| If you happened upon this article, you're probably | | | | character shoes would you love to fill? Many |
| expecting a long list of the absolute best musical | | | | musical theatre actors will record studio albums, |
| theatre audition songs. Am I right? Well, I'm sorry | | | | filled with little-known musical gems. Visit the |
| to disappoint you, but I didn't make that list. In | | | | iTunes store where you can listen to 30 second |
| fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find such a list | | | | snippets for free. If you like what you hear, you |
| anywhere on the world wide web. | | | | can download the whole thing. Or simply write |
| Why? Because audition songs are as unique and | | | | down the go title and find the sheet music. |
| diverse as the actors who sing them. And what's | | | | 3. Go see musicals. |
| in vogue today will be passe tomorrow. I could no | | | | Even here in New York City, you can see theatre |
| more tell you what songs to sing than tell you | | | | on the cheap. So go see anything and everything. |
| who you should marry, or where in the world to | | | | Don't discriminate. |
| live. | | | | 4. Do a cabaret. |
| That being said, what songs are right for you? | | | | When I was in school, the senior musical theatre |
| And how do you find them? | | | | majors were required to do a cabaret before |
| Here are four ways to find the right audition | | | | they could graduate. A four month project, 15 to |
| songs for you: | | | | 20 songs from every known genre, find a piano |
| 1. Ask your friends. | | | | player, find a venue, advertise, and so forth. It's a |
| In fact, my songbook is filled with sheet music | | | | huge undertaking, but when they were finished, |
| dropped into my lap by friends in the business. | | | | they had a whole book full of audition fodder. And |
| Your friends and colleagues are the first place you | | | | if you play your cards right, you might make a |
| should look. Why? Because actors (and humans in | | | | profit from ticket sales. |
| general) are subjective creatures. We don't see | | | | Finding audition songs is a snap. All it takes is an |
| ourselves as the world sees us. Your friends | | | | open mind and some common sense. But if all |
| know best how you fit into this business. Maybe | | | | else fails, here is the absolute bottom line when |
| they heard this one ballad at open mic night and | | | | selecting your music: You must love it. When |
| thought of you immediately. It's like having your | | | | you're passionate about your material, the |
| own personal team of audition consultants! | | | | auditors will take notice. And you might just land |
| 2. Pick a role model. | | | | the job. |
| Which Broadway star do you admire? Whose | | | | Until next time... Audition often, and audition well. |