[Rumpelteazer2006]

Hey CATS fans! I'm gonna be auditioning in about a week for a local production of CATS, and I was wondering if anyone had any advice for an audition song. I'm a mezzo soprano who's been told I sound a lot like Jodi Benson, if that helps.

My problem is that they're casting two shows at once, "CATS" and "The Music Man," which run in succession. I'd like to audition for both (going for any of the female parts in CATS, Marian in the other), but I only get to do one song. Any ideas for a song that might fit both? They're so insanely different!

[QuaxoCoricopat]

Tough one, as both composers are so different from other composers as well as each other.

I'd focus on something more for the Marian role... hmm. Do you know anything from "Once Upon A Mattress"? Try "Shy". It's a great comedy piece, which will work for CATS, as well as being a nice mezzo belt piece. It's a bit of a common piece, but it's better than some.

You could also try "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady. Again, slightly over done, but not as bad as some others.

Just stay away from Les Mis, Phantom, RENT, and Wicked.

[Nemi]

A Mezzo Marian? If you think you can pull it off... Most Mezzo's I know can get nowhere never Marian's range

Anyway, definately go with something in your range... If it's for Marian too, something that expressed your Soprano range well would be pretty much necessary... which really opens you up to the parts of Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, and perhaps Cassandra, Tantomile, Rumpleteazer, and the kittens, depending on your height and dance ability.

As for actual song... I can't really be of much help. If they'd rather you sing a song from one of the shows, go with one of Marian's... Goonight My Someone, My White Knight, or Marian's part of Lida Rose... It'd be the better of the two shows to sing one from (a CATS song wouldn't really express your range as a soprano like the The Music Man ones would). However, they aren't really 'belt-y.' Hmmm.

Best of luck! I've been in Music Man before (I was Mrs. Squires... my first musical role)... super fun times!

[enkeli-kitten]

Do something cheerful - they don't want to listen to boring, slow songs. You want to keep them entertained.
Also, don't go too complicated. It's far, far better to sing a simpler song really well than do a hard song just "ok". But you also want something that shows off your range. ALW is good for this, but if you decide to do ALW do something that isn't too common as in my experience they don't like it much!!

...Marian is quite a cheerful character. Yeah, I agree with QuaxoCoricopat, focus on her as Cats is pretty uncommon.
I recently auditioned with Getting to Know You from the King and I. It's simple but apparently it works! Good for Marian too. There's a lot of good songs in Chicago. How about "I got Rhythm" from Girl Grazy, that's a Gershwin musical, do you know it? I think that'd be a great one! You can probably download it from somewhere if you don't already know it.

[QuaxoCoricopat]

Agreed about complicated songs enkeli... difficult songs are even harder when you're nervous, and you will be at an audition!

I don't think Cheerfulness is a requirement though... it really depends on the role that you want and the theme of the show, I've always done really well with my ballads in auditions. Marian's songs, afterall, are mostly ballad. A song can't be too slow or monotonous, but you don't always have to do happy either...

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Thanks, those are great suggestions, everyone! I think I'm gonna focus more on the CATS aspect, since I want to be in that one more, and I think I have a better chance at it than Marian. I'm not exactly sure which part to shoot for...I love Rumpelteazer's character, but I'm super tall (5'11"), so I think that knocks me out of the running there. I'm guessing I'll probably get Cassandra if anything; I've got the same body type, but I like some of the more elaborate costumes better, like Jemima or Demeter. It'll be interesting to see what the directors have me try for!
I'm found a couple of songs that work well with my voice, but I can't quite decide which one I'll use..."Someone Like You" from Jekyll and Hyde, "Unexpected Song" from Song and Dance, or "On My Own" from Les Mis (and yes, I know that one's overdone). They've all got that haunting-type melody that sounds like something from CATS. Any ideas on what you'd choose?

[Eponine Poe]

I'd choose On My Own, simply because I'm biased towards LM. ^_^ And you know, check out the songs in Miss Saigon, too. *nods* As for your height...yeah, probably Cassandra, or maybe Bombalurina?

[Nemi]

On My Own wouldn't be a very good Marian song... it really doesn't have her range. I sang it in my Joseph...Dreamcoat audition and got cast as Judah (oh, how I wish band hadn't gotten in the way! The cast was short two boys ) I was actually going to suggest Unexpected Song... I think it'd be a great choice. As for Miss Saigon songs... I'd Give My Life for You is a good song, but again, not a Marian one. Nor is The Movie in My Mind.

Bombalurina is no where near a possiblity for a Soprano... She's probably the lowest female in the cast, unless one of the kittens or Cassandra beats her.

[Alonza0]

Hey, I'm not trying to get your hopes up or anything, but don't rule out the role of Teazer yet. My friend, who is 5'8'' or 5'9'' got the role of Teazer because of her awesome Cockney, good voice, and great dancing and flexability. She was around 2'' taller than Mungo, but she was a great Teazer!
As for songs, I'd go with Jellylorum's part in Gus if you can reach those notes. But then again, it is a slow song. If not, I'd sing At The Ballet, from A Chorus Line. Complicated without being overly so. Same with Matchmaker for Fiddler on the Roof. However, both songs are sung by a trio, which might make it difficult. No, scratch that, if it were me, I'd sing No Good Deed from Wicked, although I think it goes a little low. If you can't reach that low maybe Popular from Wicked. Another good one is I Dreamed A Dream for Les Mis. Of course if your'e going for someone specific like Jenny, sing her song. Now I've gone and started rambling again sorry, I was really getting into this. Well, now you've got my view, hope I helped without boring you to tears.

[enkeli-kitten]

Well, I've always been taught not to sing songs from the actual show. *shrugs* Maybe it's different over there. The only time I'd sing a song from a show would be if they actually give you a song to learn. When I was going for Dorothy in Wizard of Oz we were told to sing "somewhere over the rainbow". (I didn't get that part...I was shorter than some of the munchkins ^_~ i got to be the munchkin coroner!!! *giggles*)

I was going to suggest On My Own, too!!! But I thought it might be sliightly overdone, the whole Les Mis thing...I think that'd be nice anyway. Unexpected Song is very pretty, it does go very low in one part though, all the way down to F below the stave or something...that's a croak for me!!!! I shouldn't think your height would matter, depending on how many tall guys they have. If you can sing Unexpected Song, Bombalurina's range will be easy.

[QuaxoCoricopat]

Generally you only sing songs from the show if they give explicit permisson in the audition notice. They generally do that for the shows whose music is more unusual; for instance I recently auditioned for "Bat Boy" where we allowed to sing from the show because, as a rock/pop musical on the lines of Rocky Horror, there wasn't a lot of music in a similar style to choose from to audition with. If you sing a song from the show, you're basically casting yourself in a role, which makes it harder for the director to see you in something else (wouldn't it be horrible to audition w/Bombalurina, and find out that they wanted to cast you as Grizabella but couldn't see you in it?).

I'd still say avoid Les Mis like the plague. Don't get me wrong, I love that musical, but it's still too popular, and unless you can do something with the song so drastically different than the other 10,000 ways its been done so that its unique to you, you're going to have a harder time making an impression on the director. If you don't make an impression with the director, chances are you're not going to get cast.

The beauty of using lesser known songs is that often times the director doesn't have a lot to compare your rendition to. Unless they've been living under a rock for the last twenty-five years, they've listened frequently to Phantom, Les Mis, Rent, Wicked, etc. At this stage you'll never compare to the seasoned professionals on the recordings. It's why I like to audition with pieces from "Chess", it's so unusual that it grabs attention as soon as you tell them what you're singing. They're more likely to pay attention to you, versus comparing your performance to the original.

Also, choreograph movement that you'll perform during the song. This will help disguise any nervousness from showing physically, bolstering your performance. It doesn't have to be a full dance number, in fact, less is more in an audition. A simple cocking of the head, or arm gesture at a pivotal point can sell you more than an elaborate tap dance. Also, be sure to sing in front of the mirror to get genuine facial expressions. If this is old news to you, I appologize, but its something I see a lot of at my school. I can't tell you how disturbing it is to have someone singing about how someone ripped their heart out, and have this blank expression at the same time... Being a really good singer guarantees nothing if you can't act. Being a good actor can cover all sorts of faults in vocal technique (minor ones mind, if you can't carry a tune in a bucket then you're on your own).

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Hmm...what do you think about "Happily Ever After" from Once Upon A Mattress as an audition song? It's very "Rumpleteazer-y," and upbeat.

[enkeli-kitten]

I don't know that musical. But I did think of something good for Cats, they're not from a musical, have you heard Starry Starry Night by Don McLean? Another one is the Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel. I think those'd be a great audition for Grizabella, they both have the right feeling.

[abbeycat]

the best piece of advice i can give you (taking into consideration i have never met you or have a list of the songs you know/can sing etc)

i will say that whatever song you choose, make sure you tell a story. most of the songs in cats tell a story, they introduce a character, they relay information about someone, whether its telling the tribe (ie, the audition panel) about old deut or boasting to the audience (again, the panel) about your self as is the case with rumple for example.

take the song apart when you have a quiet moment, the reason compsers put in a song is because of an intention, what do you want to gain or loose because of this song? how are you going to get your intention? who is your audience?
for example....if you wanted to marry someone would it be better to say 'i love you' or sing 'i love you' in a song that lasts 3 minutes?
would you point to gus and say to old deut 'thats gus' or would you show the whole world how great he is in a song?

i know i havent really helped in your selection of song but whatever one you choose i hope this helps in your performance of the song.(oh and always have a contrasting song on standby up tempo and ballad and a character song)for example, poor sweet baby from snoopy as your ballad, im not afraid of anything from songs for a new world as your uptempo and adelaides lament from guys and dolls, im not saying these songs are the ones for you but you can see the diversity in just three songs that would show off more than just one side of you.... im sure you have a big selection and can make your own choice but a good rule of thumb is 'if the character didnt have the song from the show to sing, what other song best describes them?.

i always say before an audition 'say what you mean and mean what you say, feel how you sing and then sing how you feel....'

and most of all, go for it at exactly the level you would give if you were on stage after all the rehearsals, sweat, tears, make up, costumes and hard work.
good luck!

[Rumpelteazer2006]

Wow, that is super awesome advice; I never thought about the whole "telling a story" aspect, but yeah, for CATS, a song that I can ACT would be the best choice, rather than just singing any old song. I'll definitely work on that today. I definitely want to stand out for the directors (in a good way, of course!). Thanks!

[enkeli-kitten]

Your audition must be quite soon now? Good luck!! It's so great to get an opportunity to be in Cats!! I wish some theatre near me would do it!!

[abbeycat]

[Rumpelteazer2006]

I'll definitely let you know..it's on Saturday! I've decided I'm gonna sing "Shy" from "Once Upon a Mattress"....it's a big belty number where I can really show off some personality; lots of fun! I just hope I don't get nervous and sound like a chipmunk, hee hee....this particular song needs A LOT of confidence!

[QuaxoCoricopat]

Break a leg!

[Rumpelteazer2006]