nycbound
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Auditioning with songs from the show...yay or nay?I've always been told that it's not proper etiquette to audition with a song from that particular show unless specifically asked. But, at an audition for a fairly prestigious theater, a woman did and she got cast for the role of her choice.
Did I get some false info?
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PappyCat
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I'm sure it doesn't ALWAYS work against you, but it's still not something I do unless it was requested. She must have been really talented, or luckily sang the song pretty much how they wanted it sung.
What was the song/part/show, anyway?
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jazzygirlsings
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Honestly, you can't get inside of the casting directors' heads...if we could, we would all have parts! LOL!
If you sing from the show, you run the risk of presenting yourself in a way that the casting team might not see you as...Also, it's possible that MANY other auditioners have done the songs from the show all day...
If you have done the show before, I would say that you should most likely sing from the show. Afterall, they want to see how you interpret the material and a good director will make adjustments during the audition and know if you can take direction to make it into their vision...
It's honestly a judgment call...There are calls that will specifically say "Don't sing from the show" and there are calls where "Singing from the show is encouraged"....Unfortunately, there's really not a clear-cut standard for this...
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nycbound
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It was "You Rule My World" from The Full Monty for the part of Georgie. And, the actress is talented, but I've been in theater a long time and this is the first time I've seen someone attempt this at a theater of this magnitude. So, I was pretty surprised. 
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MaryMag
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nycbound, the case you bring up could just be an example of this:
someone who is a brilliant actress and singer but absolutely retarded at picking audition songs.
knew a girl who picked the most f*cking retarded audition songs - think the title song from Phantom for a Reefer Madness audition. But she was RIDICULOUSLY TALENTED - she was a mindblowing actress and a soprano with perfect technique. To sum up - she was so accidentally great that she could be doing armpit farts and could get Maria in SOM.
To tell the truth, sometimes she pissed me off. She did so little work and put so little thought into what she did and reliably got whatever role she wanted. But she was great to watch on stage. Always great.
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PappyCat
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| nycbound wrote: | | It was "You Rule My World" from The Full Monty for the part of Georgie. And, the actress is talented, but I've been in theater a long time and this is the first time I've seen someone attempt this at a theater of this magnitude. So, I was pretty surprised. |
But Georgie doesn't sing that! Do you mean "It's a Woman's World"?
EDIT: Oh, she sings the reprise.
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nycbound
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Yes, MaryMag!
I think the reason that I was so indignant when she made that choice was partly because I thought, "Well, there you go. It's hers now!" And, it almost made me wish that I had done it too because I could have given her a run for her money. So, yeah...I think you're right. Mostly, I was just pissed because she has a long-standing relationship with this director and in a way she was flaunting her ability to do whatever she liked and still get the role.
Argh!
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Brigantine
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Yes, I've seen that before too.
since I've been made aware of the rules (not so 10 years ago!) I always try to have a good audition song- not (too) overdone, relevant, good range, not too long- or the correct amount of time/bars specified.
I sang a shortened version of "Show Me" from MFL for SOM auditions. I thought it was a good choice, had a big range, had good emotion, AND Julie Andrews has played both parts. But, Maria went to a woman who sang Lonely Goatherd at auditions. I know other factors went into casting her over me, but it still rankles. this could also go under the "Too Good" thread- I was told I had the best voice at auditions, but the director wanted that voice to sing Climb Every Mountain, and not the whole show...? So I was Mother Abbess. I'm only 27!
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GoodCop
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| Quote: | | It was "You Rule My World" from The Full Monty for the part of Georgie. And, the actress is talented, but I've been in theater a long time and this is the first time I've seen someone attempt this at a theater of this magnitude. So, I was pretty surprised. |
Interesting...I happen to know of a production of that show where someone just sang that song and got that role, and the description about the "relationship with the director" fits here, too...Hmmm.
If it's the production I'm thinking of, you are correct that this actress could have walked up and sung "I'm a Little Teapot" and gotten the part. However, she IS very talented and will do justice to that part, but you're right; nobody up against her stood a chance for political (in addition to talent) reasons. Welcome to that theatre.
For what it's worth, I've heard that there were some REALLY weird things all around regarding the casting for this production; callbacks were surreal and some people felt really off-kilter about them without being able to pinpoint why. You may know other details, but there were more than a couple surprises when that cast list went up, as I heard it.
Getting back to your original question, I actually think the "Never sing something from the show" rule is nowhere near as hard-fast as it's claimed. The biggest reason given against doing it is usually "because tons of other people will be singing the same song", yet since almost everyone follow this rule, most auditions I go to, NOBODY sings anything from the show at all, so you'd be the only one doing so! I think it might give the directors an impression that you aren't very *imaginative* and that you couldn't be bothered to find something outside the music book for that show, but the bottom line is, if you get up and do a kick-ass job on your song, that's what counts, more than the song choice. [Yes, if you have been specifically admonished NOT to sing from the show, of course you don't!].
Also, if you get called back and will be singing that same song again, you've already "shown your hand" so to speak, and your competitors will know exactly what they're up against, but how much of a worry that is is probably inconsequential (and then there are callbacks such as your show, where they didn't even sing!)
Bottom line (IMO) is that if you feel really strongly about singing a song from the show and you will feel confident doing so, go ahead and do it. But at least try to be one of the first people to go on, so you're the FIRST one who does so! 
--Longtime Lurker
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vanillabean
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Our director always asks for songs from the show. I go for less-done ones.
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Maryssa
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The problem is that a whole lot of people will want to do that, even if it isn't asked for. So all the songs from the show will be overdone for that audition.
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Melindaisy
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I think it may depemd upon where you are. Our community theater does one musical a year. Not always the same person directs the musical. In 17 years, on and off, of assisting with musical auditions I have only heard someone sing a song from the show they were auditioning for twice, both times the person got the part.
I can't say that any song except for "Castle on a Cloud" has ever been done more than twice in auditions. No song is "overdone".
So, unless it is a large theater who does many musicals I don't think it matters if you sing a song from the show if you do it well.
My advice to people who ask me what to sing for our auditions is:
-pick something you know well and like to sing.
-if there is a certain role you want in the show, pick a song that fits the character's vocal range and emotional state
-choose a song that has an acccompaniment that isn't brain surgery.... the pianist is sight reading.
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rracherson
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depends. i wouldnt do it though! show them what your capable of. sometimes some people can like practice a song from the show really well and get away with it and not be that bad.
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PappyCat
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I was thinking about the relationship with the director thing and it got me thinking how unfair those stereotypes are.
When I was in high school, the director had a couple of kids who were in school and her son ALWAYS got leads. Always.
Everyone was always really hissy fit about it, but overlooked the fact that he was INCREDIBLY talented. And extremely versatile. Her other kids, while all extremely talented, have gotten a mixture of good parts and not so good parts.
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