[DELL-ChrisM]

Good evening,

I intend to audition for JCS for a local community theater. Due to multiple singing opportunities, the only roles I will accept are Jesus or Judas. Because of this, I wanted to sing Gethsemane to show off my high tenor range. All my theater friends keep saying it is a bad idea to sing a song from the musical your auditioning for. Why??

[Celeste_SM]

Some directors don't like it. Some fear hearing the same songs over and over again. My suggestion is to prepare Gesthename, but also something else that shows you voice in a similar style. Then ask them which they'd prefer to hear. "I've prepared Gestheneme, but in case you didn't want a song from the show, I have another song as well." And go by what they say.

[AudreyTD]

I'd agree - prepare somthing else as well as Gethsemene - Anthem or Pity the Child from Chess would be appropriate - you often get the same people playing Anatoly/Jesus and Freddie/Judas.

Break a leg.

[DELL-ChrisM]

Thanks all. Would you do all of Pity the Child or would you cut to the end?

[Salome]

why would you only accept those roles?? Pilate is the best male role..plus dont leave out great roles like Annas or Ciaphas.

[DELL-ChrisM]

Salpme,

Pilate and Ciaphas are too low for me.

[superdave]

I would only do Judas if I were to do Superstar, Maybe Simon or Annas but that's it.

[AudreyTD]

Going back to the question about Pity the Child - again - it would depend on how long you've got to audition - if it's only a short time I'd do something like Verse 1 "When I was nine..." then skip verse 2 "When I was 12 my father", cutting to the bridge "I took the road" until the end...alternatively if you want the build then taking it to "I was only her son" - ie Verse 1, 2,3 and cutting 4 would also show your range...obviously, if there's time do the whole song - it's fab (and full of the correct Judas angst!)

Simon Zealotes isn't a bad role either.

[jcstar]

[Lazarus (Adam G)]

[jcstar]

This is true.

Tenor: Barry Dennen, Jeff Shankley, David Burt
Baritone: Fred Johansson, Stephen Breithaup

All of these have been recorded. Personally, I like the Tenor Pilates.

Andy.