How To Choose An Audition Song
So you’re an actor looking to get into the musical theatre world. (We’re so excited for you!) The first step? Picking an audition song that shows off your range, personality, and acting chops all in four minutes or less. Though it may seem daunting, don’t worry—we’re here to help.
Here are a few tips on how to choose a musical theatre audition song that will make you shine.
Know the Requirements
The first step is to know what show you’re auditioning for.
College auditions are not show-specific; however, they may have different requirements; most often, they want one ballad and one up-tempo. Additionally, many of them specifically ask for one traditional and one contemporary. Some ask for 16 bars, others for 32 bars, and others for full songs. The easiest thing to do is to prepare one up-tempo and one ballad, with one of them a more traditional (pre-1970) and one contemporary. Prepare the full songs and find a 16-bar cut and a 32-bar cut for each. Some also ask for a pop/rock song. You may need to prepare a few extra songs to ensure you cover all requirements for the schools for which you are applying.
If you need one-on-one coaching for your next audition, visit our Private Lessons Studio so we can help you out!
For a show-specific audition, it is best to find material from a show by the same composer. Find out what part you feel best suited for and find a similar character from a different show, or find a song similar to the main song that the character sings and search for similar pieces from other shows. If you are auditioning for the ensemble, find a song that is similar to the show’s style, and be sure you show off both your vocal range and acting ability.
If it’s a new show, do some research on the plot and characters.
Know Yourself
After you’ve done your research on the show or requirements, take some time to get to know yourself as an actor.
What parts of your personality do you want to highlight in your audition? What kind of roles do you normally gravitate towards? What is your vocal range?
Answering these questions will help you zero in on material that will show off your strengths as an actor.
Sing something that works for you; if you are a bubbly person, you may want to look for songs that work for that type. Make sure the song is comfortably in your range. Auditions are not the place to stretch yourself...they are the place to show off the best of yourself. And even more than that, it is the time to show your unique self.
Easy and Fun Assignment to Help You: Write down 20 strengths or things that make you awesome! Take that list, and figure out how you can pick material based on what YOU do well and what makes YOU unique!
Know The Lyrics Inside and Out
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people try to audition with a song they don't know all of the words to.
Not only will this make you look unprepared, but it will also hinder your performance because you'll be worrying about getting the words right instead of being present in the moment and connecting with the character you are portraying.
Let’s Make Sure You Know Enough About the Song to Perform It
• Your tempo (exactly how fast or slow you perform the song)
• Your cut (exactly where you will begin singing and where you will end)
• What the song is about
• What show it is from
• Who wrote the show
• What character sings it and why
• Where and when the song is sung in the show
• The whole song, not just the cut you’ve chosen (they may ask you for more)
• How to communicate with the accompanist (tempo, starting and stopping points, etc.)
If you have done these steps, you can now focus on giving a great performance.
Conclusion
Choosing an audition song can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be! By following these steps, we’re confident you’ll be able to find the perfect musical theatre audition song for you. Just remember to stay true to yourself, do your research, and have fun!
Check out our FULL HANDOUT on choosing an auditon song!
