What is a good song to sing when auditioning for Into the Woods?

Question

Ok, my local civic theatre is doing Into the Woods for their play for teenagers this fall. I'm 16 and I'd like to audition for the part of the baker's wife, but I'm having trouble coming up with a good song to sing. Any suggestions?

I was thinking of singing I Dreamed A Dream, from Les Mis, since it was my chorus solo at the end of last year.

Answer 1

It's always good to audition with songs from a show in a similiar style or, if you can, by the same composer. With Sondheim, it's even more so because of the difficulty of the music - you won't only be rated on your singing/acting ability but also your musicianship.
Here are some suggestions from other Sondheim shows:

Another Hundred People - Company
Anyone Can Whistle - Anyone Can Whistle
By the Sea - Sweeney Todd

You could also look at some Jason Robert Brown stuff. He's also known for having difficult music, but is more contemporary than Sondheim.

I'm Not Afraid of Anything - Songs for a New World
You Don't Know This Man - Parade
Climbing Uphill - The Last 5 Years

Good luck!!

Answer 2

If you're 16 I don't think there's any way a CLO will book you for the Baker's Wife. If I'm wrong and by Civic you just mean a local theatre and possibly you are doing a jr or children's production, then you should sing something appropriate for the role which would be another Sondheim song.

I think The Ladies Who Lunch from Company would be good because of the attitude but the range may be too low. I would do it not 'drunk' but thinking about those ladies as the ones who could conceive, know what I mean? It gives it a different feel.

Or:
Send in the Clowns - A Lttle Night Music
There Won't Be Trumpets or Anyone Can Whistle from Anyone Can Whistle
Could I Leave You - Follies
Children And Art or Sunday In The Park With George from Sunday In The Park With George

Sondheim has some difficult music to sing and singing another Sondheim song shows them that you can handle it. Any of the above songs can be done as the Basker's Wife would sing them, but at your age I would consider auditioning for Little Red. If you do, maybe look at A Glamorous Life from A Little Night Music. Just don't be afraid to look younger than you are.

good luck,
Marianne

Answer 3

If it were me, I would sing No One Is Alone or Children Will Listen, if you are allowed to sing a song from the show. If you can't sing a song from the show, give "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd a shot. It's a beautiful song, and it's well suited to a voice that would play the Baker's Wife well. If that song doesn't suit, try "People" from Funny Girl, or "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from Evita. Break a leg!

Answer 4

something with power and feeling in it, like Les Miserables, or.....

Disney songs. Don't laugh. Actually, songs from the older Disney movies were written in a time when people weren't so shallow, and emotion was rich in their lives, yadda yadda yadda.

example- "I Know You" from Sleeping Beauty
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid (for villains)
"Once upon a December" from Anastasia. I know it's not from the older set, but the song is beautiful when sung right.

Or if you are really stuck, try "I'm A Little Teapot"

Answer 5

Something from Les Mes or any character song.