Sweeney Audition

#1

Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:17am

I know there are posts like this all the time. I'm auditioning for a professional production of Sweeney Todd. I'm a serious actor drawing a blank here. I never really have any problems coming up with material for auditions. But this one has got me stumped for some reason. I can comfortably sing all of Sweeney's material as well as Anthony and Beedle. I'm a strong Baritone and Tenor. Any ideas for songs I could sing at the audition? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#2

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:18am

Well, first I think you should determine which specific role you would like to go for. Each is very, very different and would require different audition songs.

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#3

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:21am

As strange as it sounds, unless they are expecting you to sing something from the show, I would stay away from Sondheim material. Don't get me wrong, he is my favorite, but I was always taught that he doesn't write good audition pieces.

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Gypsy - Betty Buckley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUN5XoB5vFs&feature=youtu.be

#4

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:23am

I'd prefer to play Sweeney. I have the pipes needed. But ideally I'd pick a song that shows that I could play either Anthony or Sweeney. Thats the hard part.

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#5

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:24am

Ooooo...tricky...very tricky...I need to think about that...

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"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."

The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.

#6

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 12:29am

Yeah, it may take a while, I've been thinking for a while. Let me know if you think of anything.

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#7

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 1:52pm

Oh come on, we can do better than that! I'm seriously in trouble here! My brain is in a constant state of "fart" and I really have to do this. Any thoughts would be sooo appreciated.

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#8

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 1:55pm

"Losing My Mind" has quite a gap between it's highest and lowest notes.
-d.b.j-

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Vary My Days.

#9

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 1:59pm

Well if its for Sweeney, you would need a song that shows off alot of diction and some fast parts. This shows yo ucan do the "Epiphany" and "A Little Priest". But for Anthony you would normally do a ballad with notes everywhere. Anthony's really only fast song is "Kiss me" which isn't that fast for him, more for Johanna. I can't think of any at the moment. but keep those characteristics in mind for your song.

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"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#10

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 2:22pm

OK...here's my idea:

it is based on the idea that you want to show you can sing the high, floaty stuff of Anthony, but also have the big sound of Sweeney. You also want to show you can be an angry or an in love person...so...here's my thought:

What Is It About Her from Wild Party (Lippa)

It shows emotional and vocal range...you'll have to take some liberty and find the float...but it can be done. Another idea would be Theres a Boat Thats Leaving Soon form Porgy and Bess...again, vocally, youd have to take liberty and show the float, but it can be done.

Those are my somewhat uninspired ideas. I don't know your voice well enough to know for sure.

#11

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 2:45pm

Losing my Mind DOES have a huge range as Nugget says. I've heard Mandy Patinkin do it successfully but it isn't an easy song to do and it requires a delicate balance of dramatic delivery lest you cross over into overly dramatic

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"Life is a lesson in humility"

#12

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 5:04pm

This may be totally out there, but you could see which Sweeney you prefer (Hearn, Cariou, Etc ) see what other roles they have done and select something from there - It's going to be hard to cover all three roles though. Such a challenge!

#13

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 5:17pm

Sorry - walked away and had a thought - what about The Ballad of Booth from assassins? Seems to me its got range and a certain "demented" quality to it.

#14

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 5:23pm

This is probably going to be uber-difficult to find but if you can get ur hands on the music for a show called No Way to Treat a Lady, u will find numerous songs that are perfect in my opinion. The character of Kit's songs all deal with him being a murderer and are in Sweeney range.

Otherwise my suggestions would be:

1. Apology to a Cow from Bat Boy (very intense)
2. Anthem (or something else equally as challenging) from Chess
3. I'm Martin Guerre ~Martin Guerre (i guess go with this if u want to be Anthony or Toby more)

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Yes that's me. No, it's not a Rent homage.

#15

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 5:47pm

Anthem is a good choice...

What about the song Jamie sings from TL5Y, "Moving Too Fast"? do you think that'd work?

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"Applause begets applause in the theatre, as laughter begets laughter and tears beget tears." CLAYTON HAMILTON, "Theory of the Theatre" "I think theater ought to be theatrical ... you know, shuffling the pack in different ways so that it's -- there's always some kind of ambush involved in the experience. You're being ambushed by an unexpected word, or by an elephant falling out of the cupboard, whatever it is." TOM STOPPARD

#16

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 8:15pm

You shall sing "On the Street Where You Live"

And here's why. You sing the first half completely legit (ala Anthony). It is EXACTLY the same intentions Anthony has when he first sees Johanna.

I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing I'm on the street where you live.
Are there lylac trees in the heart of town?
Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?
Does enchantment pour out of every door?
No it's just on the street where you live.

NOW. YOU WRITE A BIG PAUSE IN THE MUSIC FOR THE PIANIST. YOUR ENTIRE DEMEANOR CHANGES. YOU BECOME SWEENEY.


And oh the towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near
The overpowering feeling
That any second you may suddenly appear
People stop and stare
They don't bother me
For there's nowhere else on earth that I would rather be
Let the time go by
I DON'T CARE IF I!!!
Can be HERE on the street where you live.

This is perfect reflection for the intense hatred Sweeney feels for the Judge and his determination that NOTHING will stop him.

No thanks necessary - just 15% of your paycheck will do nicely.

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"High time we made a stand and shook up the views of the common man" - Tears for Fears

#17

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/24/04 at 8:16pm

You aren't audition for that Sweeney in NJ are you?

#18

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/25/04 at 1:43pm

hmmm, maybe
maybe not

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#19

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 8/25/04 at 1:43pm

thanks very much for those ideas. You came up with some things I never would have thought of.

Thank You guys!

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You are young, life has been kind to you. You will learn.

#20

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 9/2/04 at 10:42am

I feel EXTREMLY stupid for saying this because you may have already decided your audition song or decided against this one but....have you considered Those Were the Good Old Days from Damn Yankees? You could make it more Sweenyesque. The other one I was thinking about was Goodbye Old Girl...it has that floating quality at the beginning when Joe is old but when Joe turns younger...WHAM! Powerhouse... (just a thought...please don't laugh or hate me...)

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"Even if I could let you see me cry you would never understand what I was feeling inside, you see it and use it but dont believe in it..."

Updated On: 9/2/04 at 10:42 AM

#21

re: Sweeney Audition

Posted: 9/2/04 at 4:59pm

I wouldnt do Apology to a Cow because the piano music doesn't exist.