Cabaret Auditions: MUSIC FROM THE MOVIES
Monday, September 19 during regular rehearsal, requests due September 15.
Cabaret will be held October 15
- Please complete the Cabaret Audition Request form found at the bottom of this page.
- Singers, please make sure that you read over this information more than once. The directors have included some very good tips to assist you in your audition experience.
- Please make sure that you are prepared to perform as if it is the live show (including movement/dance if that applies.)
- There will be limited rehearsal opportunities at regular rehearsals between the auditions and the cabaret. We are in the process of scheduling additional rehearsals. We will get that schedule out as soon as possible and will ask that singers sign up for additional rehearsal times. Once they have signed up for these additional rehearsal times, they will be committed to attend.
Song Selection
- Is it written for a soprano, alto, tenor or bass? Is the piece originally written for a woman or a man? Does that matter? Sometimes
- Know your strengths. If you naturally sing high, then pick a piece that shows that off.
- Is the style appropriate for you? If you’ve never sung R&B, don’t suddenly choose an R&B song. If you’ve done tons of gospel, sing gospel. Stick with what you are most familiar and comfortable with.
- Are the lyrics appropriate for this time and place? (Must be Family Friendly - No R rated!)
- Choose songs that translate well to the piano. We aren’t going to have a live band!
**Please note: we are hoping for strong participation from our singers! However, due to the time limitations of the performance, we may have to ask some singers who audition for solos to join together for duets or ensembles.
BONUS thoughts from your directors:
- You are auditioning from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. Are you putting your best foot forward?
- Be on time, which is early! Be there before that time so you can make sure you have everything, have time to get water, go to the bathroom, and relax before you start the audition.
- Be prepared. Have everything ready to go – your audition sheet, your music, your voice.
- Appearance. When auditioning, your clothing should match the type of audition. While it is not necessary that you be dressed up, we do want you to look professional, not like you rolled out of bed! Remember an audition is a performance.
- Offer no excuses, period! Don’t tell your judges you were late because of traffic, your parents, etc. Don’t tell us all about the cold you’ve been suffering from. We can hear it in your voice if you have a cold. We’ll ask you about it. When you start an audition with excuses, it doesn’t set a great tone.
- Know what you’re auditioning for. Have intelligent questions ready. Can you handle the requirements and commitment if you are selected? Are you able to make all rehearsals/dress rehearsals?
- Have your sheet music ready to go. If you have loose sheets, put them in a notebook that is easy for a piano player to handle (not one full of junk, torn, folded music…).
- Know where you are starting in the music, and know where you are ending. Have the music in the right key. Don’t assume that your piano player can change keys.
- Be vocally healthy and vocally warmed up. If it has been since morning since you sang, sing before you get there. Sing warm-ups from class or sing along to the radio. Start slowly and softly. Don’t start singing in a warm-up with your hardest, highest part. (Think basketball player – isn’t going to do a slam-dunk without warming up first!)
- Have your music totally memorized! Don’t ask if you can look at the music, look over the piano player’s shoulder, look at a word sheet. Do the work, and memorize!
Places to locate appropriate sheet music:
- JW Pepper Music – jwpepper.com
Some good books to look through (Some come with CD’s and digital downloads):
- The Teen’s Musical Theatre Collection – compiled by Louise Lerch – Hal Leonard – comes in a Young Men’s edition and a Young Women’s edition.
- Belter’s Hot Standards – Hal Leonard
- The Singer’s Musical Anthology – Hal Leonard – comes in soprano, mezzo soprano/alto, tenor, baritone/bass – Volume 1 and 2
- The Actor’s Songbook – Hal Leonard – Women’s Edition and Men’s Edition
- Kids’ Broadway Songbook – Hal Leonard – younger voices
- Popular Solos for Young Singers – Hal Leonard