So, you’re ready to jump into musical theater? Amazing! We’re so excited for you! Preparing for your first audition can be intimidating, so we’ve included some tips below that will help you be successful!
Some auditions will ask you to prepare a song from the show you are auditioning for. However, here at First Act, we ask that you prepare a song that is NOT from the show you are auditioning for. So, how do you choose that song?
For your first audition, choose a song that you like that fits the vibe of the show you’re auditioning for! For instance, if you are auditioning for Mary Poppins, it would make sense to choose a song from a show like The Sound of Music since it is a classic musical with upbeat songs. Pick something that you are comfortable singing and that doesn’t stretch your vocal range too much, meaning something that isn’t too high or too low for you to sing.
(If you’re ever feeling really stuck, Google is your friend! Sites like Theatre Trip often have options listed that are solid choices for audition songs.)
Once you have your song, you’re going to select one minute from the song that showcases it best. Oftentimes, this can just be the first minute of the song!
Now that you’ve decided on a song, you need to practice and memorize your song. Start by singing along with a recording that includes a vocalist singing the song with you. Look at printed lyrics or sheet music while you do this, so you can connect the words to the melody. (You can find sheet music for most songs at Music Notes.)
Then, once you’re feeling like you know the words and melody, move to singing along with an instrumental or karaoke track. Tracks like this can be found on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc. If you can’t find one, ask your teacher and they may be able to help you find one! Sing along with this instrumental track while you continue to look at the lyrics and/or sheet music. This way you can get your timing right without having to worry about forgetting the words.
Finally, memorize those lyrics! Try to do it a piece at a time so you can memorize it in chunks. Remember, you’re only performing a one minute piece of the song, so you can do this! If you need some help, you can make flashcards with the lyrics or ask someone to help quiz you.
You’ve chosen a song, and you have it memorized. Now, you need to add character to it to make it shine! In musical theater, we’re not only singing and dancing, we have to act to bring characters to life. To get into character, you can ask yourself questions like: “What is this character feeling?” and “How can I show that in my face and body?”.
Remember, this should be fun! So, have fun coming up with what you’ll add to the song to bring your character to life. But be careful not to over choreograph yourself, make sure you’re not dancing by the time you’re done. Don’t worry, you’ll learn a dance at auditions to show off that skill!
It’s audition day, and you’re feeling nervous. That’s totally okay! Make sure you’re drinking lots of water, eat something nutritious and energizing, and review your song a couple of times before you arrive at auditions. Don’t practice it too many times or you’ll wear your voice out!
Bring your track on a phone or device that can be plugged into a speaker. If you have sheet music, bring that in a binder, and make sure your section is marked!
Once you arrive, you’re probably going to hear other people practicing or performing their auditions. It’s important to remember to avoid comparing yourself to others! They’re going to present the best of what they can do, and so are you! There is no use in comparing the two because you are both unique. The comparison game always makes us more nervous, and doesn’t serve us well, so either tune everyone else out or listen with encouragement and excitement!
When it’s your turn to audition, take a deep breath, and remember, you’ve got this! Trust yourself and all the practicing you’ve done. Directors want to see you be confident and make big choices. If you make a mistake, just keep going! Mistakes happen in theater ALL the time, so they want to see how you handle those moments too. Before you know it, that one minute will be over! You did it!
