<p>I know there is a "Do Not Do" forum and per chance an overdone board, but I'm not very good at navigating the search function and I feel like it hasn't been updated lately.. So! </p>
<p>Other than the most well known no Sondheim, what is, in your opinion, the most overdone songs for college audition songs recently?</p>
<p>Also, what is your guys opinion of doing Wildhorn music?</p>
<p>omg no I just typed a really long detailed response and it all disappeared AHHHHH</p>
<p>ok here’s the summary cause I can’t/won’t retype it all.</p>
<p>Don’t do Les Miserables. Duh.</p>
<p>No matter what the song is, if you know you can rock the song, do it. Make everyone else who brings it in pale in comparison to you.</p>
<p>Try and figure out how proficient your accompanist is. Some can handle composers like Sondheim, Bernstein, JRB, Guettel, and Ryan Scott Oliver, some can’t. Regardless, probably don’t bring in Light in the Piazza cause it’s just insanely difficult, even for someone who is familiar with the score. Also, if it’s not a commonly-done song, consider how difficult it is to sightread.</p>
<p>Mark up your music very well. Very very well. Highlight it. Write all over it. You might forget to tell your accompanist something beforehand, or he/she might forget what you said, so make sure it’s all there visually for him/her to see just in case. </p>
<p>Probably stay away from shows that have recently been successful on Broadway (Rent, Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, Newsies, Book of Mormon, etc)</p>
<p>Composers that many people will probably bring in are Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kerrigan + Lowdermilk, RSO, JRB, Carner & Gregor, Pasek & Paul, Joe Iconis. Though you may be one of a few people at your high school who knows who those contemporary MT composers are, you will be auditioning with plenty of people who also know them.</p>
<p>Other composers to look into are Loesser, Lerner & Loewe, Bock & Harnick, Harbourg, Schmidt & Jones, Styne, Coleman. For contemporary songs that are not as commonly done, probably look into off-Broadway shows (e.g. Dogfight, Vanities [though I can’t speak for the quality of either score, I’m not familiar enough with either, but that kind of thing])</p>
<p>I’ll try to remember to come back and post a list of commonly performed songs for young women.</p>
<p>Also be careful with cuts and key changes. Sometimes it just depends on who is at the piano and how much experience they have. At one of her college auditions, my D said she went over the music in detail with the accompanist. Didn’t matter. He was apparently awful and played notes that didn’t exist. Very disappointing experience.</p>
<p>Oh, I forgotI personally wouldn’t do Wildhorn, because I don’t like his music. And I don’t think I’m alone in holding that opinion. Far from it, I’d say… I’d also recommend staying away from Andrew Lloyd Webberthere are a lot of people who don’t like his music, and pretty much all of his shows are overdone anyways.</p>
<p>Songs I hear a lot of young ladies singing/I’m aware of as being “overdone”
-Gimme Gimme from Millie (Millie is old enough it might be less “overdone” now? Anyone know?)
-There’s a Fine, Fine Line from Ave Q (personal note: while this song is relatable, there are a lot of other songs about the same thing that are less commonly done…)
-Mister Snow from Carousel
-I’m Just a Girl Who Cain’t Say No from Oklahoma!
-Out of My Dreams from Oklahoma!
-Much More from The Fantasticks (while this song is in most young womens’ books, it is there with good reasonit is a great song that shows a lot of range. If you can do it well, don’t shy away from it)
-Always True to You from Kiss Me Kate
-I Speak Six Languages from 25th Annual
-How to Return Home by Kerrigan + Lowdermilk (also “Run Away With Me” for guys)
-Pulled from Addams Family
-Life of the Party from Wild Party
-Perfect from Edges
-In Short from Edges
-So Much Better from Legally Blonde
-Your Daddy’s Son from Ragtime
-Maybe This Time from Cabaret</p>
<p>Some of these are more appropriate for college-aged or older actors, but you never know old old people will try and play.</p>
<p>Also, as a general rule, if they’ve done it on Glee, I probably wouldn’t do it.</p>
<p>FSU has some good guidelines too: [Music</a> Theatre Dos and Don’ts / Music Theatre / Undergraduate Requirements / Auditions / Admissions / College of Music / FSU - College of Music](<a href=“http://www.music.fsu.edu/Admissions/Auditions/Undergraduate-Requirements/Music-Theatre/Music-Theatre-Dos-and-Don-ts]Music”>http://www.music.fsu.edu/Admissions/Auditions/Undergraduate-Requirements/Music-Theatre/Music-Theatre-Dos-and-Don-ts)</p>
<p>I found out that “In Short” from Edges is overdone, but I was planning to do “Along the Way” anyway. However, I have no idea if it’s overdone as well. Anyone have any knowledge of it?</p>
<p>@wisdomsomenow: I still see Gimmie Gimmie used a ton in High School musical auditions and I don’t think that would change for college, too, unfortunately.</p>
<p>Also, songs from Chicago will always seem to be on the overdone list… :P</p>