[stagemomma]

My daughter is auditioning for Annie (dinner theater) in a few weeks--she actually wants to be one of the orphans, not necessarily Annie (she has long, sandy blonde hair). The call site posted the sheet music (Tomorrow, Never Fully Dressed) to prepare, but it is in a different key than what we have from the Broadway version of the sheet music and what she's practiced.

She knows the songs inside, outside, and upside down, but she's not the strongest sheet music reader.

What can she do to be most prepared?

Thanks for your help!

[stagemomma]

Actually, I just came upon this:

http://www.sheetmusicdigital.com/howtotranspose.asp

Has anyone used this before? Seems like it would get her some practice in the key they are expecting.

Any other suggestions?

[Laura]

If you have the starting note for each song, play that on the piano. Just get her to sing it without telling her that the key has been changed etc; that will simply confuse her. If she has a decent ear for music, she should be able to adjust her singing to fit that key.

Let me know if I can help any more.

And let us know how she goes!!

Laura

[kozafluitmusique]

Have it learn whichever way it will be played at the audition....otherwise she will be confused at the audition. From what you're saying, although she knows it inside out, this way would be better if she has to relearn it that way now as opposed to the audition day.

[stagemomma]

We went ahead and worked on the music in the key they gave for the audition. However, in speaking with the director, they are not opposed to adjusting the key if it is not a person's best key and the pianist can sight-transpose on the spot. So, as long as she shows her "potential" in the given key she's been practicing, they'll work with her to adjust as needed.

I don't envy this guy. He expects 150+ girls on Saturday to audition for 10 or 12 spots (double cast) and he wants to hear every single one of them sing 32 bars of Tomorrow. I'm GLAD he doesn't want "moms" in the room during the audition!

I wouldn't say it's a longshot for her to get cast as she's been doing mostly drama/comedy and not musical theatre (for heaven's sake she's only 11!). Singing and dancing are not her first or strongest suits, but she's been working on both all year to expand into the world of musical theatre. She generally has enough "zing" to at least get to callbacks (which I think would thrill her as much as being cast!)