless it's a song that you can completely own and blow anyone else out of the water with. I'm assuming with the monologues that they don't want classical because they don't want any Shakespeare or anything. You won't be studying shakespeare in musical theatre, but you WILL be studying classic musicals LIKE Guys & Dolls. I agree with you that you should stay away from that show. Older shows that are less known but have great material like "She Loves Me" or something like that would be much better than "Luck Be A Lady."

And I'm not really a fan of Wicked. I like it as entertainment, but as a piece of theatre it's not very good. And not many of the songs would make good audition pieces, except for a few of Elphaba's. They're too "pop" in form to make sense as an audition song, and don't necessarilly show off much acting.

Break a leg with your audition!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:03am

bjivie, thank you SO much! I wasn't talking to you earlier in my post, and I didn't want anything I said to come off nasty. I just don't want someone with no real knowledge giving "advice" simply based on the fact that they don't like a show. I def. understand what you're saying, and I'll def. start looking into other "up tempo" tunes...however, "Poor Child" is a keeper. If I may toot my own horn (hehe) I do it quite well...lol

-Vincent

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:06am

Haha, more power to you! I do a damn good "I'll Be There."

Are you a baritone or a tenor? I could take a look through my books and give suggestions. I went through college auditions too, so I've got lots of stuff.

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:07am

Baritone, working on range up to tenor...voice teacher insists there's a tenor in me...hehe...however, i don't want to stress about that while auditioning, so i'll stick to my baritone pieces...thanks a lot!!!

-vincent

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:22am

Hehe. I was a baritone once. I'll try to stay with uptempos, but some of these ballads I can't help but suggest...

"Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful" from Cinderella - It's amazing how little people use this song. It's in great baritone range and is just long enough for audition length. Very simple, very nice.

"Fireworks" from Do Re Mi - It's a definite "boom-chuck" song, but it's very classic Broadway style. It's sung by a straight guy, but sometimes I think it should be sung by Carmen Ghia, because it kind of makes me feel like that when I sing it. Haha.

"A Foggy Day" by Gershwins - Not sure what show it's from, but it's a nice midtempo that no one sings and has a nice "money note" moment on an F.

"Loving You" from Passion - Yes, it IS Sondheim, but it's surprisingly easy. Also, it's originally sung by a woman, and I don't know many guys that will venture into that territory. It's for a soprano woman, so it fits nicely into a baritone range. The non-solo version is nice and short, but it still needs a few measures cut.

"No Other Love" by R&H - Don't know what show, but again lands on a nice fat F at the end of the song. It's in a slow "tango" tempo.

"Tonight At Eight" from She Loves Me - It's definitely an acting song, and doesn't necesarilly show off the voice that much. It's also a patter song, and doesn't go very high.

"On The Other Side Of The Tracks" from Little Me - Also a girl song, but it's got a great driving tempo and is quite the showstopper. You can get it at www.sunhawk.com and change the key to whatever you want. Definitely a jazz/Broadway belt song.

"Anytime (I Am There)" from Elegies - It's a William Finn song, but it's a very easy William Finn song. The money note is an F#, which is kind of getting out of a baritone's range. It's a midtempo and is a great acting piece. The guys key says "Norm" on the title page, I believe, because it's the version he sings in the Infinite Joy concert. It's also not legit, but it's a great song.

Break a leg with your audition! I hope I was some help. Are you going for any other schools? Boco? CCM? UMich? NWestern? Carnegie-Mellon?

[bjivie2]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:23am

Oh! And somewhere there's a book called "Unpublished Rodgers & Hammerstein" or something like that. It has songs cut from shows like Flower Drum Songs that have never been released. Great for auditions!

[OrdinaryJukebox1]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 1:25am

Awesome! I can't thank you enough!! I was actually in "Cinderella" some years ago, so I'll have to look into that piece. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

-Vincent

[Sondheimluvchild]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 2:42am

If I were you, I would stay clear of NYU. It is way too expensive and way too overrated. If you saw their production of Sweeney Todd you would understand where I am comming from. Your better off taking your talents to another school.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 4:05pm

The reason I would avoid 'Dancing Through Life' has nothing to do with my dislike for the show and song.

But singing a song from the most popular show currently running on Broadway is, I think, a bad first impression.

You want to show them that you care enough about the audition to find a song that fits you, not just one that is popular.

They would much rather hear a more obscure song. It tells them that you know more about musical theatre and its history then the average theatre-goer.


And hearing the umpteenth rendetion of 'DTL' will drive them up the wall.


But, besides all that, it isn't even a great song.

[Razz77]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 5:27pm

Hey there...I was just accepted into CAP21 early decision, so I'm kinda familiar with the program...I would stay away from singing two songs that contemporary. The piano thing shouldn't be an issue, as I don't think they have accompanists for their auditions (we had to bring a CD for the early decision auditions...but that could just be because it was early decision)...For my audition I sang "What More Can I Say" from Falsettos (contemporary) and contrasted it with "It's All Right With Me" from Can-Can (An older cole porter uptempo). PM me if you have questions -- I just went through the process in November (and it paid off!)

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 7:44pm

Tisch never has accompanists for auditions so worrying about that isn't a problem. It's generally known that you shouldn't do a song from any show which has appeared on Broadway within the past five years, regardless of how well you can do it. Break a leg!

[Amneris]

Posted: 1/5/05 at 9:03pm

CAP HATES WICKED AND MILLIE AND JRB!! DO NOT DO THEM

[wickedkiwi]

Posted: 1/19/05 at 6:58pm

JRB??

yea, stay away from something that ppl are currently listening to. plus you wouldnt want to sing dancing through life if (InsertNameofNextBwayFyeroHere) happened to audition on that very same day and they compared him to you - regardless of your talent, you're generating yourself unecessary competition..


hey does anyone know if we have to dance if we didnt sing up for the advanced dance component?

im going to audition in two weeks, but as a mexican i have no idea how to survive the cold weather otuside and then wear appropriate audition wear inside...anybody have any tips on waht i should wear and stuff? is there a place to change?? thnx!!!! how many ppl are on teh audition panel?

Posted: 1/19/05 at 9:30pm

Sondheimluvchild,

I wasnt a theater major but I attended NYU and loved every minute of it. Its a very good school with a lot of courses and good teachers and its in the middle of Manhattan which can be helpful if you plan to make a living here-- get used to the lifestyle while in college. I have friends in CAP now who love it. I have other friends who have graduated who criticize CAP in retrospect because (im told) they dont have much of an industry night, but theyre all very successful none the less.

It IS expensive, but there are scholarships and financial aid and the like ...

(didnt mean to take over the topic- good luck at the audition!)