Whether you are a novice actor or an experienced professional, writing a musical theatre audition book is essential for any actor hoping to perform in musicals. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the tools to create an effective audition book and help you become a successful musical theatre performer.
The first step in constructing your audition book is deciding which songs to include. When choosing music for your audition book, it is important to select songs that best showcase your vocal range and skills as an actor.
Choose songs that highlight your strengths, such as powerful ballads or upbeat showstoppers. Additionally, try to pick songs from various genres and styles of musicals, so that you can demonstrate versatility in your performance.
Once you have chosen the music for your audition book, it is important to thoroughly prepare each song. Be sure to practice the melodies of each song until they are memorized, and take note of any challenging harmonies or tricky lyrics that require extra preparation. Additionally, research the context of each song so that you can accurately portray the character’s emotions and intentions in your performance.
Creating Your Audition Book
Now that you have chosen the music for your audition book and prepared each song accordingly, it is time to create a physical copy of your audition book. A well-organized audition book should include detailed information about each song such as the title, composer/lyricist, style of music (ballad or up-tempo), key signature and accompaniment type (a capPella or with piano).
Additionally, make sure to include any special notes about pronunciation or phrasing for each song.
Rehearsing Your Audition Book
Before performing at an audition, it is essential to rehearse every song in your audition book multiple times. Start by running through all of the songs one by one from beginning to end; this will help you become comfortable with all of the material in case you get asked questions about any particular number during auditions. Also make sure to practice performing with different accompaniment styles such as piano or guitar; this will help prepare you for varied accompaniment types at auditions.
Conclusion
Writing a musical theatre audition book requires thorough preparation and practice. Decide which songs best showcase your vocal range and skills as an actor before creating a physical copy of the book with detailed information about each piece. Finally rehearse every song multiple times so that you can be confident when performing at auditions.