<p>Dear soozievt:</p>
<p>Hi! You might wonder why I’m writing directly to you, but I’ve seen some advices you’ve given and they’re wonderful, and as I’m dealing with the audition process, I hoped you could help me too 
(and I couldn’t send you a private message, because apparently you have no more space for messages)</p>
<p>Look, I’m going to be a senior this year(highschool) and I’m looking forward an MT major. My first choice is Tisch, and I rally like the Northwestern program too, but I have kind of a crush with NYC, so, I’d rather get in Tisch.</p>
<p>Anyways, the audition. I wanted to sing somehing from “CHICAGO”, since I really love the musical and especially Velma, I wanted to sing "All that jazz"for the upbeat song, because I know some fosse that I could perform. However, I read somewhere that it’s not that good to sing something from a musical that’s actually on Broadway. So I’ve been researching for some songs and for the upbeat I have “Spanish Rose” from Bye Bye Birdie (I know some flamenco, too). Then I have “The gentleman is a dope” and also “Life of the party” (it’s cause i’m a mezzo/alto type)</p>
<p>And for the ballad song I have “Heaven help my heart”, from Chess. Then “Unusual way” from Nine, and then “As if we never said goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard. </p>
<p>I would REALLY appreciate if you could please tell me if it’s just a myth that of singing songs from musicals currently on Broadway is a bad thing, because I would reaallyy love to do “All that jazz”…</p>
<p>Thanks a lot…for reading this!</p>
<p>carameldonut</p>
<p>HI,
I think your question could be addressed to the forum members as a whole and it really is not specific to NYU/Tisch. </p>
<p>Sorry about the full PM box. I also can't do a lot of individualized help through PM as a volunteer as I spend a great deal of time volunteering on the forum to help a lot of people at one time and then have to attend to my students/parents who are counseling clients for the individualized help. </p>
<p>I don't think it is a hard and fast rule to not sing from a show currently on Broadway but I do think it is a general guideline to consider. I think that All That Jazz isn't the best choice for reasons other than the fact that the show is on Broadway. I feel it is a very overdone song. I also think that your reasoning about being able to do "Fosse" is irrelevant as your audition song should NOT be danced or choreographed. You should present the song as a performer and act the song and interpret it but not dance it. It doesn't mean you have to stand still but the actions should not involve dance moves in a vocal audition. </p>
<p>It is hard to advise you on songs as I don't know your type or your vocal skills or range or strengths. You should discuss your song selections with your voice teacher. I would shy away from Spanish Rose....I just think it is too much associated with the character. Life of the Party is a good song but very overdone. Try another song that is similar or even from that musical. If you are singing a song of this sort, I assume you have a strong belt voice as these song require belting. Pick songs that showcase YOUR strengths. </p>
<p>If one song demonstrates a strong belt, try to make the other song demonstrate the legit soprano voice. </p>
<p>I don't know Heaven Help My Heart. Unusual Way is pretty overdone but if you can nail it, you could consider it. I would try to find more material and familiarize yourself with lots of repertoire that it out there. The song from Sunset Boulevard....I think is quite associated with a much older character and may not be a good choice for that reason. </p>
<p>Again, singing a song currently on Broadway is not a huge no no but you may wish to find other options. I see bigger drawbacks to the songs you chose, such as they are overdone. But it is most important to pick songs that showcase YOUR strengths over and beyond any other guideline. And I do not know your strengths, nor your type. Do you have a voice teacher? I also think you need to familiarize yourself with the great body of MT songs that are out there. Listen to many samples online. If you like a certain singer, see what else she has sung (assuming you have a similar voice type). If you like a popular song from a show or composer, see what other songs are in that show or by that composer. </p>
<p>There is also a good thread on this forum which you might want to search and find that has to do with Audition songs....lots of discussion on it, including some tips and guidelines.</p>
<p>Good luck with Tisch but also keep an open mind and explore many schools as there are lots of programs where you can be happy and thrive and try not to focus too much on any one particular school given the difficult odds. :D</p>
<p>Here's an interesting link that lists "overdone" songs. I see that All That Jazz is on the list:</p>
<p>Overdone</a> Audition Songs @ MusicalTheatreAudition.com</p>