What should I bring?
Sheet music for a song you're prepared to sing. It should be written in the key in which you wish to sing it. While some of our accompanists can transpose at sight, others cannot. Don't take a chance.

Is it okay if I sing without an accompaniment?
We won't stop you, or run you off. But it won't make as good an impression on us. One of the things we're looking to see is how well you match pitch with the piano.

Is it okay if I bring my accompaniment on a CD or tape?
Again, we won't stop you. But we prefer hearing you with a live pianist. If you must use a recording, bring your own playback toy (boom box, etc.) - with good batteries and/or a long extension cord. Theatrical auditions are really about live performance.

What should I sing?
Something that shows you off. We prefer show tunes - you can easily find music for them at local music stores or on the web. Pick something you like to sing, something you feel comfortable singing and - most importantly - something you *can* sing. If you find yourself having trouble reaching a note or two in a piece, you probably want to think about having it transposed or finding something else to sing.

And?
Unless you're a well-trained singer - and perhaps, even if you are - avoid songs with key changes. They always sound so good on the CDs we hear, but they're much harder to pull off with just a piano, especially if the pianist is sight reading the song. Modulations (key changes) do more damage to vocal auditions than anything else. And while we're talking about keys, try to avoid those with 5 or more sharps or flats - your pianist will love you for it, and you'll have a smoother ride.

And?
Unless you're auditioning for a Sondheim show and you're really very, very experienced at singing his particular type of song - i.e., where the singer and piano only seem to be in the same key - you probably want to steer clear of his works. Don't get us wrong - we love Sondheim's music - but it can be treacherous stuff for an audition, especially if the pianist doesn't know the work. There are exceptions to this, of course; just be careful in your selection. Look for something where the voice and piano fit together easily.

Can I sing something from the show for which I'm auditioning?
Yes, it won't matter to us. But you might want to bear this in mind: If everyone sings something from the same show, we're eventually going to get a little punch-drunk. Variety keeps us fresh - and we like to hear different things. If you can, prepare something that's in the same style as the show holding the auditions. Look for other shows by the same composer, or shows musically similar. However, use this for your bottom line: If you have something you feel shows you off better, USE IT!

We want to emphasize this: WHAT you sing is not terribly important to us; you don't get graded up or down for selecting a given tune. HOW you sing it is everything.

Should I prepare a choreographed or acted routine to the song?
NO!!! Please don't waste your time on this. It will NEVER help you. We won't hold it against you, but to repeat: it will NEVER help you. We want to hear you sing the song, we want to see your face come alive with it, we want you to sell it to us. You certainly don't have to stand there like a piece of scenery - but don't go prancing all around the room; it won't help you a bit.

What should I wear?
Clothes you can move in. For a lot of auditions we'll probably teach you a short dance routine, just to see how you move. NOTE: This will be done in a group; you will not be asked to dance by yourself.

And while we're talking about dancing...
Some people have a lot of dance experience and feel very comfortable in this part of the audition. Others are less experienced - some, not experienced at all. If you're in the latter group, don't be intimidated. Our choreographer works well with untrained dancers. Hang in there, give it your best effort - we're looking to see if you can move in rhythm at all, and do you stay after it, even when it may seem over your head. We cast people almost every show who have never danced onstage before - and they end up doing some remarkable things there.

What should I expect when I’m auditioning for a play?
Expect the unexpected. Currently you do not need to prepare a monologue (more about this later). We will probably ask you to read from the script. Let the director know if you are interested in a specific role. Reading from the script gives us an idea of who you are as a person if we would be able to cast in you in a specific role. We may have you read a variety of roles to get a better understanding of your capabilities as an actor.

Why do you want a monologue?
In a nutshell - performing a monologue gives us a quick overview of your abilities as an actor – your ability to learn lines, your understanding of character development, any training you might have received, your innate talent and your commitment to working in and around theatre. Most of our rehearsal time is dedicated to blocking, working out relationships between characters, story development and timing. Learning lines, character development and the understanding of a play are things an actor must do outside of the scheduled rehearsals. Monologues require the same focus and commitment.