Ruthless!

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 11:13pm

I recently stumbled upon this recording, and I've fallen in love with the score, but I was wondering: is it kosher to use these songs for auditions? Do directors hear them all the time? I was just curious, because there's a few really great songs for both sopranos and belters: "A Penthouse Apartment," "It Will Never Be That Way Again," "Born to Entertain" - so?

[Bway=happy]

Posted: 1/4/06 at 11:26pm

I bet it would be fine to use them. While it is an under ground cult classic, the teenyboppers ain't found this one yet. I read the book over the summer and enjoyed it, glad to hear that the music is similiarily entertaining.

[Labashier]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 12:00am

Am I the only one who HATES the recording? I love the show and love the score, but the recording really gets on my nerves.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 3:36am

Just be warned, VonTussle...the piano score for Ruthless is very intricately written. A sub-par audition pianist would struggle with it.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 3:40am

I love the musical, though I haven't heard the cast recording. I don't think that any of the songs would be overdone.

[gumbo2]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 3:40am

I love the musical, though I haven't heard the cast recording. I don't think that any of the songs would be overdone.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 5:39am

VonTussell -- anything that's going to set you apart is a good choice. I think the score is brilliant. The big problem I potentially see with using the songs from Ruthless! is that you would have to play the ultra-camp humor and I don't know how applicable it would be to MOST roles you would be auditioning for. The lyrics have (for the most part) enough camp twists that you can't ignore them or might come off as strange. I do agree, however, that the songs you mentioned would be good for showing off range with material that you won't be hearing from every other girl at the audition.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 7:33am

As someone mentioned it's not as easy to play as it might seem. Also I have noticed a lot of young girls sing Born to Entertain for auditions now, it's clear they have completely missed the irony.

[roquat]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 11:16am

The only song I might use is "It Will Never Be That Way Again"--it's the only one that really works out of context.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 1/5/06 at 6:10pm

I figured it might be a little campy, but my compay usually does pretty cheesy shows, so I figured these songs would work a little better than yet another rendition of "Memory" or "Think of Me" - which is what all the girls do anyway. Many thanks.