How to Audition Successfully

How to Have a Successful (Musical Theatre) Audition

Since most of what I do as a voice teacher is train singers in Musical Theatre styles, this post is geared towards a Musical Theatre audition. I have been on both sides of the audition process many times, and these are some tips to help you be successful at auditions.

Choosing the right song

One of the most important parts of the audition process is choosing the right song. Some auditions don’t give you a choice, but most allow you to bring in your own audition piece. Right off the bat, let me say that you should never sing a song from the show you are auditioning for, unless specifically instructed to do so. Additionally, there is a “don’t sing” list of songs you should never audition with. The higher the level of audition, the more important this becomes. If you are auditioning for a middle school or high school musical, you can probably get away with it. If you are auditioning for a college level musical theatre program, follow the rules. You can find the complete list online with a quick search, but the basic rules are as follows: 1) Nothing from any show that is currently running on Broadway. 2) Nothing that is associated with an iconic performer (think Barbra Streisand and “Don’t Rain On My Parade” or Judy Garland and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”). 3) Nothing with challenging piano parts (most of Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown), although increasingly more and more auditions are going to karaoke tracks. Beyond that, you want to choose a song that is similar in style and personality with the character you are auditioning for. And make sure it is something that you know you can sing well with confidence. An audition is not the time to try something you aren’t sure you can handle.

Rehearsing the song

MEMORIZE it! Know it backwards and forwards. I also recommend to all of my students that when auditioning for a show, they become familiar with all of the music in that show. If you get a callback, chances are good you will be asked to sing something from the show. You give yourself a better shot if you already know all of the music.

Act the song

You would be surprised how many people don’t act during the singing portion of an audition. You don’t get a lot of time in front of the directors, and you need to use every opportunity you get to impress them. Do your homework on your character analysis and use the singing portion of the audition to show off your acting chops!

During the actual audition

Walk in with confidence and a smile. Introduce yourself and thank the directors at the end. Speak with a clear, strong voice. You have to sell yourself. Even though you are probably very nervous, you have to be confident. Don’t look at the directors while you are singing. Pick a spot off to the side, or over their heads, and direct your focus there. It’s just really awkward when someone looks you in the eyes while singing an audition. If something happens, (pianist messes up, or you hit a wrong note, etc.) keep going and act like nothing happened.

Beyond preparing the way you should, it is important to remember that each director has a vision for how they see the show. Just because you might not be what they are looking for for a specific role doesn’t mean a different director won’t think you are perfect for that role. The success rate for auditions is extremely low and you shouldn’t take not getting cast or not getting the role you want (necessarily) as a reflection on your abilities. It is scary as a director to cast someone you have never worked with before. You never know if the person is going to be a flake, or be awful to work with, or irresponsible. Directors tend to cast people they have worked with before. If you get in a production, how you do during the production process is your best audition for that director for the next time. I have come across quite a few young performers who complain that they never get cast. I have then worked with some of those performers and realized why they aren’t getting cast. They show up late to rehearsal (if at all). They are divas who make the production team’s lives miserable. They don’t learn their stuff in a timely manner. And as much as I try as a director to keep an open mind, your reputation will follow you. 

Hopefully this has been valuable information for those who participate in musical theatre auditions. Break a leg at your next audition!