audition songs/ monologues

<p>not_halfMT - I am SO the same way!!!! I always seem to choose songs in that annoying gray area lol but I love them. I'm contrasting with an uptempo, personally, but it probably depends on the song.</p>

<p>Ah, that is the question...</p>

<p>You've pointed out a perpetual dilemma when choosing a "ballad that moves." In the case of "Endless Night," I'd actually classify that as a ballad, because it begins quite ballady and then builds into a more driving sound and feel - but other songs which have a ballady feel but a driving accompaniment do present difficulty when choosing contrasting pieces. I always judge each of these on a case-by-case basis - and sometimes it's not even so much based on the driving ballad as it on the nature of the possible contrasting piece. </p>

<p>For example, if a student of mine sang "Come to Your Senses" from tick tick BOOM (which I had a few do last year before the selections were published - now it's much more ovderone), I'd definitely have her contrast that with an uptempo, because even though it's a driving song, it has a "heavier," more serious (less hopeful) energy. HOWEVER, songs that MIRE a performer in heaviness and angsty-ness are NEVER good audition pieces - even if they feel the most "dramatic," auditors want to ROOT for you, not feel sorry for you or worse, watch you being self-indulgently "sad." So make sure you always find the hope and/or joy in even the "saddest" piece.</p>

<p>Hope that helps somewhat! Good luck!</p>

<p>CoachC</p>

<p>Coach, I have a song question for you, please. What do you think of "I'm Flying" from Peter Pan for an upbeat belt. This is a petite young woman who has strong tumbling skills and could easily play this part. It seems to have a lot of range and would certainly be an unusual choice because few women could play this role.</p>

<p>I would like to ask another Lion King question. D is an AA women and we have wondered about Shadowlands for a ballad. Since this is rater dark and contemporary, we would contast it with something light, upbeat and traditional. Our thinking on this is that it highlights her ability tp play a specific type, as well as traditional musical theatre. But does Shadowlands suffer from the don'ts of on broadway and being Disney?</p>

<p>In my years of coaching, I have actually never heard "don't do it if it's currently on Broadway" for a COLLEGE audition (there are many different rules for professional auditions depending on whether they are NYC auditions or not, the age of the actor - meaning child or adult, what the audition notice calls for, etc.). Anyway, a better way to think of the "rule" for college auditions is to avoid things that are on Broadway and have RECENTLY been published, because then there is an onslaught of young auditionees singing this music (LITTLE WOMEN this year, for example). I had 2 students do "Gimme Gimme" from MILLIE in the 2 years it was on Broadway before the vocal selections were published - I get scores to shows through coaching colleagues, friends and former students in the shows, etc. - and they were very, very successful, as no one else was doing this music yet. (In fact, I have often had college faculty people ask my auditioning students for copies of their music if they are doing something that's VERY current and not yet circulating - which always makes me smile and think "Yay! Great choice!") </p>

<p>In answer to your question about "Shadowlands" - YES!!! It is a GREAT choice if she can really rock out on it - again, it is hardly ever done for college auditions, and when it IS done, it's usually an ill-advised choice (a non-AA girl who doesn't have the gospel belt needed to pull it off). In fact, I'd love to hear your D sing it!! :) As for it being Disney - this falls under the category of "not overdone" and "GREAT" Disney songs - as do "Endless Night" and "They Live In You" (so if any AA boys who are real bass-baritones are reading, DO that song)!</p>

<p>Razorback - Didn't want you to think I've ignored your post - I have a pretty extensive answer, but I have to coach right now, so I'll post my answer later on this evening! :)</p>

<p>CoachC, Thank you so much for your helpful answer. Shadowlands is currently a working on song. D is still young, freshman, so she has time to learn it. One reason for having her work on it is to develop the Gospel belt. She has the quality but has not been able to develop it in church or AA community choirs. Along those lines we have had a hard time finding an AA vocal teacher, or any other who can really help her develop this, so currently she does it mostly through listening and experimenting.
But I am glad that it is an OK choice as we will keep her working on it.</p>

<p>Coach, I agree with you that it is not so much that it is on Broadway but more as to whether the scores were recently published because as soon as they are, they become overused for a time. Like your students, my D had used Gimme Gimme and Forget About the Boy in audition or performance situations BEFORE that music was published but never would now. Same with Wicked songs and Astonishing from Little Woman...had them before they were published, would never consider them now. On her first day of CAP, they had an "audition" kind of day and one of her songs was from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels but not yet published but once it is, forget it.</p>

<p>I know that no one is very keen on suggestions, but I was just looking for opinions on..."overdoness"...if you will..</p>

<p>I am a hispanic 18 year old looking for an upbeat song for my MT audition. I am thinking "Spanish Rose" from bye bye birdie-overdone? </p>

<p>Also, if that doesn't work out I am thinking about singing another song from the same musical as my ballad. I don't know if anyone is familiar with the musical Working, but I am planning on singing Millwork for my ballad, and the checker's song for my upbeat if all else fails. Although from the same show, they are completely different characters and there is zero character interaction throughout the entire show-is this a bad idea?</p>

<p>thanks for the advice :)</p>

<p>I don't think Spanish Rose is overdone. The key is which song really showcases your strengths. If this song does, use it. I'm not as keen on doing two songs from one musical (Working) though I get your point about the different characters (I've seen the show). I just would contrast the songs more than that. Maybe you can do the ballad from Working with Spanish Rose from BBB.</p>

<p>how about footloose the musical--is holding out for a hero a really bad idea?</p>

<p>Hey everybody! I'm a current HS senior and I've been busy preparing my auditions for the past 3 years. I wanted to post because I'm running into a dilemma similar to costocollege. Two of my best songs in my repertoire are both Jason Robert Brown... theyre contrasting but I have a feeling that there's no way I should have both of them in there, let alone use them together as my up-tempo and ballad. Any thoughts?</p>

<p>to the earlier posts about Durang...</p>

<p>I would advise you not use him if possible. Many colleges are weary of his older material and some even ask specifically that you not use him because many of his plays are overdone.</p>

<p>I have had few students use his newest works with success, like Betty's Summer Vacation, when it first came out, and maybe you could use something from Miss Witherspoon since it is so new. But otherwise, I would keep searching.</p>

<p>There are many other wonderful plays to choose from.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you both,
xxx,Mary Anna</p>

<p>Medyrob...some say not to use Jason Robert Brown for college auditions, saying his music is difficult for accompaniests. I am not sure how hard this "rule" truly is. If you are auditioning at a school that has taped accompaniement like NYU, that would not matter. Personally, I'm not as against using his work (it's good!) but I would not do two songs by the same composer for college auditions and would aim at more variation, as I told the other poster. Also, another thing to keep in mind....my daughter has various songs she uses but that doesn't mean she'd consider certain ones in her book for college auditions, per se. She might be good at an overdone song, for example, so would not use it for college auditions, or let's say Sondheim. My feeling is that you are likely good at more than just these Jason Robert Brown songs and so search for other songs that are similar or show off your strengths. Auditioning for college is not necessarily the same audition material choices as auditioning for something else.</p>

<p>Thanks, soozievt. I knew I wasn't going to bring both pieces to the auditions... it's just hard to find similar ones now!
Here's my basic list of what I've got for auditions:</p>

<p>-You Don't Know This Man
-On Your Toes
-Cabaret
-Summer in Ohio
-Where or When
-Not A Day Goes By (Merrily We Roll Along... Sondheim is bad but this doesn't exactly fall under the category of "mature theatre song")
-You've Got Possibilities
-Unusual Way</p>

<p>...I've been looking furiously through tons of Gershwin and Porter but it seems like I'm just not meant to sing them... how's this list in terms of contrast/good audition pieces? Does anyone have ideas for what I should pair up together/ditch/strengthen?
Thanks in advance.</p>

<p>Medyrob, I don't want to ignore your post at all but have to say it is too difficult to advise you on your audition song choices on a forum. I don't know your voice or strengths and would opt to discuss this more with your voice teacher so I can't really tell you which to use or pair together and am sorry for that. It is more about which are right for YOU, than which are "right", if you get my drift. </p>

<p>A couple comments on some of those songs....
I can't place On Your Toes, sorry. I am not familiar with the song "You've Got Possibilities"...is that from Superman, the musical? </p>

<p>You have a few tastes that run akin to my own kid. She certainly loves Parade and I notice you have "You Don't know This Man" and that might work, but again, it is about which songs show your skills, strength, etc. In my opinion, Cabaret is just too overdone of a song to use for college auditions....great song, again one my kid has performed but if you are good at belting that sort of song, find a similar one instead. My D also has performed Summer in Ohio and while she considered using it, it also has become a common audition song as of late. I would not call it a total no no because I don't think you have to be super unique and it is more important to find the right song for you. But just know that it has grown in popularity. Where or When could be good as a more standard legit song...you mean the song from Babes in Arms, yes? Again, you have similar tastes in musicals in your choice of a song from Merrily We Roll Along, a favorite of my daughter's. But when you say "Sondheim is bad", I think it is not so much the maturity of the song as often the consensus is that Sondheim is not ideal for auditions due to the difficulty of the accompaniment. Unusual Way is good for a soprano....are you one? I'm not sure as often someone who is good at Cabaret, a real belty alto type song, is not always someone who is also best at Unusual Way but I don't know you at all. My D loves Nine so again, your tastes in music I'm familiar with!</p>

<p>I am currently looking for audition songs for my college auditions coming up in february. I was reading Prof. Himmelheber's post to be<em>a</em>star, and what caught my attention most was when it said to turn "Mooning" into a Jan solo. I have read before not to "try anything new" with broadway songs, to really try to find songs that don't need to be changed, and I was wondering if I could have anyone's opinion on that. For example, I have a solo version of "First You Dream" in a Kander and Ebb collection book. I did some research on the show, and it is actually a male/female duet. Also, I have considered "Who Will Love Me As I Am?" from "Side Show", which is a female/female duet. Are either of these appropriate for college auditions? </p>

<p>Also, could you point me in the right direction for good audition songs? I am looking for unique (as in not overdone) songs that really can showcase acting ability. However, I would also love to be able to showcase my vocal range. I have a high soprano voice, but feel very comfortable in a mix and mezzo/alto voice. I would feel comfortable singing a song between the e below middle c to a soprano's high c, as I can count on these notes always being accessible to me. I need an up tempo song and a ballad. As for type- I have ingenue looks (unfortunate since I love and am good at playing character roles), pale skin, blue eyes and auburn hair. </p>

<p>Songs I love and have considered are:
upbeat:
"Show Me" (my fair lady)
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" (South Pacific)
"spark of creation" (children of eve)
this is where I get lost... I'm much more of a ballad singer</p>

<p>ballad:
"Someone Else's Story" (chess)
"Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" (show boat... but i hear it's really overdone)
"First you Dream (steel pier... contingent on your opinion of the duet)
"who will love me as i am" (side show... also contingent on duet opinion)
"anyone can whistle" (anyone can whistle)
"times like this" (lucky stiff)
"light in the piazza" (i love this song, and it really flatters my voice, but is it too new/ too difficult piano to give an accompanist???)
i have others, but i'm forgetting everything right now...</p>

<p>Any suggestions you could give me would be wonderful, both for new songs and for whether or not these work (ie are overdone, etc). Thank you so much.</p>

<p>for whatever its worth- the two schools I am auditioning for are NYU and Carnegie Mellon</p>

<p>also, what is thought of "always a bridesmaid" from "i love you you're perfect now change" i probably wouldn't bring it to an accompanist, as the piano line is hard, but to a taped audition. it's pretty easy to cut, and i act and sing it well, but is it overdone or a no-no? also, would you classify it as uptempo? it's kind of a gray area...</p>

<p>im not a girl, but id say that lucky stiff is a rather obscure show (in comparison to the other musicals/songs on the list)...so id do that one, simply because if you are comfortable doing any of these songs to the same ability, you would be best suited to sing something that no one else is...definatley no on light...too new...idk on upbeats, but thats my feeling so far...im not a professional, so if any of the professionals that are on these boards disagree, please feel free to point out whats wrong</p>

<p>also, on nyu do not worry about an accompanist...as you bring your own taped cd/tape with your music on it...id also suggest having back ups on
that cd...i had four songs, two up tempos two ballads, but luckily got to use my two favorites...idk about cmu however, as i did not audition there. </p>

<p>and one more suggestion, which im sure you have thought of but, is have more schools that you will look at...and audition at. the rates are so low of acceptance, that no one really knows anywhere that they will for sure get in...so id suggest looking for those...now...since app deadlines are soon</p>

<p>chris</p>