audition songs/ monologues

<p>Just as long as you don't sing "In My Own Little Corner". Lol.</p>

<p>I agree. Sing from Cinderella - it's fine. Though do avoid "In My Own Little Corner," as it is over done; unless you can TOTALLY nail it and it shows off your best voice (a few of its top notes sit in the passagio area, with tricky intervals).</p>

<p>I may not be as popular with this statement, but I believe that Disney movie musicals are fair game for theatre auditions. Why, you ask? I have always believed (and have read articles that substantiate my position) that Disney songs are character driven, melodious, most are written with youthful leads, and many are very poignant or exhuberant/powerful. Many of their musicals also offer cultural diversity options...Mulan, The Lion King, etc., are all wonderful for minority actors and less so for Caucasian ones. And finally, which one company can consistently afford to produce big, lavish Bway musicals in this day and age? Disney. When Sondheim, Yeston, Weber, or Ahrens and Flaherty are still considered a calculated risk, Disney has sure hits. Their "style" (Menkin, e.g.) is very marketable and workable in live theatre as well as animated film.</p>

<p>The rule of note is to avoid overdone songs - "Part of My World" is honestly the only song that immediately leaps to mind...but the exception to the rule is, "if this is the very best song you can do, and you do it very well," then it is fair game. Heck, all auditions are gambles on the tastes and preferences of the auditors, anyway; and they are just trying to hear your best work, not be the "overdone police."</p>

<p>Sing from the heart,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Can we just stop and think back to that wonderful version of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella....Is it just me who has the most amazing, fabulous childhood memories of this show? Maybe because it was only on (if you were lucky) once a year? I ADORED the show. I get all sappy just thinking about it now....And if I ever catch General Hospital, when I look at Alan Quartermaine, all I can think is, you made a wonderful prince back in the old days....Leslie Uggams (I'm sorry to butcher these names) was amazing. I adore her because of Cinderella....ok I'm done going down memory lane!</p>

<p>Oh Lynn,</p>

<p>I agree. I remember those days of being allowed to set up the TV tray next to the TV (only allowed on "special" occaisions) and eating dinner while watching "Cinderella". MAN, that was heaven!!</p>

<p>I think the actress who played Cinderella was Leslie Ann Warren though...BUT Leslie Uggams was a great actress also!! ;)</p>

<p>Hey since you posted.....I remember one time you posted regarding a script your brother was working on. The plot revolved around a boy and his pet leopard (some kind of wild kingdom feline)....I spotted a movie like this on the shelf at Blockbusters....is that THE movie?</p>

<p>Fondly,</p>

<p>SUE aka 5pants</p>

<p>Yes, and Lesley Ann Warren?!? Who knew she could sing?</p>

<p>I also am very sad to have never seen the original, live version with Julie Andrews (broadcast only once in 1957, but just recently made into a DVD...which I will have to purchase sometime very soon!). I read that the production was performed in the Sunday night timeslot normally held by Ed Sullivan; and that, with as many as 120 million viewers, the presentation was the highest rated show in TV history up to that point. To reach that number of viewers in an average Broadway house, the show would have needed to run for 110 years! Thrilling history, in my opinion. </p>

<p>I wasn't so crazy about the recent version, starring Brandy and Whitney Houston... Didn't have the same magic for me as those childhood memories.</p>

<p>We are all showing our generation now but I also recall watching this as a child and we now have a copy of the movie. It really is like a staged theatrical production but filmed. It is quite classic. The more recent movie is not at all like it. While my D who does theater enjoys many of the contemporary Broadway musicals, she is glad she has had a chance to do some classics like West Side Story, Oklahoma and Cinderella. She played Joy, the stepsister (she tends toward comedic roles) and I noticed a couple of weeks ago, when she gave vocal coaching lessons to an 11 year old here to help her prepare for her theater camp audition, she selected Stepsister's Lament for her and it bring back memories. </p>

<p>And yes, Lesley Ann Warren was such a perfect Cinderella.</p>

<p>Ooops!!! I knew it was a Leslie - I just couldn't remember the last name! Sorry about that, but you all knew who I meant. I don't think any other version can compare to the R&H one. Perhaps the original with Julie Andrews, though. Of course Victor Garbor played the king in the Brandy version, didn't he? And V.G. is my favorite Broadway actor. I loved him in Deathtrap, Sweeny Todd and numerous other shows. Not to mention he was the greatest Jesus in Godspell EVER!!! Sorry to divert...Oh yeah! The Duma movie which is now out in the video stores is my brothers! If you look really, really close with a magnifying glass, you can see his name as writer....</p>

<p>Omigosh, a trip down Memory Lane! I LOVED Leslie Ann Warren in Cinderella when I was a little girl (a looong time ago!) and would wait each year for that musical to be broadcast. I will always remember how she looked, with those big brown eyes, saying "Would you like a dipper of cool water?" to the prince. :):) Yeah, I am a sentimental geek.</p>

<p>Yes Lynn!! That's it the Duma movie. I will rent it this weekend!! NOW THAT is TOO Cool!!!! :)</p>

<p>SUE</p>

<p>Ha ha - I was teasing Kyle Style about singing IMOLC because he's a guy!!
"I'm a young Norwegian princess or a milkmaid..." probably won't go over big with the auditioners!! My daugher had to sing that song in her vocal tech class; she thought it was a boring song and didn't show any range.</p>

<p>5 pants - If you BUY the movie, I think he gets 2 1/2 cents!!!!!! Ha Ha! He'll never get rich that way!!!!!</p>

<p>well Lynn, it all adds up doesn't it!!? :) So exciting for you!! I'M excited FOR you!! :)</p>

<p>SUE</p>

<p>Oh, my gosh. Blushing.</p>

<p>I thought that Kyle was a female...so missed the joke (which is a good one).</p>

<p>Dense on a Wednesday,</p>

<p>eve</p>

<p>Hey you guys shouldnt feel so bad. I'm only 18 but I grew up watching that classic TV version of Cinderella with Leslie Anne Warren. My dad actually introduced me to it, as he used to have a HUGE crush on Warren back when he first saw it on TV at the age of 5 when he was living in Peurto Rico. It's a lovely movie and to this day it's something I could watch over and over again and not get sick of. Just puts a smile on my face...</p>

<p>hah> Definitely male, Prof ;)</p>

<p>Hello everyone. Sorry to hijack this discussion slightly, but I'm hoping to hear a little bit of an opinion on my current choices for college audition songs.</p>

<p>contemporary ballads: Role of a Lifetime from Bare or Corner of the Sky from Pippin.
Contemporary uptempo: don't really know actually...</p>

<p>classic ballads: sort of at a loss.... as well.
classic uptempo: Where Was I When They Passed Out Luck from Minnie's Boys, Reviewing the Situation from Oliver (minus the accent?), or I'm Calm from A Funny Thing... Forum.</p>

<p>Are my current choices acceptable so far? As for suggestions, I realize you can't suggest songs for people you don't know, but songs similar to what I already have would be good...</p>

<p>MatthewSL
Sorry I can't help you and now i am going to stick another question in between yours and any answers.</p>

<p>I have a question about general strategies. My is is doing a regional Young Actors Unified auditions in a couple of weeks. This is mostly for experience doing auditions for several companies/places at one time, and to get her back into the swing of auditioning. Teens get two minutes to do a cut from a song and monologue, or two monologues. My question is:</p>

<p>in this kind of situation should the song and monolgue be 'contrasting'? By that I mean of she is doing a light/comedic -up tempo song, should the monolgue then be more serious? and vice-versa.</p>

<p>She has not had to do an audition with a monologue in over two years, so she needs to pick some new ones and I am trying to get her thinking about "the package" she is showing when auditioning, not just the individual pieces.</p>

<p>To MatthewSL: "Corner of the Sky" could be in the overdone category. Check some of the Do Not Sing lists. "Reviewing the Situation" is for a much older character, and many colleges prefer that you stick to your own age group. "I"m Calm" and "Where Was I" sound like better choices to me.</p>

<p>Keepingcalm: Going with contrasting pieces sounds like the best strategy to me. You do want to make sure your D is 100% comfortable with her choice -- don't go with a wild contrast if it's a stretch for her.</p>

<p>Thank you Onstage. I was reading through a list I had previously written and copied and pasted a couple of wrong songs. I actually meant Pippin's section of the finale (which may be overdone anyways) and I don't know where the Oliver came from haha. I definetly need to read through my posts a little better.</p>

<p>I decided on the four I want to know so I'd be safe in all scenarios.
contemp ballad: Role of a Lifetime from Bare. (I'm assuming off broadway is okay)
contemp uptemp: Where Was I from Minnie's Boys (assuming songs 70's and later can be contemporary)
classic ballad: I Hate You Darling from Let's Face It
classic uptempo: I'm Calm from A Funny Thing Happened</p>

<p>for monologues, I one picked out and quite a few to choose from for the others. I need to break out my shakespeare anthology...</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, is it a stretch for an 18 year old to portray a 14 year old in a monologue?</p>

<p>Those songs sound like good choices. Regarding the monologues, in the professional world, 14-year-old characters are regularly portrayed by older actors -- for practical reasons, including labor regulations for children. My personal reaction is -- if you can pull it off physically, go for it!</p>