Creating a successful musical theatre audition book is essential for any actor or singer looking to impress casting directors. It should contain the most appropriate and up-to-date pieces that demonstrate your singing, acting, and dancing abilities. Here are some tips to help you put together a great audition book.
Selecting Songs:
Your audition book should contain two contrasting songs from musical theatre. Choose pieces that show off your range and skill level as well as your personality.
Make sure the songs are age appropriate (unless you’re going for a character role) and that you can deliver them confidently. It’s also important to select songs from shows which are currently running or recently closed, as this shows that you’re keeping up with current trends in musical theatre.
Music Preparation:
Once you’ve selected your songs, make sure they are properly prepared before the audition. Work with a vocal coach if necessary to ensure that all notes and rhythms are correct.
Learn the lyrics and check the pronunciations of any words you may not be familiar with. Finally, practice singing your selections with a piano accompaniment or backing track until they feel comfortable.
Memorization:
It is essential to memorize both of your songs before an audition so that you can focus on delivering them with emotion rather than worrying about remembering the words. Many casting directors prefer actors who don’t use sheet music during an audition, so it’s important to have both of your selections committed to memory.
Putting It All Together:
Now it’s time to assemble your audition book!
Make sure each song has its own sheet of paper in the book — one for music and one for lyrics — so that everything is clearly organized when you hand it over at an audition. Include any notes or instructions at the top of each page as well as any pronunciation guides if needed.
Creating an effective musical theatre audition book can take some time but it is well worth the effort when it comes time for auditions. With these tips in mind, you should be able to put together a great book that will help showcase your talent and impress casting directors.
Conclusion:
To put together an impressive musical theatre audition book, first select two contrasting songs from current shows or recently closed productions which demonstrate your range and skill level. Prepare each song musically and learn them by heart so they can be performed confidently without sheet music at auditions. Finally, assemble all of the materials into one organized book before presenting it at auditions.