1/12/08-DC Audition Journal/Review

College Majors Musical Theater Majors
1

<p>So to begin the story, I’m going to happily say that it didn’t rain at all this trip :smiley: (you’d understand if you read my other audition journals). This must be a good sign- or at least I like to think so.</p>

<p>Anywho, I had to get up at 7 AM to get ready to make the pilgrimage up to DC (usually a 3 ½ -4 hour drive). We were planning on leaving at 8:30. So I packed up and got prepared for my audition. Right when we left the house I realized that I had left my iPod and headphones. No big deal, they’re just little things, but I felt like I was off to a bad start. Luckily nothing else really went wrong nor did I leave anything else.</p>

<p>We actually drove right into DC and parked about 3 hours after we left home, so we had almost 2 hours to kill so we went to this tavern-style restaurant called Logan’s Tavern which was about half a block from the Studio Theater and had some really good food. Unfortunately I was kinda nervous so I couldn’t eat a lot. I left for the Studio Theater to go get changed and then they started the audition day.</p>

<p>First there was an information session which was really informative (hence the name). We also went around the room and introduced ourselves, intended major, where we come from and our “entourage” of people with us. Much to my surprise, most of the people there were prospective Acting students. There only turned out to be 8 of us MT kids there, so it was a nice small group. The Acting kids went upstairs and us MT kids got changed into our dance attire then came back into the auditorium for dance warm-up/combo. The dance combo was actually easier than my other two auditions by far (Elon and Shenandoah). They first taught us a tango-style dance, but some of us kept screwing it up, so they taught us another jazz combo which was much easier. We performed the combos in groups of 2’s. Afterwards we were asked if any of us had special talents. So everyone was like “I can imitate Ethel Merman and George Bush” or “I can do so-and-so accent”. I was in the back thinking “God, I feel really untalented.” I was trying to think of what I could do, but I could only think of that I could speak German semi-fluently, but I’d be afraid that one of the auditors spoke German and they’d call me out on something that I might say wrong, so I kept my mouth shut. In retrospect, I wish I would have said that I taught myself piano and then played a piece which displays my talent (Fortune Favors the Brave probably). So then we all left the auditorium and got changed again.</p>

<p>We came back in the auditorium later for vocal warm-ups then we had to sit outside of the auditorium and wait for our names to be called. I wasn’t really nervous sitting out there because we got to talk to each other and give each other tips, encouragement and crack jokes, which was really nice. Some people took really long in their audition. The only other guy there who applied as a transfer student was in the audition room for close to 15-20 minutes toying with his songs and monologue. That was kind of nerve racking because I wasn’t sure if they kept him because they liked him or because they wanted to see it improve. Anyways, I was fifth out of 8 to audition. I was called into the room and they had me do my 2 songs first. My accompanist kinda screwed up on my ballad song- it is a JRB piece, but it’s a really easy song, I can sightread it fine and I’m only an intermediate pianist. But everything went smoothly after that. They also seemed to really enjoy my uptempo.</p>

<p>So I grabbed a chair for my monologue. I was nervous about using this monologue, because at my other 2 auditions I had used my dramatic monologue, but I decided my comedic monologue would show more acting in it, so I pulled my comedic out. Well all went well until a little less than halfway through when I minorly forgot what line came next. It all worked out though, because at that point my character was supposed to be thinking to himself. That saved my life. So anyways, I was done. In and out really quick. My parents and I talked with NotMamaRose for a little while then left. Well lo and behold, we ran into NMR and her D at Subway down the street again getting some post-audition food.</p>

<p>So in the end all worked out. Overall I think I did really well- then again, that’s what I said for Elon, but I still got rejected :P. But really, I’m excited to hear back from Syracuse.</p>

2

<p>So glad everything went well for you – I hope you get good news from Syracuse! I’m sort of curious about which JRB song you did for your ballad. I always advise my students not to do his material because of the difficulty of the accompaniments. If you don’t want to share it with the public, would you PM me?</p>

3

<p>Freedom–thanks for your informative report on the audition process at SU. It gives us a good idea what to expect–my D is auditioning next week-end. We’ll let you know how it goes. Hope you hear good news from them soon!</p>

4

<p>My JRB song is Hard to Speak my Heart from Parade. It is a very easy piece to play. Like I said, I am only an intermediate pianist and I have been able to sightread that piece without any troubles at all. The whole song is basically right hand playing B and E in quarter notes with the left hand playing whole notes until the middle where the right hand goes into 16th notes (C+E, G, C, F etc…) with the left still playing whole/half notes.</p>

<p>Very simple piece</p>

5

<p>Thanks for this report Freedom. I’m wondering, has anyone who attended a regional audition been told they were “a good fit for the school, we like you” thus hinting strongly that you will be accepted. I thought formal acceptances aren’t made until March. I heard these type of comments may have been made in DC and I’m curious whether anyone has had similiar strong hints from the auditioners.</p>

6

<p>I have never heard of anyone being told this. What school was it that said this?</p>

7

<p>At the Syracuse audition today.</p>

8

<p>I would really advise against trying to read into what auditioners tell you until you receive anything in writing.</p>

<p>Although it sounds as if those who were told that they “are liked” and seem “a good fit for the school” are seemingly on the right track :), it is still very possible that this will not lead to a formal acceptance (there may be too many good fits). </p>

<p>And so in order to avoid disappointment take the compliments for a positive without strings attached.</p>

<p>On the same token, those who were not told anything, and who even felt as if the auditioners did not take much interest in them, may very well still be in the running and receive an acceptance.</p>

9

<p>I agree with your assessment MTgrl, I found it a bit odd when I first heard this report and was just wondering if anyone else had a similiar experience.</p>

10

<p>Two years ago when my son auditioned at Syracuse, on campus, one of the people who watched his audition said something similar to this and that she would recommend him for the program. I do not think that person alone would make the decision, as I think several people watch the auditions, and at least the dance part is separate from the singing / monologues. Also, Syracuse is a school where the package acceptance comes together, so one must also pass the academic acceptance.</p>

<p>My son was offered a place in MT that year in March. I still don’t think that you should read anything into what is said at the audition. One person alone does not make the decision, no matter how much they liked you.</p>