audition rep for les mis audition

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:25am

hey there sports fans....just looking for a little friendly advice on what to sing for a les mis audition? Any ideas?

[Prisoner 24601]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:38am

Welcome to the board, operagirl!

There's bound to be people saying, "USE THE FREAKING SEARCH FEATURE!!" which would help, because there are, in fact, numerous threads about this very topic. But I'm sure there must be someone who can give advice.

What part are you trying out for specifically?
Are you soprano, alto..etc?

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 10:58am

I am trained as an opera singer, but I have a great mezzo-high belt. Being an opera singer, I could sing just about anything that isn't crazy high... They want belters for the ensemble and I could probably also do swing. I have a few songs to choose from....maybe you out there, could help me choose.

Loosing My Mind
I'm the Greatest Star
Look to the Rainbow
Take me to the world
All that jazz

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 1:10pm

Why would you sing any of those numbers? They are stylistically inappropriate for Les Mis and do not reflect the characters in the piece. Finally, throw out I'M THE GREATEST STAR and never perform signature material closely associated with other performers, as it will only beg comparisons and is only so much unnecessary baggage.

Mayella Ewell
Maycomb, Alabama

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 1:23pm

the hunter is right, opera girl.

try singing something from the show, or from schoenberg's other shows. are you familiar with Martin Guerre?

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:25pm

the audition notice says that they are looking for strong belters. i don't know martin guerre so i can't do anything from that. the notice does not say to sing from the show. i know that nothing i have on my list is in the style of les mis. but what the heck is? i think that to do the show justice you have to have a legit voice training, but be able to do great broadway belt too. this is why i am having such a hard time choosing a song. i just need them to hear my voice without turning them off by picking the wrong song.... still need help!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:30pm

Sing the song that shows YOU Off best - personality and vocal type - don't worry if it doesn't exactly match the style of material written for the show - remember this piece of advice that three of my acting teachers have all given - Never audition for a role, only audition for your REPUTATION. because, more likely than not, you will be kept in their files for future shows if they like what they see.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:36pm

Never sing a song from the show you're auditioning for. That's just tacky. Never do that. Sing something that you can really belt in. You're selling yourself and your voice. Don't try to sing something really intimite, just sing a song you can belt the **** outta.

[michelle4]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:36pm

I have to agree with Redhotinnyc. It is about showing what you have to offer. Out of the songs that you have listed which do you feel shows you off best vocally and emotionally? Whatever your answer is to that question is the song that I would choose.

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:41pm

I just need to respond to the comment that you shouldn't sing anything that is closely associated with any other performer. I think that you should be able to sing whatever you want. Of course, you need to be ready to be compared to other singers, isn't that what auditions are? In any case, if you don't do the song as well as, or better than someone who is famous for singing it, then don't do it. But if you can sing the heck out of a number and it suites you and people respond to it, then why not sing it. If singers let themselves be paralyzed with fear over being compared to the people who made certain songs famous then we would never have revivals or second productions of anything.

[Pippin]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 2:59pm

I do not agree with the "never sing the song from the show" idea.

first of all, if you do sing a song from the show for the character that you know you are right for, and can perform readily, and have done your homework on it, and found the character, then that shows the producers and the director A) that you know how to prepare for a role, and know what preperation implies.
B)that you show genuine interest in that specific role, and have made that commitment to the part ahead of time. this also shows the director that, if you are good, he won't have to worry as much about your ability to play the role, which is a great relief for directors.
C.) the director will not have to take that extra step in trying to imagine you singing fontine's song when you come in singing Fontine's song, belt it out, and give him everything he needs in one audition with any extra thought.
D.) it also shows that you are are at least familiar with the score, other than someone coming in and singing something completely inappropriate.

a director sees hundreds of people a day for a role, and it seems to me that he will remember you more if you sing the song of the character you are auditioning for, becuase he is already in that mindframe of looking for just the right person for the role. If you don't get it, too bad. that day they weren't looking for you, but if you are prepared everytime with the appropriate song from the show, eventually you will have what someone is looking for.
I don't think it is tacky at all to show that you have cared enough about the audition to get well educated with the material ahead of time.

Now obviously, if it is something like Wicked, if you are blonde, don't sing the wizard and I, and if you are a brunette, don't sing popular. know what character you are best for, choose a song that he or she sings, and then wear it out for the casting director.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 3:38pm

"I think that you should be able to sing whatever you want..."

That's exactly the kind of attitude that betrays a lack of actor-smarts, thought, preparation and a comprehension about the audition process.

"Of course, you need to be ready to be compared to other singers, isn't that what auditions are? In any case, if you don't do the song as well as, or better than someone who is famous for singing it, then don't do it. But if you can sing the heck out of a number and it suites you and people respond to it, then why not sing it..."

Sure, but that applies to less than 1% of auditionees. Also, when one considers the wealth of untapped material from 100 years of musical theatre, auditioning with someone else's signature tune, like 'GREATEST STAR,' for example, displays a staggering lack of imagination and effort. If you auditioned for me with that song, I would stop you after one measure and request you sing something else to prove your 'REPUTATION.'

"If singers let themselves be paralyzed with fear over being compared to the people who made certain songs famous then we would never have revivals or second productions of anything."

It's not about fear. It's knowing how to present yourself in the best light and not send out mixed messages. Revivals have nothing to do with is.

Tilde Kooeck
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 4:08pm

I have to completely disagree. This is exactly the kind of "I know more of the obscure rep. than you do" attitute that totally turns me off. Of course I have some obscure, "unsung" broadway tunes in my reperatoire, but if someone wants to hear me sing the heck out of a great broadway showstopper then I am going to give them exactly that. And guess what, most great showstoppers have been made famous by someone else. Are we to stop singing Cole Porter tunes because they were all popularized by Sinatra, or Ella Fitzgerald? Of course what I am saying only applies to 1% of auditionees. The sad fact is that only a minority of those who sing for a part actually get it. So maybe the odds are a little better than 1%, but at a broadway cattle call, I wouldn't put it much higher. As for a staggering lack of effort and imagination, well I would like to hear just anyone sing The Greatest Star, or All that Jazz. They are great songs partially because they are so hard to do well. About a lack of imagination, well if you were to sing them just as they are sung in the movie...then yes, you have no imagination, and you will look like an idiot. How much more imagination does it show to make the song your own. In any case, isn't that what we are all going to be doing....making a role written, or originated by someone else, someone famous, our own. If you, as a director, do not have the vision to see someone's talent because they are singing some famous tune, then that is a lack of effort on your part, and not thier's.

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 4:08pm

I have to completely disagree. This is exactly the kind of "I know more of the obscure rep. than you do" attitute that totally turns me off. Of course I have some obscure, "unsung" broadway tunes in my reperatoire, but if someone wants to hear me sing the heck out of a great broadway showstopper then I am going to give them exactly that. And guess what, most great showstoppers have been made famous by someone else. Are we to stop singing Cole Porter tunes because they were all popularized by Sinatra, or Ella Fitzgerald? Of course what I am saying only applies to 1% of auditionees. The sad fact is that only a minority of those who sing for a part actually get it. So maybe the odds are a little better than 1%, but at a broadway cattle call, I wouldn't put it much higher. As for a staggering lack of effort and imagination, well I would like to hear just anyone sing The Greatest Star, or All that Jazz. They are great songs partially because they are so hard to do well. About a lack of imagination, well if you were to sing them just as they are sung in the movie...then yes, you have no imagination, and you will look like an idiot. How much more imagination does it show to make the song your own. In any case, isn't that what we are all going to be doing....making a role written, or originated by someone else, someone famous, our own. If you, as a director, do not have the vision to see someone's talent because they are singing some famous tune, then that is a lack of effort on your part, and not thier's.

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 4:09pm

I have to completely disagree. This is exactly the kind of "I know more of the obscure rep. than you do" attitute that totally turns me off. Of course I have some obscure, "unsung" broadway tunes in my reperatoire, but if someone wants to hear me sing the heck out of a great broadway showstopper then I am going to give them exactly that. And guess what, most great showstoppers have been made famous by someone else. Are we to stop singing Cole Porter tunes because they were all popularized by Sinatra, or Ella Fitzgerald? Of course what I am saying only applies to 1% of auditionees. The sad fact is that only a minority of those who sing for a part actually get it. So maybe the odds are a little better than 1%, but at a broadway cattle call, I wouldn't put it much higher. As for a staggering lack of effort and imagination, well I would like to hear just anyone sing The Greatest Star, or All that Jazz. They are great songs partially because they are so hard to do well. About a lack of imagination, well if you were to sing them just as they are sung in the movie...then yes, you have no imagination, and you will look like an idiot. How much more imagination does it show to make the song your own. In any case, isn't that what we are all going to be doing....making a role written, or originated by someone else, someone famous, our own. If you, as a director, do not have the vision to see someone's talent because they are singing some famous tune, then that is a lack of effort on your part, and not thier's.

[michelle4]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 4:32pm

While I don't think that any song is off limits I do have to agree that performing a song that is so linked to a big name at an initial audition is not wise. You have 16 bars tomorrow to show the creative team who you are and what you can do. At this point in the audition stage is about getting a callback. At the callback when you get the opportunity to sing an entire song you can pull that out, but I wouldn't do it before that time.

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 5:26pm

ok. so we have covered what I cannot sing. but are there any acceptable songs that I can sing? What about I can cook too? I want to show that I can be funny, I think that is the best part of my personality. I guess I could do, Loosing my mind, but I feel like I am at risk of being boring...with only 16 bars. I am grasping at straws here. I am going to go to colony tonight to look at some music. I am not going to learn something new for tomorrow, but there has to be something that I can do...please any suggestions

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 5:33pm

Miss Saigon or Ragtime...

And why would you do comedy for a show called Les Miserables? Unless you want to be a Thenardier or Grantaire - NO comedy. Updated On: 10/10/05 at 05:33 PM

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:01pm

I want to be considered for the role of Thenardier, but I would be best as ensemble and swing. It's just that most of the great belter songs are comedic in some way. The only really dramatic one that I sing that is suited to me as a person is Losing my Mind...

Plus I think that you need to be able to do comedy and drama well to be able to pull off some of the darker irony in the play. What about Lovely Ladies...when I saw the production it was both dark and a little funny...or am I smokin crack here?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:06pm

Thenardier!?

What sex are you?

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:15pm

i meant mme. thenardier. my bad.

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:19pm

i think i've got it....what about Stay Well by Kurt Weill?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:23pm

Listen, if you REALLY wanted a part in Les Mis you would have done more research and looked for something new.

You obviously don't understand what Les Mis is and you waited too long.

You have characters all of the place...Mme. Thenardier is nothing like Cosette, who is nothing like Eponine.

Your one line "am not going to learn something new for tomorrow" is reason enough why you shouldn't be cast.

You obviously could care less.
Updated On: 10/10/05 at 06:23 PM

[operagirl]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 6:35pm

That isn't true. I have been looking for a song for some time now. I have been to the library and have listened to the score again since it's been a few years since I saw it last. I have been trying to figure out just what would be good for it. At first I thought I would sing something poingnant like Look to the Rainbow,(in fact, I did learn this song from scratch) because I like to believe that although many of the characters are desperate that they also have a strong sence of hope, otherwise they would not be fighting. I thought of Loosing My Mind because it is also about a kind of desperate love...similar to the love that is not responded to in On My Own. (On My Own is about alot more than just love, it is more complicated than that of course....) I have thought alot about this, but I am comming up blank because I am acutely aware of the vocal demands of the work. In order to sing this musical 8 times a week, you have to have great technique...otherwise you will blow out your chords. I want something that shows that I can really sing, but also shows that I have better than just 'good' vocal technique. I am desperate to have some good advice because I left all my advisors behind in Canada. If I left anything to the last minute, it was calling them to get a final opinion...which is what I usually do when I have gotten my choices down to about two or three songs.... Don't mistake my asking for advice, and my practicality about not picking up a new song for lack of thought or effort. I guess it doesn't really matter what you think, but I don't want to be thought of as thoughtless...i am just trying to make the best possible choice.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 7:46pm

What about I'LL FORGET YOU from THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL?