<p>If a song is sung by the entire cast - a female singing perhaps one line, a male another, the ensemble some of them - would it then, if it were good for her voice, be okay for a girl to choose? Something like “Put on your Sunday Clothes” from Hello Dolly where everyone sings, for example. (only leaving out the patter part)</p>
<p>I don’t know if that exact song is one she’d chose but that’s an example of what I mean by everyone singing it so I don’t know if it’s a “girl’s” song or a “boy’s” song.</p>
<p>She’s found some great ballads, classic and contemporary, that she really likes - some Cole Porter included! but we are having a hard time finding uptempo that suits her that aren’t on a “no” list. (any suggestions at this point? she’s mostly alto but can do mezzo, even soprano if it doesn’t linger on those super high notes too long, heh)</p>
<p>I think the challenge of turning a group number into solo audition song is that it could be difficult to act the song. In addition to singing schools are looking to see how well an auditionee can act… treating the lyric like a monologue, pursuing an objective, using tactics, going on a journey (even in 16 - 32 bars :)). Ensemble numbers are often written more as exposition, to facilitate dance, etc… </p>
<p>I love your example from “Hello Dolly” … now it just makes me think of Wall-e… a favorite movie of mine :)</p>
<p>Some up-tempos to look at – “On the Other Side of the Tracks” from LITTLE ME, “It’s Good to be Back Home” from FADE OUT, FADE IN, “Ev’rything I’ve Got” from BY JUPITER, “Nice Work if You Can Get it” from ME AND MY GIRL and CRAZY FOR YOU (originally from the film "Damsel in Distress).</p>
<p>Ah. That makes sense. Thanks, KatMT, and thanks for the suggestions. </p>
<p>Would Little Me be a classic or a contemporary? Also would Sweet Charity (same bunch as Little Me and some of my favorites - Coleman, Simon, Fosse, but a few years later) be a classic or a contemporary?</p>
<p>Schools that ask for one song that is NOT contemporary, usually specify a date. Some will say you have to sing one song that is pre-1960 and some specify pre-1965. For schools with such requirements, go by the date.</p>
<p>Thanks, soozievt! I’m in the process of compiling our audition schedule this fall so it looks like the thing to do is check on each school’s requirements and make a note.</p>
<p>Actually, very slowly it seems but surely, she is getting a rather nice little set together of pieces she really likes. We have, so far, a couple from from pre 1960, a couple from the 60’s-70’s, and a couple very contemporary (but not actually ON Broadway at the moment! lol) More ballads than uptempo but we are still looking for some of the older ones (hard to find recordings of them sometimes -harder still to find movies of them, which I like for d to see either the actual play or a movie of it if possible - but we are looking!) </p>
<p>Still looking for a few more in each category as I think it’s better to have a couple extra.</p>
<p>Next step is today at voice lesson, see what her coach thinks of the prospects so far and how they work with her voice.</p>
<p>Also I guess we need a trip to the library to start researching monologues.</p>
<p>If I hadn’t found this community there is NO telling what we would be bringing to auditions and I wouldn’t know about a lot of them. I cannot express how grateful I am to all the generous support and advice everyone gives here!</p>
<p>When I’ve learned enough to help someone else out you bet I will!</p>
<p>I’m wondering what you think of Falling in Love with Love (Boys from Syracuse) uptempo and Never Never Land (Peter Pan) ballad as audition songs for a strong soprano MT auditions? And Shy (…Mattress) as a belt?</p>
<p>SnapD#941 - Norm Lewis (Ariel’s daddy in Little Mermaid) said he often used a woman’s song, When the Parade Passes By from Dolly for his auditions for shows (not schools). It’s on his cd, and he rocks it, course. I still would be very hesitant to try a cross gender tune for school auditions…but I wanted to share that story. </p>
<h1>945 - If you can get an actor/director person to give you hints for what plays to look at for monologues it will cut the time which is important now. I found that play writers don’t write nearly enough monologues for young women! So try looking at a lopsided conversation in the text and see if you can turn it into a monologue by dropping the other person’s lines. Apparently that is considered legit.</h1>
<h1>939 If your girl is a fan of J. Eyre and S. Pimpernell, we must get our girls together! :)</h1>
<p>That would be an event for sure! It seems to be a small world in theater so it could happen. :-)</p>
<p>Theater kids, it seems to me, usually seem to click, having so much in common. They can be so different from other kids - as all of d’s friends are usually theater kids and I am always around rehearsals volunteering for something I just am used to young people who are at ease talking to adults and even if they are quiet by nature, are still outgoing and cordial. They don’t do that clam up around adults thing that a lot of teenagers do, or at least that’s been my experience, and when I am around kids like that I have to remember it’s normal for kids to do that, but that kids in the performing arts just have had different socialization. I guess.</p>
<p>I’m new at this and trying to filter through all the wonder info. Can monologues from musicals be used as auditioning material or not? Also, I’ve heard that using DVDs as a pre-audition isn’t necessary and actually is really for those involved in pageants. I’m so confused.</p>
<p>Monologues should come from plays and not musicals. Each school posts its audition requirements. Most schools do not want a “pre-audition” dvd; a few do request them to determine whether to extend an invitation for a full audition. Many schools will also permit a student to submit a dvd in lieu of a live audition where travel distance or other circumstances preclude a live audition. Other than those circumstances, do not submit a dvd as part of your application materials.</p>
<p>I’ve been reading everywhere that your audition material should be something that’s your “type”…but since it has to be contrasting, I’m choosing to do a legit piece and a belt. That doesn’t really work with the whole sticking to your type thing…and I’m not even 100% sure what my type is. I’ve been cast as ingenues before and I can pull it off, but I consider belting to be my strength.</p>
<p>Ok, so, just wondering what anyone thinks of these potential college audition songs for a legit soprano: Never Never Land (ballad, Peter Pan), Many a New Day (Golden Age) Where Am I Going (belt) Show Me (uptempo) Am still figuring out monologues, could use some ideas. Thanks!</p>
<p>hi all,
just joined CC and the MT/Drama forums are mindblowingly informative! I’m in my last year of high school, applying to NYU Tisch MT. I was thinking of “There’s A Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q and “If My Friends Could See Me Now” from Sweet Charity as my song selections. I would be sending in a DVD as I’m in Singapore and can’t attend any of the IRL auditions… My theatre teacher at school advised me not to do There’s A Fine, Fine Line because he feels that puppets are paramount to any Avenue Q performance, however, one of my friends, who has a professional vocal teacher (my vocal teacher is more well-versed in pop singing and doesn’t have experience training people specifically for MT auditions), told me that the singing evaluation is meant to evaluate your singing only and that choreography/props aren’t necessary. What are your experiences with choreography/props? I thought that If My Friends Could See Me Now would be good because it has dance and that would fill the movement evaluation that I would be missing - you know, show them I can move, etc., but if choreography isn’t important then I’m not too sure whether it would be a good idea to do a song so well-known for its choreography. Any advice on doing Avenue Q songs at auditions, and choreography would be greatly appreciated, thank you sooo much!</p>
<p>Hi- welcome to CC
During an “on-site” audition (on campus or Unifieds) not only are choreography and props not necessary during the singing portion, it would probably be a big mistake to use any. During that portion of your audition, they want to evaluate your singing/voice without any “distractions”. Definitely put your heart into it and show off your stage presence, but without any actual dance. A fine, fine, line really does not need any props to succeed and could be a good stand-alone song. If My Friends Could See Me Now definitely lends itself to movement and if you are relying on such to get through that song, I would find something else. That being said, I’m not sure what the rules for video auditions are, so be sure to review them carefully. </p>
<p>Where are you applying aside from NYU? Make sure you come up with a wide list that includes audition as well as non-audition programs. As I’m sure you will see from this forum, all of these programs are highly selective and many take only 10-15 students per year. NYU is extremely difficult to get into. If you are relying solely on video auditions, be sure to submit as many as you can to up your chances! Good luck with the whole process.</p>
<p>I need help finding monologues. I’ve been searching for months, mostly in monologue books, but I found out many of the monologues in those books are from unpublished plays. I have one monologue from Buried Child by Sam Shepard that I’m considering, but I want to find two or three more (contrasting). Can anyone recommend any plays that have good young female parts? I look somewhat young for my age so I can realistically play a 14 year old character, and anywhere in the early 20’s also.</p>
<p>taintedxl0ve - You might try sending a PM to AlexaMT and ask her for some playwrights/plays. She has an extensive play collection at school. She also can play young so may have ideas for you. Good luck in your search!!</p>
<p>-I’m Not Alone from Carrie
-Is It Really Me from 110 in the Shade (I think it wouldn’t be the best since it’s written for a much older character but I can sing and act it really well - I sing it better than most if not all of the other songs in my repertoire)
-Alto’s Lament by Heisler and Goldrich (I’m worried about this one since it’s not technically from a Broadway show)
-How to Return Home from Tales from the Bad Years
-Quiet from Forward
-What Makes Me Love Him from The Apple Tree
-Home from Phantom (Y/K)
-Mister Snow from Carousel</p>
<p>I agree with your concerns about Is It Really Me and Alto’s Lament. Stay away from songs that are way out of your age range. Alto’s Lament is iffy, depending on the schools you are auditioning for. Some are quite specific in their requirements that songs should be from a musical, not cabaret repertoire.
It also seems to me that you need a little more variety in your repertoire – try to include something uptempo from the more classic MT era.</p>
<p>Thanks for your advice, onstage! Another two songs that I have that I forgot to list are Glitter and Be Gay from Candide and House of Love by Jeremy Schonfield.</p>
It seems to be a small world in theater so it could happen. :-)</p>