Upcoming audition, need broadway tunes!?

Question

I've got an upcoming audition and have been asked to perform a musical number from a broadway show. I want to do something that's not too mainstream (it would be nice if no one else performs the same song) but not so far off the beaten path that they won't know the song. Nothing from Grease obviously, I think probably 50% of the auditions will wind up being Grease tunes. HA! My range runs from high tenor to high high 1st soprano. I'd like something "fun". Any suggestions?!

Answer 1

Oh my gosh - there are SO many great tunes out there! If you have a local sheet music store, you could spend hours in there browsing through different shows. In the meantime, here are some to get you started, that hopefully everyone else won't be doing:

Anything from Once Upon a Mattress - the princess and the queen both have some fantastic songs, and it's a comedy so all the songs are clever and fun. "Shy" is a great belting tune with long held notes if you want to show off. I used it as an audition piece for years. :) Carol Burnett originated the part, which tells you it's old enough most people won't have done it to death.

If you're looking for something with a more modern feel, check out these:

"Mein Herr" or "Don't Tell Mama" from Cabaret (if you haven't seen it, both of these are meant to be sexy, flirtatious, lingerie-clad cabaret numbers).

"All That Jazz" or something else from Chicago - great jazz numbers.

"My Strongest Suit" from Aida - the character is a spoiled princess who has a core of strength she won't find until later in the show; her "Strongest Suit" is fashion - and she uses it as a weapon to make the right impression and get herself heard.

If you want to dig back for something they're less likely to have heard recently, try these:

"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" from My Fair Lady is fun, but requires a Cockney English accent

There are several great songs in Guys & Dolls -
"Adelaide's Lament" is fantastic, but you need to do a Brooklyn (I think...some New York borough) accent
"If I Were a Bell" is sung by a very religious woman who doesn't realize the guy she's with has been giving her alcoholic drinks, and she's falling in love with him (turns out she falls in love with him even when she's sober, after getting very pissed at him)

"Lola" (may be called "Whatever Lola Wants") from Damn Yankees is another fun, sexy song - a demoness seduces a man who's sold his soul to the devil for the chance to be young again and play for the Yankees

Final thought -

You could do something from Wicked - I don't know it, but it's very popular right now - though personally I always steer away from what's super popular (same reason I won't now, and never would, audition with anything from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Cats, Rent, etc.)

Answer 2

The harsh reality is you are going to sing the same song as 10 other people. Also, it a general rule in theatre that you shouldn't sing songs from recent shows because everyone is singing them. Search anything having to do with musical auditions and you will find information. They can tell within the first 10 seconds whether they want you or not so choose something that starts of with a show of your range. If you don't want to be chosen for a 'character' role then don't sing 'belt'. If you want to be considered for a soprano role I would go with something like 'And this is my Beloved'. It's very direct, has emotional impact and people forget about the standards. I know, I'm an Equity actor. Be prepared to sing more than one song and have a 'belt' up your sleeve. Someone recommended 'Shy' from Once Upon a Mattress and I think that's a great choice. 'Rainbow High' from Evita, 'Star Quality' from Evita......the list goes on. Choose wisely for maximum impact and check to see if you will do the whole song or they want you to only do 15 measures (not uncommon). Break a leg!

Answer 3

You won't - not without an agent. You're not ready for acting yet, especially if you don't know that agents don't cost anything, they're on commission. I suggest you get into acting classes (mandatory), and community theatre to gain some experience. You'll need an agent to get any professional audition. Sorry. Good luck!

Answer 4

'Good and Evil' or 'Bring on the Men' from Jekyll and Hyde.
'Stay With Me' or 'The Steps of the Palace' from Into the Woods.
'If I Had a Fine White Horse' form The Secret Garden is a fun song!
'Under Attack' from Mamma Mia.
'Buenos Aires' from Evita.
'When You've Got it, Flaunt it' from the Producers.
'Good Morning Baltimore', 'I Can Hear the Bells', or 'Cooties' from Hairspray.
'Somewhere that's Green' from Little Shop of Horrors.
'Just You Wait', 'I Could Have Danced All Night', or 'Show Me' from My Fair Lady.
'Surabaya-Santa' from Songs For a New World. This song is really complected, though, just to let you know.
Break a leg!

Answer 5

For professional theatre these are the unsaid "audition rules"

Never sing something from a show that has run on Broadway in the past 5 years or is currently running on Broadway. (that cuts out alot of popular shows... Wicked, Phantom, Les Mis, Rent, Cats, Little Shop of Horrors, Spamalot, Aida, Anything Disney etc.. If you aren't sure when a show ran... check http://www.ibdb.com )

Never sing Andrew Lloyd Weber (WAY too popular)

Never sing Frank Wildhorn (Controversial Composer, I personally love his stuff)

Never sing something that someone is famous for doing. (Somewhere over the rainbow.. Don't rain on my Parade etc.)

Always clearly mark your music

Always dress appropriately.

Always do your homework (find out about the character, motivation for the song etc. try http://www.musicalheaven.com or http://www.allmusicals.com )

Answer 6

Surrey Song from Oklahoma.

Answer 7

Hey,
I'm having the same problem!!!

There are some great songs in 42nd Street and The Pajama Game such as 'A quarter to nine' and '42nd Street' as well as 'Small Talk' and '7 and a half cents' - the latter gives you a good chance to act as well as sing!

if you have any suggestions for me please reply!

f xxx

Answer 8

"I enjoy Being a Girl" - Flower Drum Song
"let me in" or "the melody within" - rigoletto, not the opera, the movie the songs are by Kurt Bestor
"I could have Danced all night" - My Fair Lady, but thats pretty popular
"people will say we're in love" - Oklahoma
"Thats for Me"- State Fair
"I'm not that girl" - Wicked, but thats really popular, but its such a beautiful song

Answer 9

How about something from Avenue Q!

"There's a Fine Fine Line" is sweet.

And "Special" is eSPECIALly, well, slutty.

I guarantee that nobody else will do it/