Give Us Treats, Sing Songs, Bring Sweets

So one “upside” to sheltering at home is that all the creative types out there have proven they can hardly sit still. Many people have been sharing their talents online. Whether it’s singing, dancing, craft projects or whatever it might be, they are doing so simply for fun, entertainment, or to bring a smile to others. It’s nice to take some of our ample free time and share what we love. There are no stakes, no risk, and no judging; it feels a lot like an online talent show or old school show and tell, and I think it’s been great. I’ve learned of many talents that I didn’t know friends and acquaintances of mine had! People playing piano I didn’t know played, people who aren’t big singers going for it, and people picking up paintbrushes maybe for the first time, or at least for the first time in a long time!

Since we’re all still home for a while yet, and since everyone has been singing more often…have people been thinking about audition songs? If not for Mary Poppins, then maybe for some other show coming down the pipeline that you are looking forward to? Well I hope the answer is yes, and I suppose it’s a good time to finally drop my answer to a big question that gets asked often, or (as I often find out later) people wanted to ask but were too nervous to do so: “What should I sing for auditions?”

While I can’t speak for our music director or other directors, my answer to this question has always been some version of this: I shrug, and say “What do you want to sing for auditions?” 

Not the answer you were looking for? Alright, I’ll try to elaborate. Keep in mind first and foremost the show you are auditioning for; familiarize yourself with the music from the show and the character(s) you are interested in and select something that seems appropriate to you. In our case, it’s Mary Poppins. What is a song that seems appropriate, another Disney song perhaps? Maybe, but it all depends. “Let it Go” was written in a much different era for music and definitely sets vocal demands different from anything in this show. Think about the composers, the Sherman Brothers. They wrote a LOT more music you’re familiar with than you probably realize. One of their other songs might have the right sound, wouldn’t you think? Or also Stiles and Drewe, the composers of the new songs for the show. (However, looking at their other works, the musical Honk! is the only one I’m currently familiar with.) If Mary herself is the role you are interested in, think about other roles Julie Andrews is known for. Many options from the classic Rogers and Hammerstein or Lerner and Loewe catalogs would certainly be wise choices. “Take Me or Leave Me” from RENT would probably not be a wise choice. (Wow, I made two Adele Dazeem references in this paragraph!)

As I’ve stressed to others in the past, it’s important to not waver or OVERthink about what you will sing. Really it’s all about being prepared, choosing something you know and can really “sell”, and (here’s an important one) make sure it’s something EASY FOR YOUR ACCOMPANIST TO SIGHT READ, which will only flatter your performance all the more. It’s better to walk in confident with what you are doing instead of using that time to take a risk or “try something out”. Singers will sometimes love to “show off” with a Sondheim or Jason Robert Brown tune, but I have it on good authority they can be a nightmare to sight read, so it’s highly possible your performance might not turn out as successfully as you were hoping. Additionally, while bringing in a karaoke track these days is more than acceptable, there’s still a bit of old school thought lingering that the best bet is to bring sheet music in the correct key for the accompanist to play if you are able.

Preparation is your best friend; I created the following analogy a few years back and it has clicked for others: I always say if a show was a job you wanted, then an audition would be the job interview. Would you ever walk into a job interview apologizing that you aren’t prepared or don’t feel well? (No). So in this case you should think of your audition song as your “cover letter”; it's that first impression that catches our eye, sums up your abilities, and inspires us to think about how you might fit within the show/company. Beyond that, it’s  what comes AFTER that moment in the auditions that can be what really counts.

I hope this helps some of you. Keep singing, and I’ll be back again soon!