What the Dr. Ordered: Tips for Choosing Material for Musical Theatre Auditions

Several posts ago I covered tips for choosing monologues, so it is only fitting that I also talk about choosing songs for musical theatre auditions. Here are some tips to help you make wise decisions when selecting and preparing material for musical theatre auditions.

1. Start with the play. Listen to the soundtrack, read a synopsis (or the libretto if you can find it, this can be tricky for musicals). It is very difficult to choose an appropriate audition song if you are not familiar with the show. Make sure you know the style and tone of the musical so you can choose a song that matches in style and tone. One of the biggest mistakes I see over and over is performers choosing material that is in the wrong style. I need to see that you can handle the music in the show, not just that you can sing. Also, choose material that is right for your voice and age. If the song talks about being old, it probably shouldn’t be done by a kid. 
2. Pay attention to what the audition posting is asking for. This extends to the length of the cut as well as the style of music. Often the posting will ask for something in the style of the show, or for many rock musicals it asks for a rock or pop song. Pay attention and prepare what you are asked for and only what you are asked for. If it says 16 bars, don’t go much over 16 bars, especially if it is a slow song.
3. Now, the task is to choose a song that you sing really well, that you can sing no matter how nervous you are, that has something in common with the show or role you are auditioning for. You are probably not going to find an audition piece that fits all those criteria, but ensuring that the song you sing shows the director that you can sing what is in the show is essential. Though sometimes I will call back an excellent singer who chose the wrong material, that only happens when I have few other options. Don’t take that chance! If the musical you are auditioning for is a legit style musical, choose a legit style song. It can be helpful to look to other shows by the same composer or from the same era. Be mindful of the genre and time period of the musical you are auditioning for. If you are auditioning for a Golden Age musical, you should pick Golden Age material, if you are auditioning for a Mega Musical, choose material from another Mega Musical. If you don’t know what I am talking about, perhaps getting yourself a book on musical theatre history would be helpful. The more you know about musicals the better your song selections will be!
4. Know what roles you are right for  and choose material that shows you can sing those roles. This can be tricky. Just because you want to play the lead doesn’t mean you are right for the lead. If you want to be cast, you need to know yourself. Know your type, know your strengths, know your weaknesses, and make smart choices about what roles to audition for based on the show, the company, and yourself. Also, pay attention to the age range for the show. If a company is doing a professional show with adults (that doesn’t have roles for kids) if you can’t convincingly pass for an adult, don’t waste the company’s time, the audition is not for you. While some companies are happy to let you audition for practice, when auditions are completely full, it is not a good idea to do a practice audition and take an audition slot away from someone who is the right age for the show.
5. Unless you are specifically told to sing something from the show, don’t, even if it is an option. If you don’t do it the way the director envisions it, you’ve blown your chances immediately. Also, don’t sing something from a show you’ve been in and is on your resume, especially if it is something that you sang in the show. That just looks lazy, and directors will notice.
6. Be careful about singing songs that are popular right now or from musicals that are currently running or touring. This is for several reasons, one, chances are that other people are singing the song too, and unless you know that you are better than every single other singer auditioning, even if you have a great audition, if someone else sings the song better, you automatically look like a weak performer. In addition, if you are the tenth person that day singing "On My Own," as soon as you tell me what you are singing, I automatically dismiss you because I am sick of hearing the song. Also, if you choose something that is well known and/or associated with a specific performer, you invite comparisons between you and the person who originally sang it, which is not something you want to do in an audition.
7. Finally, remember, the most important thing, above all else, is to choose something that lets you shine. If you do that, and you treat the audition like it is opening night, you will be far more likely to get the callback.