An Audition
I haven't auditioned for a musical since... my futile attempts at singing (a song way too low for my range) at last year's Hillbarn season auditions. So it felt good to get out and audition, even if I still feel like I could have done better. After learning a new song last minute (ie yesterday) that I had heard maybe once before ("Nothing is too wonderful to be true" from The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) I figured it was worth a go. I felt more comfortable with it (the notes fall in my safe zone) even though it probably works better as a belter song and I'm no belter.
Got to the auditions at 6 (I was a half-hour early. Yes, really.) So I had some time to get my head in a good place, fill out my paperwork, and head in to the theater.
I really like the open audition format, where everyone auditions in front of each other. I guess that would make some people more nervous, but I just can't stand going into a small space where there's just a few people behind a table scribbling down notes about you. I like to think of an audition as a performance, and that's much easier when there's an actual audience to perform to other than your judges.
When I went into the theater they were on #83 and I was #88. The people before me all got cut off pretty quickly, so I wasn't sure how far I'd get in my song. I grabbed a pencil from the front table and quickly cut my song down to 18 bars. I thought I'd be able to get through all of that, and I was looking forward to the second bit when I think my voice sounds nice.
The girl before me sang happy birthday accapella. While she had a nice belt, she went against the rules of singing accapella, so the mild heaping of schadenfruede gave me a boost. I went up to the pianist, attempted to explain my cuts, went on stage and sang... for what seemed like 2 seconds.
They stopped me at the end of the first bit. I think I did ok. There was nothing in there to show my voice could do special tricks, but I think they got to hear my voice, a little nervous, and know what they're in for if they want to call me back. Two years ago when I auditioned there I got a callback for everything I put down and even things I didn't. I got called back for "rosie" in bye bye birdie and the callback was a joke - I did put down that I'm a soprano on my resume, and attempting to sing the beginning of Spanish Rose was as painful for me as it was for the directors. That year I also got called back for Millie (not the role of Millie, the other soprano part, I forget her name) but my range wasn't quite large enough to hit the high notes.
This year, they're doing The Producers, Ain't Misbehavin', and Hello Dolly.
I'm not too excited about The Producers because the only female lead has a belt (so I couldn't do that) and the ensemble is mostly tapping (though they say they will cast some non dancing ensemble, I just don't see how there's much to do if you don't dance in that show.) Ain't Misbehavin' is all African Americans so that's out. And then there's Dolly - which I'd love to do. Not to reprise my role of Dolly which I played so.. um... interestingly in 8th grade... but to take on the part of Irene. Which is actually suited to my voice about as well as any part could be. There's also Minnie, but the audition form said "strong dancer" for her. I don't remember her dancing much in my middle school production but that probably is because it was a middle school production!
Anyway, they have callbacks for all the shows over the next two weeks, so I'll find out soon. I wish I had the chance to get through a little more of my song because I love performing and it's not like I get cast as a solo singer in shows often. But my heart won't be broken if this doesn't work out. I am dedicated to work right now and it's always tough to balance theatre at night with a job that runs all day and often into the night. It's do-able, and especially if I do 1 or 2 shows a year (no more back-to-back shows) but it's still hard.
I have an audition for Guys and Dolls coming up in two weeks. Still not sure what I'm singing for that. Probably will stick to How Are Things in Glocca Morra, which I've been working on with my voice teacher. I have a feeling I'll be allowed to sing more of the song there. Not sure if I could do Sarah - she is such a delicate soprano, and I'm a wannabe belter who happens to be a soprano (so my voice teacher says.) I'd love, love, LOVE to do Adelaide but I'll have to wait a few more years for that.
Anyway, that was the excitement of today. Auditioning felt good. My audition was on time, I was in and out of there so quick, and home in 40 minutes of my audition slot. And this is a place that's 24 minutes away from my home!
Got to the auditions at 6 (I was a half-hour early. Yes, really.) So I had some time to get my head in a good place, fill out my paperwork, and head in to the theater.
I really like the open audition format, where everyone auditions in front of each other. I guess that would make some people more nervous, but I just can't stand going into a small space where there's just a few people behind a table scribbling down notes about you. I like to think of an audition as a performance, and that's much easier when there's an actual audience to perform to other than your judges.
When I went into the theater they were on #83 and I was #88. The people before me all got cut off pretty quickly, so I wasn't sure how far I'd get in my song. I grabbed a pencil from the front table and quickly cut my song down to 18 bars. I thought I'd be able to get through all of that, and I was looking forward to the second bit when I think my voice sounds nice.
The girl before me sang happy birthday accapella. While she had a nice belt, she went against the rules of singing accapella, so the mild heaping of schadenfruede gave me a boost. I went up to the pianist, attempted to explain my cuts, went on stage and sang... for what seemed like 2 seconds.
They stopped me at the end of the first bit. I think I did ok. There was nothing in there to show my voice could do special tricks, but I think they got to hear my voice, a little nervous, and know what they're in for if they want to call me back. Two years ago when I auditioned there I got a callback for everything I put down and even things I didn't. I got called back for "rosie" in bye bye birdie and the callback was a joke - I did put down that I'm a soprano on my resume, and attempting to sing the beginning of Spanish Rose was as painful for me as it was for the directors. That year I also got called back for Millie (not the role of Millie, the other soprano part, I forget her name) but my range wasn't quite large enough to hit the high notes.
This year, they're doing The Producers, Ain't Misbehavin', and Hello Dolly.
I'm not too excited about The Producers because the only female lead has a belt (so I couldn't do that) and the ensemble is mostly tapping (though they say they will cast some non dancing ensemble, I just don't see how there's much to do if you don't dance in that show.) Ain't Misbehavin' is all African Americans so that's out. And then there's Dolly - which I'd love to do. Not to reprise my role of Dolly which I played so.. um... interestingly in 8th grade... but to take on the part of Irene. Which is actually suited to my voice about as well as any part could be. There's also Minnie, but the audition form said "strong dancer" for her. I don't remember her dancing much in my middle school production but that probably is because it was a middle school production!
Anyway, they have callbacks for all the shows over the next two weeks, so I'll find out soon. I wish I had the chance to get through a little more of my song because I love performing and it's not like I get cast as a solo singer in shows often. But my heart won't be broken if this doesn't work out. I am dedicated to work right now and it's always tough to balance theatre at night with a job that runs all day and often into the night. It's do-able, and especially if I do 1 or 2 shows a year (no more back-to-back shows) but it's still hard.
I have an audition for Guys and Dolls coming up in two weeks. Still not sure what I'm singing for that. Probably will stick to How Are Things in Glocca Morra, which I've been working on with my voice teacher. I have a feeling I'll be allowed to sing more of the song there. Not sure if I could do Sarah - she is such a delicate soprano, and I'm a wannabe belter who happens to be a soprano (so my voice teacher says.) I'd love, love, LOVE to do Adelaide but I'll have to wait a few more years for that.
Anyway, that was the excitement of today. Auditioning felt good. My audition was on time, I was in and out of there so quick, and home in 40 minutes of my audition slot. And this is a place that's 24 minutes away from my home!