<p>I’m looking at doing a Sondheim song but CCM says no “mature sondheim”. </p>
<p>Is Funny Thing Happened…Forum Mature?</p>
<p>Another silly, arbitrary, annoying requirement set by a school. I haven’t heard this one yet. Just something else to make the audition process more stressful for everyone.</p>
<p>no “mature sondheim” </p>
<p>I would say Yes, for sure, “Funny Thing Happened” is early Sondheim. It is very “Immature Sondheim”.</p>
<p>“Mature Sondheim” is CCM, isn’t it?</p>
<p>Contrasting from what TomBFACoach says, I interpreted that to mean that they don’t want to see mature characters (e.g. they don’t want to see a 17 attempting “Send in the Clowns” or “I’m Still Here”) but that younger characters like those in …Forum, Jack/Little Red in Into the Woods, Toby in Sweeney (to name a few) are acceptable.</p>
<p>You want to make sure the accompaniment isn’t too difficult!</p>
<p>It is generally thought that Sondheim is not a good idea for auditions because the accompaniment is usually difficult, same with J R Brown. Sometimes the accompianist is terrific and can play anything, sometimes not so good, not a risk you may want to take.</p>
<p>Why not call CCM and ask someone there who actually knows what they mean by “mature”?</p>
<p>I thought Tom’s response was hysterical. I assumed he understood that they meant not mature characters, rather than Sondhiem himself being mature or immature. But either way it made me laugh.</p>
<p>I read it the way Tom did: “Forum” and “Company” are OK; “Assassins” and “Passion” are not; “A Little Night Music” and “Sunday in the Park with George” are questionable.</p>
<p>I second NotMamaRose: call CCM for clarification.</p>
<p>I bet actormcfamous is right! lol… I laughed myself after I read his response to my response… “no mature Sondheim” is a very awkward explanation. I agree…Call the school.</p>
<p>Mature = newer (do not use). Early = older (ok to use).</p>
<p>Some mature examples; Sweeney Todd ('79) & Sunday In the Park With George (80’s).</p>
<p>Early would be 1970 & below.</p>
<p>(D is a Sondheimholic) ;-)</p>
<p>i’m almost positive they mean mature characters.</p>
<p>there wouldn’t be any sense of them banning songs that are written in sondheim shows post 1970.</p>
<p>Agreed with mikeisexquisite, I’ve never heard anything about not using new Sondheim as opposed to older. Besides, I looked at the CCM website do’s and don’t’s and it was pretty clear that they meant mature characters.</p>
<p>If this discussion is directed soley to CCM’s policy, here it is from their website.
</p>
<p>I must say, it never occurred to me that anyone would interpret “mature Sondheim” based on HIS age, rather than the character’s. :)</p>
<p>Hmm…weird they must have changed their wording from last year (maybe after reading this thread ??). 
I would still stick with the oldies.
Although it’s always important to sing/act age appropriate (@ college auditions). ;-)</p>
<p>good call MusThCC.</p>
<p>If you really want to do Sondheim, try “Merrily We Roll Along.” The play goes backwards in time, stopping at the high school graduation of the main characters. The play has some terrific songs for less mature characters, especially “Our Time.”</p>
<p>Break a leg!</p>
<p>Sondheim is way over used in college auditions.</p>
<p>Huh? colegePLEASE, do you really think so? Which songs are overused?</p>
<p>I would be very surprised if any Sondheim songs could be classified (by college auditors) as “overused”.</p>
<p>Me, too, alwaysamom. That’s why I am hoping colegePLEASE will be more specific. (Though “Green Finch and Linnett Bird” and “Johanna” are probably on some auditioners’ radars now, because of the movie.:))</p>