Audition Tips (PART 1) - KNOW YOUR SHOW

Good evening, fellow "Steemians!"

As indicated in my bio and profile tags, I have a deep love of musical theatre, singing, and helping students unlock their true performance potential. It is such a joy to have a platform like Steemit to help share that love and inspire others! With that said, I am beginning my first series of posts with helpful audition tips for those considering taking the stage, and even refreshers for "the pros!" Sooooooooo.......Off we go! :)

***********************************KNOW YOUR SHOW*************************************

Knowing the show you are interested in auditioning for inside and out is extremely important on MANY levels:

-Start by seeking out the original cast soundtrack on iTunes, Amazon, or YouTube. Knowing what the songs from the show sound like will aid you in selecting the character that best fits you as an actor/actress. Additionally, you'll be on the right track for picking out your audition song!

-Search for a full movie version of the show or clips to better acquaint yourself with the plot. Movie versions can differ from stage versions of musical productions, but you'll likely luck out with the songs, as they remain mostly the same. Try your luck on Amazon streaming movies, YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix!

-Now that you've watched a production of the show and have ALL of the songs stuck in your head (lol), it's time to pick your audition song! This step will completely depend on the theatre and director you're auditioning for - some will want you to sing a song from the specific show; however, most will ask you to pick a song in the STYLE of the show. PS - This is my favorite step...Not only do you get the opportunity to show off your musical theatre knowledge, but you also get to sneakily make the director envision you as your dream role without actually singing a song from the show! My advice is to create a binder of repertoire from all decades and genres so that you will have a song for all occasions!

-If your desired character has an accent, spend some time speaking in every day conversations in that particular accent. If you're anything like me, this is a part that I tend to struggle with the most. I've pretty much mastered beautiful British and Italian accents, but I leave the rest of my training to a very useful and FREE app for my iPhone called "Memrise." Not only do you get to learn a new language, but you get to listen to live people speak it too!

-Last, but certainly not least for today, collaborate with performers to hear their stories and personal experiences with this particular show. There are countless Facebook groups and online forums to use when you are at a loss for an audition song, or when you simply want to swap stories with the pros. Keep communicating! You never know when YOU will help someone else!

Have a great night friends! Check back in tomorrow for Part 2!

All the Best,
Kim