[swmustang878]

Hey guys! I am new (I just found this site and It's AWESOME!!!) Anyway, I am going to try out for a Rolf part at a dinner theater near my home, but I have never been in a musical let alone audition for one. Is this a good part for me being so new? I was in Show Choir and Concert Choir though so I have some singing experience. If anyone has ANY audition tips I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear them!!! Thanks!!!

[what_the_heck013]

Yes, Rolf is a great part. It was one of my first bigger roles. I mentioned this in another post, but... Do you dance well? When I played Rolf, one of the main reasons I was cast was because I can dance fairly well. Rolf isn't an overly-major role (he's in about 3 scenes if I remember correctly), but it's fun because in Act 1 the audience loves you and then you get to turn around and be a villain in Act 2, but then finally end being a sort of hero, IMO.

[swmustang878]

I did make it into show choir so I have some choreographed dance experience. As long as it's choreographed, I should be okay. lol. I really LOVE how you said he turns from being loved, to being bad, to being a "hero." That really gives an actor a chance to explore all of the different sides of acting all in one show. (Well, maybe not all but a few. ) Anyway, since you obviously got the part, how were auditions (even though mine will probably be different anyway), and do you have any tips for snagging the Rolf part? Thanx!

[what_the_heck013]

[swmustang878]

I thank you VERY much for the advice! It, I am sure, will help me greatly! If anyone else has ANY advice, KEEP IT COMIN!!! I'll need it! And it doesn't have to be just about the Rolf part, but for any audition. Thanx guys!

[swmustang878]

If I would have to pick a modern song to sing for auditions, what do you guys think about "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban. I know what you're thinking, "OMG country!" But it is not that "twangy" at all. I like it because it really shows off my best voice tone quality and my range. IDK, you guys would know better than me though. It is a fairly gloomy song about a girl leaving him, but I can't find an upbeat song that fits my voice yet.

[swmustang878]

never mind that last post. I think I am gonna use "Ever The Same" by Rob Thomas. I still wanna know what you all think though.

[swmustang878]

never mind again! lol. I may just do "Me" from Beauty and the Beast or "One Song Glory" from Rent if I can hit the high note.

[what_the_heck013]

I think all of those songs seem a little too modern. Is that what the director wants? I would suggest doing a song from a Rogers and Hammerstein musical (Carousel, Cinderella, Oklahoma!) or doing "Soon It's Gonna' Rain" or "Metaphor" from The Fantasticks or "Rosie" from Bye Bye Birdie. I strongly urge you NOT to do a song written after 1969.

[swmustang878]

I think "Rosie" from Bye Bye Birdie is perfect! Thanks so much for the recomendations! Now I just have to figure out where to buy sheet music for it with an accompiament CD.

[what_the_heck013]

Try musicnotes.com for the sheet music. You can download a karaoke version off of iTunes, I think or you can get the midi at hamienet.com.

[swmustang878]

Thanks for the resources. I actually just realized that I only need the karaoke or instrumental version of "Rosie" because the auditions have a CD player. Anyway, I looked on iTunes and found no karaoke version, but if you know of a CD I can buy online to get shipped to my house, I am willing to go that route too. Thanks again!!!

[swmustang878]

Scratch that last post. I found a karaoke version of the Bye Bye Birdie soundtrack on Amazon.com for roughly $24. I comes with all of the songs sung by singers, and then the instrumental/karaoke versions also. Pretty good deal compared to what else is out there. I will post more when I get closer to auditions! Thanks!

[swmustang878]

AH! I just found out that the auditions are on sunday may 21! SO SOON! Anyway, get ready for more posts. lol. I need to know if it is a bad thing to wear hats to an audition? Thanks again and keep checking for new posts. haha.

[Baker]

Don't wear a hat. If they have lights on you run the risk of casting a shadow on your face and they need to be able to see you. Hats also seem a bit too casual, like you're hear just to get your ticket in because you'll know you'll make it (along the same lines of dressing up from the show for auditions. When I did "Oliver!" a kid dressed up as the Dodger for the audition... he wasn't very good anyway, but he landed a chorus role.)

[swmustang878]

The more I was thinkin bout the whole hat thing the more I didn't like it. lol. I agree with you Baker. Thanks! BTW, did u have your rolf auditions yet?

[Baker]

Nope, they're this coming Monday.

[swmustang878]

Good luck man!!! Let me know if you get the part. I'll pray for ya! and if you and I both get the part, this is what I'll be doing > lol. I'm so corny.

[Mark Walton]

"Standing On The Corner (Watching All The Girls Go By)" from Frank Loesser's "The Most Happy Fella". That's actually a song of frustration. The Four Lads recorded the song in 1956; it actually became more of a hit than the musical was (MHF was never made into a movie).

[MademoiselleMusicals]

Good luck. I hope you get the part Keep us posted.

[swmustang878]

AHHHH!!!!! I just found out today that the earliest I could get a Bye Bye birdie karaoke Cd is next wednesday and auditions are sunday!!! NOOOO!!! Desperate Times Call for desperate measures! HELP! I need a new song. I have an audition book with an accompianment CD and "Soon it's gonna rain" is on there but it may be a tad too low for my voice I think. I didnt want to do this but here is the entire list of songs in my book that I can do:

-All Good Gifts- Godspell
-All i need is the girl- gypsy
-any dream will do- joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat
-The Best thing for you- call me madam
-empty chairs at empty tables- les mis
-everybody ought to have a maid- a funny thing happened on the way to the forum
-Ev'rything I've Got- by jupiter
-gaston- beauty and the beast
-gonna build a mountain- stop the world i want to get off
- i cant stand still- footloose
- if i cant love her- beauty and the beast
- Im a bad bad man- annie get your gun
- isnt it?- saturday night
- its a lovely day today- call me madam
-kansas city- oklahoma
-the kite- your a good man charlie brown
- mama, a rainbow- minnies boys
-mama says- footloose
-many moons ago- once upon a matress
-me-beauty and the beast
-Mister cellophane- chicago
-movies were movies-mack and mabel
-my name-oliver!
-one song glory-rent
-the only home i know- shenandoah
-on the street where you live- my fair lady
- plant a raddish- the fantasticks
-razzle dazzle- chicago
-reviewing the sitituation- oliver!
-rumble, rumble, rumble- the perils of pauline
-soon its gonna rain- the fantasticks
-the tale of the oyster- fifty million frenchmen
-waitin for the light to shine- big river
-when im not near the girl i love- finians rainbow
-where was i when they passed out luck- minnies boys
-a wonderful day like today- the roar of the greasepaint- the smell of the crowd
-you should be loved- side show

well, thats the book, but i could do "Wonderful" from Wicked or "Luck be a Lady" from Guys and Dolls. JUST HELP!!! I can also do any song as long as the karaoke version is on Itunes!!! Thanks

[Baker]

The audition went GREAT! I sang well, my friends told me they didn't know I could sing that well. So yeah I was all psyched up, I read pretty well and the dancing was easy.

But I wasn't cast at all. Not even as a Nazi. It's frustrating because I've been in the summer show at this theater almost every year since I was 9... and we got a new director... half of my friends weren't cast either, some of which have been there longer than I have...

Sigh.

[swmustang878]

I'm so sorry. Well, there will always be more opportunites! Look to the future!!! Now it's my turn on Sunday! AHHH!! lol. Did you read my huge post?!?! I am in quite a bind. I really really really want to do "Luck be a Lady" from Guys and Dolls or "Purpose" from Avenue Q. I am leaning more towards "Purpose" just because it is really great for my voice. It does say that certain "A$$" word and talks about smoking grass. IDK. What do you think? We'll see. Wish me luck!

[swmustang878]

Never mind!!! LoneWanderer suggested "Oh what a beautiful morning" from Oklahoma! and it's perfect for my range and tone!! I am so excited now!!! Not scared anymore! but i will be on Sunday. lol. I have a little fan base comin with me though. (My aunt who's 2 yrs older than me and my mom. lol! ) Now just wish me luck and hopefully I'll break a leg! (hopefully not for real though. lol)

[swmustang878]

Well, this is it. Auditions are tomorrow @ 6pm. OMG!!! The nerves are already kickin in. lol. AHHHHHH!

[swmustang878]

Well, I just went to auditions, and I think I did alright. I was pretty nervous at first but I pulled it together and went for it. lol. Anyway, thanks for all your help guys and I'll let you know if i get a callback.

[Baker]

So? Callback? Castlist? Anything?

[swmustang878]

No. It says on the website that just because they don't call doesn't mean they won't use you. I think they probably just put that up there so nobody calls them and bothers them. I am not too bummed though because it was my first audition ever. I wish they would have given me some constructive critisism though so I knew what I did wrong or if I just didn't fit any parts.

[MademoiselleMusicals]

Baker .... Awwww well there is a first time for everything and you're young so there's loads of opportunities! That often happens to amateur socities where a new person comes in and uproots everything - it's good to have some freshness but like you said if you don't get many parts and you have been there for a long long time - it is VERY frustrating (I know!) So are you not even in the chorus?

Quote:

swmustang878 No. It says on the website that just because they don't call doesn't mean they won't use you. I think they probably just put that up there so nobody calls them and bothers them. I am not too bummed though because it was my first audition ever. I wish they would have given me some constructive critisism though so I knew what I did wrong or if I just didn't fit any parts.

Again, be proud of yourself! This was your FIRST ever audition so it's a massive achievement . Keep trying and any advice you need email / pm me and I will help you right away!

[swmustang878]

Thanks! I am proud that I even tried. I will definitely ask if I need more help. Thanks for all of your help everyone!!!!!!!!!! Much appreciated.

[MademoiselleMusicals]

No problem! Well done!

[what_the_heck013]

[musikal_geek]

And, just a tip, instead of posting four or five posts one after another, use the edit button! Instead of saying "never mind my last post" just delete it entirely!

But don't worry. First auditions rarely turn out great, especially when you're auditioning for a lead! Keep us posted on your next auditions!!

[swmustang878]

Will do! Thanks again guys!