Neverhere

So, I was poking around at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (my top choice) and I noticed that it said you should be prepared to sing for your BFA Acting audition. I was wondering if anyone who happened to audition there (or maybe even got in!) could tell me whether you will definitely have to sing, or if it might not be asked? I'm not a singer at all, so I just wanted the heads up.
Now, there is a second part to the question, and that is my song choice. It asks that your choice be from musical theatre (duh!), and I was thinking about using the song Wonderland from bare: a pop opera...if you are familiar with the song, their happens to be a rap section that I happen to have my eye on. What are your feelings on the choice?
THANKS!

supportive

Actually, 2 BFA Acting programs that my daughter auditioned for did not require the song to be from a musical. One school said the song had to be acapella and the other school required a track. The acapella school did not even have her sing. As far as song choice, I'm not so sure rap is the best choice as it doesn't show your singing voice range.

TheRealKEVP

Always follow the instructions of the particular school you are applying to. If that school (UNCSA) says they require a song from musical theatre, you better have a song from musical theatre.

I don't know much about choosing a song for an MT audition, but I suspect that performing the rap section from a song (such as Wonderland) isn't going to be what they are looking for. I agree with supportive that it won't show your singing range. It's almost like you have found a loophole and abused it, they want a musical theatre song, but you have found something that is (technically) part of a song which (technically) comes from a musical, but which sounds exactly like any other rap song instead of like a musical theatre song.

Also remember that even if they ask you to sing, it is still an acting audition. In musical theatre, the performers are still acting, still playing a character, when they sing. When choosing an audition song, and preparing the song, remember that you will still be evaluated on how you portray the character. (I'm sure this is why they are requiring an MT song).

If you are uncomfortable singing, find something that's easy to sing. Also remember that they are probably only expect you to sing 16 bars.

If you are just auditioning for acting, they may be more interested in having you sing so that they can see how you project your voice, how you breathe and so on than in your actual singing ability.

KEVP

logicaldog

Yea, I don't think I want to go to an acting school that thinks you HAVE to sing, says more about them than me.

ActingDad

Logicaldog - I think you are jumping to conclusions. The reason some schools ask to hear actors sing is that it helps to show the character of the voice. They are not judging pitch as one would with an MT. They are of course expecting the actor to act the part. At its core a song is a monologue so the same care in picking a song should be made even if the actor can't hold a tune.

Gwen Fairfax

D was sweating bullets when she realized she would have to sing for several auditions-- in the end those were her best auditions. And she is not a singer. I'm sure someone who can explain it better than I, but music can bring out natural emotion in some anxious situations (like, say, an audition). You may end up being glad you had the chance to sing.

abtsmom

When my S auditioned at UNCSA, he did his monologues first and then sang--they let him do the order as he wished. He is a singer and has lots of musicals on his resume so he wanted to end strong. They used his song choice as a talking point.

In the info session, they told us you don't know have to know how to sing--they just want to know the range of your talents. They don't have a musical theater program but they do want to stage musical productions so they want to balance they student talent.

I'd pick a musical song you like or can relate to so it can be a talking point in the interview. (They told us one girl sang "Happy Birthday" because she can't sing)