Audition choices for successful applicants

MichaelNKat
Tue, 06 Mar 2007 13:10:21 +0000

I was wondering when this issue was going to float to the surface! And if you think about it, it’s really not too different than asking for a copy of someones note cards for a term paper. Simply put, finding monologues and songs is a very time consuming, labor intensive process and it’s kind of like asking someone to give another their work product. My daughter spent months and countless hours scouring plays and song books to find monologues and songs that were a good fit for her and that she thought she could present in a way that was uniquely hers. I can certainly understand a reluctance to simply “share” that with others on a public forum. Also, as others have mentioned, auditions are a competitive process (which is not to suggest that an atmosphere of congeniality and supportiveness should not prevail). But can you imagine what it feels like to show up at an audition and find that someone you shared your audition list with is there doing material that you had spent hours finding and practicing. Happened to my daughter. Shared her list with someone who showed up at an audition the person knew my daughter would be at, doing one of the songs my daughter had found and was doing. They were the only 2 doing that song that day and my daughter was not a happy camper.

So how do you find material? As others have said, and as my daughter did, sit in the drama section of your local library or book store and read plays. Listen to music from shows. Talk to local high school english, literature, drama and music teachers for suggestions of of plays and musicals, talk to a voice or acting coach - all people who know a student and can point the student in directions that match that student. Do it together and make it a fun process your kid shares with you. That way, a student can really “own” the material they come up with.