<p>I thought this might be interesting.
For students accepted for musical theater already:</p>
<p>what school are you at? :</p>
<p>what were your audition pieces? :</p>
<p>Good idea for a thread.</p>
<p>This is really old news, but I guess I could answer for when I was at the University of Arizona. My audition pieces were "Shy" (yeah I had no idea what I was doing - I grew up in Korea!!!) and "Til There Was You". That second one is totally anti-type for me too. I'm a Mary Testa type singing a Kristen Chenoweth-type song, but hey, I got in. My monologue was Bella from "Lost in Yonkers." So, as you can see, I made every mistake in the book - anti-type, character way too old, dialect monologue, overdone songs - and I still got in.</p>
<p>I also got in to the University of the Arts, singing "Another Hundred People" and "Unusual Way" with the same "Lost in Yonkers" monologue. Again, even more mistakes. I didn't even know the plot of Nine back then - I just liked the song. And I had no idea that no one would be able to play "Another Hundred People" - I just knew that I could sing it. Darn it. But amazingly, I got in there too.</p>
<p>I did NOT get into CMU, Ithaca (video audition,) NYU, Michigan, or FSU. That time around, anyway. I'll let you know what happens this time around - and I definitely won't be making every mistake in the book again!</p>
<p>PS - Interesting side note - the accompanist at CMU was the only one who could play "Another Hundred People" and he didn't just play it - he PLAYED it. He did something completely different from what was written on the score, and it was wonderful! That was the only school I sang that song at that it actually went well.</p>
<p>I have gone back though my notes and my memory from years past and this is what I have come up with. </p>
<p>These are only monologues. I have few notes on song choices because my students have voice teachers who do that.</p>
<p>Female accepted at Tisch, BU, CMU, Ithaca and Syracuse; graduated CAP21
Sylvia
Electra
The Swan</p>
<p>Female accepted at Emerson, TCU,St. Edwards; attends St. Edwards
Betty's Summer Vacation
Born Yesterday</p>
<p>Female accepted at BU, USC, Indianna, NYU, Ithaca; attends USC
Marisol
Joe Egg
Cleopatra</p>
<p>Female accepted at SMU; attended SMU
Conduct of Life
Food Chain
R&J</p>
<p>Female accepted at USC, SMU, Evansville, Syracuse; attends SMU
Blue Window
As You Like It
Raised in Captivity
Be Aggressive
Julius Ceasar
a Brian Friel (can't remember which one)</p>
<p>Female accpted at USC, BU, Tufts; attends USC
Antigone
Slaughter City
Ideal Husband</p>
<p>Male accepted ED at Tisch; attends AtlanticTheatre Company
Pterodactyls
Reckkless
Twelfth Night</p>
<p>Male accepted at SMU,OCU, OU, CMU, (called back at Julliard); attends CMU
All My Sons
Raised in Captivity
School For Husbands</p>
<p>Female accepted at OCU, attends OCU
Romantic Comedy</p>
<p>Female accepted at Webster, Ball State; attends Webster
Be Aggressive
Born Yesterday</p>
<p>Female attending Elon
Whiskey</p>
<p>Male attends Long Island University C.W. Post
Streamers
Raised in Captivity</p>
<p>My current students have a sum total of 24 new monologues between them. I will be happy to share those with you after the audtion season is over.</p>
<p>This was a fun walk down memory lane.
Good luck to all of you!</p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>oh that's great Mary Anna! Thanks! If you remember any songs by chance that would be such a help too- ahhh thanks.</p>
<p>Here's one I forgot</p>
<p>Female accepted at Indiana, waitlisted SMU, attending Indiana
Be Agressive
Country Club</p>
<p>That's all my brain can recollect for the time being. I am glad this is helpful. </p>
<p>I can only remember a few songs. Maybe as I talk to former students I can get a song list together for you. </p>
<p>xxx,Mary Anna</p>
<p>A caveat about hearing song selections of those who "got in":</p>
<p>On at least two occasions, students of mine who were freshmen at UM and CMU were in their first official meeting of their new MT class and and were asked to introduce themselves and say what they sang for their auditions. After each student did this, the department faculty who were there basically said, "And most of you will learn in a short time why you should NEVER sing those particular songs again!" This was said with good-natured humor and was, of course, easy for the students to laugh off - these were the kids who DID get in, so they knew they had offered something the faculty liked. The point of posting this story is just to let those reading here know that "admitted" choices aren't always considered GOOD choices.</p>
<p>Of course, MY students had GREAT songs. :) (But seriously - they have often been complimented directly on their song choices, as I'm sure Mary Anna's have on their monologues choices.)</p>
<p>CoachC................any specific songs? haha. even though I should never sing them again once I get into a college....um...ignore the grammatical inaccuracy of that "sentence"</p>
<p>CoachC makes a great point. You can see that point illustrated by Samia who sang "Shy" at her audition. She knows better now! But "Shy" is mentioned by several schools, I believe, as a song to be avoided. It has been so overused. Yet she got into Arizona with that song. Why would anyone follow her lead because she got in there, especially if someone has the benefit of researching and learning that the song is not a good one to use? Another poiint I'd like to make is that these songs have already been used! Why not find a song that is yours "alone"?? Find a song that is rare or still unknown or forgotten that is a wonderful song? Can you imagine all the great songs in shows that never made it? "Think of the songs that will wither and die if you don't sing them." (42nd Street)</p>
<p>We're surprised about Be Agressive. It is in my d's book of posibilities. We didn't realize it was done so much!</p>
<p>To the prospective applicants who are asking this question....</p>
<p>I undertand your curiousity as to which songs others used to get into college but other than mere curiousity, it really is not information that is HELPFUL to you that much. It is not like you can then figure, hey, SHE used that, maybe I ought to as well! That worked! But if it were only so simple! It is not like some magic answer. In fact, by following what someone else did, you might be making a poor choice. That material might NOT be what is suitable for your voice or type or strengths. Besides, as MTMommy pointed out, why use what was already done? Find something not used as much. Or as was pointed out, the song choices of someone else might have actually not been real good choices even if they got in anyway. Another thing is, you may notice that tons of people are not rushing to post, "here is what I sang!" because once they have found some songs to call their own, why would they want to post on a public message board to lots of those auditioning so then the song will be now done by lots of people perhaps. I think this is the sort of thing shared more amongst friends one to one. I have shared what my D has sung with a couple friends I know but I doubt she'd love having it plastered on a public message board. People take time to research and find their own material. But posting it on a board like this, and to kids who seem to be wanting these ideas for their possible use, it kinda defeats the purpose of taking the time to find your own music that is not overused. However, that is not my main point here. </p>
<p>I think YOU guys are better off really searching for music on your own and becoming familiar with what is out there, not really relying on what others used that got them into college. Those songs may have been all wrong for you. The match between singer and song is VERY important. It is not like there are songs that get you into college. It is not like the SAT where a certain score will help you get in. I do think it helps to look at lists of songs for certain voice types or for young actors and such resources but I don't think it is that important to know what others sang who got in. I do understand the fascination and curiousity with that, however. It is not a bad thing to learn that info. from friends but it is not an IMPORTANT thing. Finding YOUR songs is what you really need to do. If someone knows your voice and type real well, then getting suggestions from them of songs they think you might want to take a look at, IS a good thing. We can't do that as we have never heard or seen you sing. But do ask those who know you if they know of any songs well suited for you. Finding out what THEY sang is not really that useful.</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Yes, Susan is completely 100% on track with that. The only reason I posted what I sang at my auditions is because I would NEVER use those selections again, EVER. And I also wanted to give people hope that you can still have a successful audition even if you make a few mistakes - in other words, you don't have to kill yourself trying to be "perfect."</p>
<p>If I had the perfect song/monologue for auditions, I wouldn't tell ANYBODY! :) And neither should you. Let 'em do all that research for themselves, right? Why hand someone your hard work on a silver platter?</p>
<p>Sasha, while the rule of thumb is to not do overused material, it doesn't mean you must find the MOST UNIQUE material either. It is OK that others have done the same play. It is INEVITABLE that they will have heard it before. You just do not want to do the most overused stuff. Make the material your own and you're OK. </p>
<p>I recall when my D was looking for songs and such last fall, she was WAY too caught up in trying to find the most unique material that is never done so to speak. She was so tuned into trying to do that, that she was cutting out songs left and right that were good for her. I was so relieved when in a meeting with Laura Stroszeski (head of admissions at UM's school of music where the MT is located) answered my D's question about the need to find unique material and she said they don't care if six other girls did it if you make it your own. My D has finally realized that while you don't want to do overdone material, you don't have to knock yourself out and reject every song or monologue just because SOMEONE else has done it. It does not have to be the MOST unusual choice, just not the MOST common one either. Examples.....I would tell any girl not to sing "On My Own" from Les Mis. WAY overdone and appears the kid is not familiar with the MT repertoire out there. But let's say "I Can Cook Too"....not overdone but not exactly unusual choice. Could work fine for a college audition. </p>
<p>That said, AFTER my D's auditions were done, I recall reading some list from some college site of plays that are overdone. It included a play that one of my D's main monologues that she used for several of her schools was on it! I just did not know that beforehand. Well, she got in with it. So, these kinds of lists are suggestions, not RULES (though DO NOT DO lists from a specific college you are applying to BETTER be adhered to!). </p>
<p>So, don't do overdone material but you don't have to knock yourself out to find something you think NOBODY has ever done at a college audition. That is nice if you do but not necessary.</p>
<p>In fact, in the example you used, a couple of Mary Anna's students were successful with using Be Agressive so there you go!</p>
<p>Susan</p>
<p>Samia, I am actually glad that you posted that you sang Shy at your college audition because it really made a good point. Normally I would have said that Shy was overdone but your example goes to show that you can still get in with an overdone song if they like your talent so these "rules" are not that black and white. I would encourage kids from shying away (oops what a pun) from overdone material but the main thing is to show your talent. You obviously did in the U of Arizona audition!</p>