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Original poster

Audition songs?

23 replies

Confuzzlediddled · 30/08/2018 09:32

My DD (15) has an audition for the intensive associates section of the theatre school she attends weekly, she needs a musical theatre song that's a bit different to try and stand out (she already knows she will stand out in the dance portion for all the wrong reasons 😂 so needs to redeem herself in singing and acting)

We've found a great fun monologue (about donuts what could go wrong?) but struggling with a song, one she liked we can't find a backing track or sheet music so we're back to square one.
I'm as far from a pushy parent as you can get, it's all come from her so I'm rubbish at advising her!

Any suggestions oh wise ones?

OP posts:
JPinkertonSnoopington · 30/08/2018 10:42

Get hold of a copy of "the new real book " either from the library or buy - rather expensive ( you will probably have to to order online). It is in three volumes and contains lots of show tunes , both well known and lesser-known. A couple of suggestions of the top of my head :

" I hadn't anyone till you " by Ray Noble. It isn't from a musical, though.
" All in fun" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II from the musical " very warm for May". This would really stand out as it is so twisty and quirky. Good luck to your DD!

QuestionableMouse · 30/08/2018 10:46

If you Google instrumental and the song name I bet you'll find something.

Also what's her range? It's no good picking something that she's not going to be able to sing well.

JPinkertonSnoopington · 30/08/2018 10:47

And I forgot this one - "A lot of livin' to do" from Bye Bye Birdie. Cracki ng song, full of joy and so optimistic.

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Theatre
MummySparkle · 30/08/2018 10:49

What was the one she liked? There MUST be backing / sheet music for it somewhere

JPinkertonSnoopington · 30/08/2018 10:59

I have thought a transposed chart would be okay for an audition. Not so good if she is going to appear in a musical since the key cannot be changed just for her. The songs I suggested don't need a fantastic range and both would stand out as they are quite obscure.

Original poster
Confuzzlediddled · 30/08/2018 12:24

Erm range - been told shes a mezzo soprano? As I said it's all new to me!

The song was 'make my heart fly' from sunshine on leith so a bit obscure and I've googled till my fingers bled and got absolutely nowhere (actually I did find it for ukulele but not piano)
Thank you for the suggestions I'll get her to have a look, to be honest it's still quite new to her, she's only decided in the past year that she wants to "do" musical theatre...

OP posts:
BringOnTheScience · 30/08/2018 12:46

For backing tracks try kareoke websites for songs that hit singles from musicals. Cats, Evita, Chess?

Witchend · 30/08/2018 12:58

What does she like?

You can go for popular musicals but slightly less unusual songs, or less known musicals.
My House from Matilda
Little Girls from Annie

Flash Bang Wallop from Half a Sixpence if she wants one that's a bit funnier.
Candle on the Water from Pete's Dragon

They're all ones my girls have used.

marvelousways · 30/08/2018 19:09

I have asked my dd (18) who is very into musical theatre and is in an academy and has just done her grade 8 musical theatre exam. She suggests:
1."Worst Pies in London" form Sweeny Tod - good to show off signing and not commonly done
2."All For You" - one of Getrude's songs form Seussical the Musical - this is a great song. Dd played Gertrude in her companies production of Seussical recently and this song was so good. Really good to show off musical theatre ability
3."She used to be mine" - from Waitress - good to show of signing ability

DD says you should be able to get sheet music for all of those. She has definitely had music for the first 2 as they were ones she did for her exam

Good luck to your dd

Mhw02 · 30/08/2018 19:50

'What's wrong with me' from Singin' in the rain is great fun.

Maybe a bit more conventional, but I love 'Gimme Gimme' from Thoroughly Modern Millie. It's quite a good showcase song as it ranges from very slow and delicate at the start to a big, fast belty number later.

Or, 'I know it's today' from Shrek has quite fun lyrics - quite similar in style (I think) to 'Naughty' from Matilda as it's playing about and twisting a well known story.

xTinkerhellx · 30/08/2018 19:55

I've had 'Fine fine line' from Avenue Q stuck in my head all day.

I love the song, but it's not really high brow stuff Grin

Unevenbeard · 30/08/2018 20:47

'What I did for love' from A chorus line

CraftyGin · 30/08/2018 20:49

Make my heart fly is very much a duet.

SpaceDinosaur · 30/08/2018 20:56

What's she doing with her singing teacher? Can they suggest anything?

Patsypedalo · 30/08/2018 21:05

I was always taught to do songs that you could realistically be seen playing on a professional stage so you need to look for songs that 15 year old girls would be doing.

Mama Who Bore Me from Spring Awakening springs to mind, but also look for other shows that feature teenage girls (Bend it Like Beckham, Hairspray, Fame, Heathers)

SpaceDinosaur · 30/08/2018 21:08

I enjoy being a girl (flower drum song)
I caint say no (Oklahoma!)
Unworthy of your love (Asassins) but technically a duet.
Losing my mind (Follies)
Another suitcase in another hall (Evita)
Better (legally blonde)
Can't help lovin dat man (Showboat)

WingingWonder · 30/08/2018 21:09

Greatest showman- a bit more now?

GinIsIn · 30/08/2018 21:49

Maybe This Time from Cabaret
Tell me on a Sunday
Nothing from Chorus Line

PawneeParksDept · 30/08/2018 21:57

Has she got the range to do something like Burn from Hamilton or Never Enough from Greatest Showman ?

PawneeParksDept · 30/08/2018 21:59
Original poster
Confuzzlediddled · 01/09/2018 14:12

Thank you everyone, some great suggestions there, she's finally decided on I'd rather be me from mean girls, she likes the message it gives if nothing else! If anyone has any audition tips please share them, she's only been doing this for a year and she knows she's up against some much more mature performers, who've been training for years (and have a right and left foot instead of 2 left ones 😂) she can only do her best though!

OP posts:
AnneOfCleavage · 01/09/2018 14:22

She needs to look confident even if she's not feeling it iykwim. So when she strides out on to the stage she needs to walk on with her head up, shoulders back and eyes looking at the people auditioning her. Try and keep still on the spot, not swaying and smile lots.

Say thank you at the end of the audition whilst smiling broadly.

RomanyRoots · 01/09/2018 14:39

how old is she?
look for suitable lyrics, many show songs can't be sung with the required feeling if the person is young.
"I can't say no" is not suitable for a child.

what about i could have danced all night - My fair lady/ Almost there - princess & the frog, Home- beauty and the beast.

If you need music look online you can usually pay to print and this is acceptable for copyright, as you've bought it. Don't photo copy somebody else's music it's against the law, and she could be disqualified.

Books I recommend are the hal Leonard musical theatre books for med voice/ mezzo and you can buy them second hand.

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