David Rigano

Audition Help 101 -- READ THIS FIRST!

I know that someone (Kasee, I think) made a thread about this, but I can't find it, so I'm making a new one. I wish there was a way to make this sticky so it would stay on the first page, but we may have to just keep bumping it. Also, we should all feel free to add to it, which will also keep it in plain view.

So, here are tips on auditioning and--more importantly--asking for audition help.

The biggest key thing to remember when asking for help is this: We don't know you!!! And audition song or monologue is a very personal thing, so we can't just throw things at you and hope something sticks. We need to know a little bit about you. Things like this:

What voice part do you sing? The more specific the better. If you say "soprano," we can help you out. If you say "lyric soprano" versus "coloratura soprano" we can narrow the search even more. If you can say, "My top note is an A above the staff, I can mix to an Eb and I have a strong chest up to about C," then we can really help you out.
What role are you going for? This, of course, only applies if you're auditioning for a show, but it gives us a good idea of what you want to show the director, musical director, casting director, etc. If you think you'd be right for two roles that are very different (say it's Into the Woods and you could play either Cinderella or Little Red) then think judiciously. Which role do you want more? Which role are you more likely to get. Even if you want Cinderella, if there's a girl who looks like a cartoon princess and sings like an angel, you might be shooting yourself in the foot to audition alongside her instead of going for Little Red.
What's your personality? Let us get to know you a little. Because that's what happens in the audition room. This goes especially for college/university/acting school/agent auditions or auditions for a season or a panel of directors. Since you're not auditioning for a specific role, you just want to show your talent in a way that lets them see who you are. This also goes if you're auditioning for a show, because the director wants to feel that he not only knows what you can do, but that he knows the kind of person he'd be dealing with if he casts you. And not just your three adjective OKCupid profile, either. Let us know what you bring into an audition room as a person. This is also a good place to let us know what roles you've played or songs you regularly sing, so we have an idea of what types fit on you.
What are the stipulations for the audition? Most places will tell you not to use material from the show, be it a monologue or a song. Generally they'll give you some specifics on what they want. How long (generally about a minute or 90 seconds, never over 2 minutes), how many bars of music, what kind of song or monologue. They may even specify a few authors or songwriters. Please pass this information on to us so that it narrows our search. Many of us know the shows you're auditioning for, but if the director gives explicit stipulations, please let us know what they are.

Please put some effort into this. We assume that you want us to put some effort into our responses, and we won't be that inclined to if we don't see that you put some effort into your request. Remember, you're asking for help and we're doing you a favor. On that note, please come back and say thank you. It's a nice sign of appreciation and it lets us know that you're reading the advice we post. A lot of people have come here asking for help, and then never post again. And, I repeat, people here are putting effort into these responses as a favor to those asking for help. Show your appreciation.


The idea behind this thread is to give people the tools they need to best ask for help, and then get a discussion going. Don't bother asking for help if you don't plan on putting in the (very little) legwork required to give us the information we need to best help you. Also, this is a discussion forum. It's here to get people talking and bandying about lots of different ideas so that you make make the best decision for yourself. Please do not message me directly with audition questions. If you want private help, we can discuss how to go about it and methods of payment, but I do not do private sessions for free. This forum is here for discussion and advice, not private audition coaching.

ALSO: Please reply only to the threads pertaining to each auditioner, and for new threads please start in the top box. I ask this because I think some requests have gotten lost in the past, and this is the easiest way to lose a thread. If you reply to someone else about something discussed in a different thread, we may not find it. If you start a new request as a reply to someone else's thread, we may never get to you at all. It makes it very difficult to read, and it looks like you're replying to people when you're really not. I'd hate for someone's question to go unanswered just because no one could tell if it's a new question or not.

Best of luck to everyone!

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Celeste KamiyaPermalink Reply by Celeste Kamiya on December 20, 2011 at 5:24pm

Much more than in the movie! I'm sure you'll rock it out.

Elliot LazarPermalink Reply by Elliot Lazar on December 16, 2011 at 9:58pm

I am a Baritone/Tenor that can sing up to an Ab above the staff but am more comfortable around an F/F#. I am doing a moch-audition for a regional production of Footloose next week, so I need to pick a song from a pop-rock musical. I am auditioing for an ensemble role. I am a short 17 year old so I would need something age appropriate.I AM allowed to use songs from the show, but I still want to consider songs from other shows. One song that has been suggested to me is "I Want to Make Magic" from Fame. Are there any more upbeat suggestions or similar songs you can think of?

Ashley BoonePermalink Reply by Ashley Boone on December 20, 2011 at 12:16am

1. Mezzo Soprano

2. Auditioning for Avenue Q, would love Kate Monster, but would be happy in the "ensemble"

3. Typically I am a quiet-ish person until I know you, but when it comes to theatre I am okay moving out of my skin and being goofy/funny. I would love a funny, but appropriate song.

4. No known stipulations.

Marike SmithPermalink Reply by Marike Smith on December 20, 2011 at 5:13am

Hi There!

There will be auditions held on the 9th Jan 2012 for the South African production of Jersey Boys. This is a big audition...the Broadway team will also be present throughout the audition process. We were requested by the production team via our agencies and given a specific role to audition for. I was requested to audition for the role of Francine.

The audition brief stipulates: A rock and role song from any era. They are looking for a soprano with a strong belt, and they would prefer the audition song to be somewhat edgy- nothing precious.

I am a mezzo- soprano, with a strong belt. I can belt to high F.

I would really appreciate any song suggestions. I am not too familiar with the musical and the character Francine. I have tried to view some footage but I was unable to find anything.

I was thinking of perhaps doing "Rockin' Robin" in Eb.

hope to hear from you soon!

Christian Victoria AllenPermalink Reply by Christian Victoria Allen on December 20, 2011 at 10:27am

Hello. I am auditioning for Spring Awakening. I want to be Martha!!!  For the Media Theatre in Media, Pa.The Media Theatre operates under an LOA referenced to LORT.

Req: Please prepare16 bars of music in the style of the show.

ME: Soprano. happy bubbly person. generally cast young.


Abby MorrisPermalink Reply by Abby Morris on December 20, 2011 at 10:08pm

Hi! So a voice teacher in my area has this summer intensive for mostly his students every year, and even though I am not one I am DYING to do it. (The acting teacher is supposed to be AMAZING.)  Anyway, since I am not his student, I have to set up an audition with him to see if I am vocally up to it. He's kind of a big deal up where I live, and I think I could learn a lot from him but first I have to get in to the intensive.

Lessons from him are not an option because I already have a voice teacher and they are expensive.

I should sing a ballad and an up-tempo song, and it needs to showcase legit and mixed. Preferable nothing to cliche and not too high a belt.

I'm 15, and soprano, even though a lot of people type me as an alto because I have a strong low voice and can read music. I have perfect pitch, if that matters at all.

My range is an F below the staff to about a D or sometimes Eb above the staff.

And I would rather not belt above C#ish in an audition.

I am not too comfortable mixing, but I am working on it with my teacher.

Also, I would really like to do a song that has a lot of acting.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really want to do the intensive!

emilyPermalink Reply by emily on January 2, 2012 at 7:15pm

Hey Everyone! My name is Emily I'm 14 and I'm auditioning for Hairspray in a couple days! 

Voice part: I'm a mezzo soprano I can belt up to a D and am looking for more upbeat belting songs in the style of Hairspray. 

Role: I'm mainly auditioning for Amber but I might have a shot as Penny also. 

Personality: I'm auditioning at a theater I've done a couple shows at before so I'm very comfortable with the panel who will be at the audition. I'm so much more comfortable with comedic acting than dramatic which is good for Hairspray! I've played Ilse in Spring Awakening, Patrice in 13 as well as Kendra in 13. I can play dumb blonde really well which is one of the reasons I'm hoping for Amber. Not that she's a dumb blonde but she is a little ditsy and very conceited. 

Stipulation for Song: It doesn't say specifically no material from the show but I would prefer not using songs from the show. It only specifies that you need 16 bars but I would really prefer an uptempo musical theater song.

Please respond soon! My audition is this Friday

Songs I'm considering are Gorgeous from the Apple tree and playing it off really conceited instead of surprised and happy. I was also considering A little brains, A little talent from Damn Yankees but I didn't think it was the best especially since its an alto song. Please help out! 

Mia J MerrillPermalink Reply by Mia J Merrill on January 8, 2012 at 4:26pm

So I know that singing Sondheim at an audition is generally a bad idea, but what about if the audition is for a Sondheim show? In this case, the audition's for Sweeney Todd (audition isn't until March). Would Sondheim be okay to sing?

Elizabeth ScottPermalink Reply by Elizabeth Scott on January 8, 2012 at 7:56pm
Singinig Sondheim isn't necessarily a bad thing. My advice has always been if you are thinking about using a Sondheim piece, see if you can find out who your accompanist is so that you understand his/her competency, or, if it is possible to bring your own accompanist. Whatever you audition with, you want to make sure that it shows you off the best. If you have no idea who the accompanist will be, and you don't have the option of bringing your own accompanist, just be mindful of the complexity of your piece. If the accompaniment is decidedly difficult, then you need to make sure that you can pull it off, even if the accompanist messes up.

I actually think that using a Sondheim piece when auditioning for "Sweeney" is fine. I wouldn't limit myself to only Sondheim, though. "Sweeney Todd" is tricky because it is a very musically challenging musical. It is both operatic and also full of musical monologues. Which role are you interested in? That will allow me to help you narrow down some pieces.
Elizabeth ScottPermalink Reply by Elizabeth Scott on January 12, 2012 at 10:35am
Let me also add that there are quite a few accompaniment CD's out there, particularly if you are using any of the Singers Musical Theater anthologies. As long as the director is OK with you using a CD, this might be another way around worrying about the competency of an accompanist. If you decide to use a CD, just make sure that you thoroughly practice with the CD. Singing with a CD is a little different because you don't have the leeway of the accompanist following you, or anticipating your breathing, etc.

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