Audition help

[FranziaRebel]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 10:02am

Ok all of you out there with encyclopedic knowledge of everything Broadway. I need help picking an audition piece. The show I'll be audtioning for "Johnny Guitar the Musical"

The music reminds me of spaghetti western. Western in a poperatic kind of way.

So far the best I can come up with is 'They Call the Wind Mariah" from "Paint Your Wagon". This is very stylistically close to the music of Johnny Guitar, but it's not a great audition piece.

Any help would be appreciated.

I'm a low baritone btw.

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 4:43pm

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do Mama says from footloose and I swear to you that I will love you forever!!!!!!!

You could also try looking at Oklahoma! tho I dont like that one very much

Defenses are down? Annie get your gun??

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/30/06 at 6:48pm

Franzia, tho THEY CALL THE WIND MARIA is not a bad choice for you vocally, it's the wrong tone for JOHNNY GUITAR, which is spoofy and satirical. It's like auditioning for URINETOWN: you have to go in singing ridiculous material with a straight face.
Something like:

RAWHIDE
Keep movin', movin', movin',
Though they're disapprovin',
Keep them doggies movin' Rawhide!
Don't try to understand 'em,
Just rope and throw and grab 'em,
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
Boy my heart's calculatin'
My true love will be waitin', be waiting at the end of my ride.

Move 'em on, head 'em up,
Head 'em up, move 'em out,
Move 'em on, head 'em out Rawhide!
Set 'em out, ride 'em in
Ride 'em in, let 'em out,
Cut 'em out, ride 'em in Rawhide.

Full Lyrics

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Rawhide!

Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Though the streams are swollen
Keep them dogies rollin'
Rawhide!
Rain and wind and weather
Hell-bent for leather
Wishin' my gal was by my side.
All the things I'm missin',
Good vittles, love, and kissin',
Are waiting at the end of my ride

CHORUS
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Head 'em up, move 'em on
Move 'em on, head 'em up
Rawhide
Count 'em out, ride 'em in,
Ride 'em in, count 'em out,
Count 'em out, ride 'em in
Rawhide!

Keep movin', movin', movin'
Though they're disapprovin'
Keep them dogies movin'
Rawhide!
Don't try to understand 'em
Just rope, throw, and brand 'em
Soon we'll be living high and wide.
My hearts calculatin'
My true love will be waitin',
Be waitin' at the end of my ride.

Rawhide!
Rawhide!


OR....

MULE TRAIN (originally sung by Frankie Laine)

Mule train, yeah, yeah.
Mule train: clippetty-clopping over hill and plain.
Seems as how they’ll never stop.
Clippetty-clop, clippetty-clop, clippetty, clippetty,
clippetty, clippetty, clippetty-clopping along.

There’s a plug of chaw tobaccy for a rancher in Corolla;
A guitar for a cowboy way out in Arizona;
A dress of callico for a pretty Navajo.
Get along mule, get along.

Mule train, yeah, yeah.
Mule train: clippetty-clopping along the mountain chain.
Seems as though they're gonna recah the top.
Clippetty-clop, clippetty-clop, clippetty, clippetty, c
lippetty, clippetty, clippetty-clopping along.

There’s some cotton thread and needle for the folks away out yonder.
A shovel for a miner who left his home to wander.
Some rheumatism pills for the settlers in the hills.
Get along mule, get along.

Mule train, yeah, yeah.
Mule train: clippetty-clopping through the wind and rain.
They'll keep going till they drop.
Clippetty-clop, clippetty-clop, clippetty, clippetty,
clippetty, clippetty, clippetty-clopping along.

There’s a letter full of sadness and it’s black around the border.
A pair of boots for someone who had them made to order.
A Bible in the pack for the Reverend Mr Black.
Get along mule, get along.

Get along mule, get along. (Mule train.)
Get along, get along.

Or....

BALLAD OF THE GUN from DESTRY RIDES AGAIN by Harold Rome.

Hope this helps!


Updated On: 1/30/06 at 06:48 PM

[FranziaRebel]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 9:59am

Wow, thanks for the suggestions!!

Enachanted Hunter you have me really intrigued by "Destry Rides Again", but I think sheet music may be hard to find. So far I've found nothing on the internet. Any ideas.

As for the "Raw Hide" suggestions no doubt it would be a hoot to walk into an auditon and sing that, but do you think it's appropriated to sing something not from a musical?

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 10:26am

If you live in NYC, you could get DESTRY from the library at Lincoln Center. Or perhaps some compassionate conductor or pianist here on BWW has the score and could scan and mail you a copy.

As long as it is musically appropriate and you are able to create some kind of context and character, there is no law that you have to sing from a musical. If the auditors want to hear something else, they will ask you. But you'd probably score points for actor-smarts by bringing in a piece of special material like RAWHIDE. Shows your thinking.

Vivian Darkbloom
Ramsdale, New England
Updated On: 1/31/06 at 10:26 AM

[FranziaRebel]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 10:54am

Hey you created a new oxymoron. Actor smarts.


I like how you think and I am friends with the director and the producer so maybe it would be a good opportunity to take a chance.

Thanks again for your help.

What are your thoughts on auditioning with music from the show itself? I was thinking of audtioning with the opening number from Johnny Guitar. Most productions, I think, have a woman sing this, but sometimes it's done by a man.
Updated On: 1/31/06 at 10:54 AM

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 10:58pm

I took an audition workshop once, and the first thing they said was never do a song from the show you are auditioning for, it makes you look conceited (sp?) But thats only my two cents. Dont feel the need to listen to me

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 11:56pm

"Hey you created a new oxymoron. Actor smarts."

Hey, they're your peeps. Respek, mon.

Franzia, I'm a coach---it's my job to think outside the box for my clients. Better the bold choice than the safe, uninteresting one. I see no problem auditioning with the opening number unless it is gender-specific and cannot be easily changed (I only heard the score once). I also believe that if you are auditioning for a specific role, you should do corresponding material from the show or go in with similar material (like Faith Prince did, when she auditioned for GUYS AND DOLLS by singing SOMETHING WONDERFUL from THE KING AND I, a la Adelaide). Finally, if you are friends with the director and producer, then more of a reason to push the envelope. Safety last!!

Melinda Tentrees
Brighton, England