Audition Tips
1,You don't have to audition.
2. Only those who would like speaking parts or solos need to audition.
3. Plan to sing a solo in front of 3 or 4 other students and 2 or 3 judges.
4. Choose 30 seconds (16 bars) of a song from the choices above that will show off your voice.
5. Make sure you use the instrumentals we have provided to practice.
7. Don't stress! The directors are so nice, and they know this is most likely your first-time auditioning. They will help you anyway that you need help.
8. Everyone is cast! Everyone gets in the show that would like to be.
9. Have Fun!
Parent Tips
1. Make sure to use an instrumental or karaoke track we have provided.
2. Make sure your student knows this is FUN! Encourage them and help them to understand that it’s normal to be nervous (and almost everyone is), but they can do it!
3. No parents or adults allowed in the audition room. We promise, they always do better without you there.
4. Even if they don’t get the part they wanted, please help them to know that every part is important!
5. At Spotlight we do our best to make sure everyone has their moment in the spotlight no matter what part they are given.
Before the Audition
What the heck is 32 bars?
No, not candy bars, (although you are welcome to bring those for the directors too). 32 bars is about 1 minute of a song. You may be stopped at 30 seconds and you may be asked to sing more if you can.
What should I sing?
This is the all-important question for musical theatre auditions. First, find something that you feel comfortable singing and that shows off your voice. Second, make sure it is in the style of the part you are auditioning for. For example, don’t sing Adele if you want to be cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Actually, just don’t ever sing Adele at an audition. Third, make sure your song is age appropriate. Fourth, sing something in the style of the show. If you are auditioning for Hairspray, sing a fun upbeat 50’s or 60’s song. See below for a compiled list of age appropriate songs.
What not to sing.
What not to sing is just as important as what you should sing. DON’T sing a popular song that others might be singing, chances are, someone will sing it better than you. Some songs to avoid are anything from Moana, Frozen or the Greatest Showman. Don’t sing the same audition song over and over. If you have auditioned for this director before, make sure you prepare something they haven’t heard. We want to see a variety. Don’t sing acapella. The best way to sing a song is with an instrumental sound track (almost everything can be found on youtube). You can bring your phone into the audition with you and play it right from there. We will provide a speaker for your music.
Prepare!
Make sure you memorize your music. Directors want to see your face, not the back of the sheet music you are looking at. Practice, Practice, Practice! Practice with your accompaniment music. Not all instrumental versions are the same, make sure you know yours.
What to wear.
Believe it or not, this does make a difference. We suggest that everyone dress up for their audition. That doesn’t mean you need to rent a tux or a little black dress, but show the directors that you are willing to invest some time and energy in your audition. There have also been studies done, that you perform better if you are dressed up. (Ok, the studies were done on test taking, but I’m sure it could apply to auditions too.)
At the Audition
Filling out paperwork.
Paperwork is the worst! You hate it, we hate it, everyone (except Cherie) hates it! Luckily, we have streamlined everything, so we only have one piece of paper for you to fill out. The Audition Form. To save time, make sure to bring a calendar of all of your conflicts for rehearsals. Know how tall you are (don’t worry, we have a measuring tape if you don’t have the tools to do this). Know your past shows and roles. If you would like to save even more time, we suggest you have a resume that you print and bring with you. It’s not required, but it will save you time!
Be Patient.
We know, we know! At auditions, it is usually the hurry up and wait game. We do our best to get everyone in on their time slot, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. These are kids, things go wrong. Sometimes it’s a technical problem, sometimes a child is too shy or embarrassed to sing. We want every child to have a good experience and that means sometimes spending more time with one group. The good news is, everyone gets the amount of time and attention they need. If you end up waiting, just know that you will get the time and attention you need too!
The Parent Audition.
That got your attention, didn’t it? The audition starts the minute you get out of your vehicle. When you enter, be kind and courteous. Parents, did you know that you are auditioning too? It’s true. If you are rude to, or impatient with our staff, there is an extremely good chance that the directors will hear about it. If you were directing, would you choose the child whose parents would be helpful or unassuming, or the parent that will make your job harder?
Being nervous is great!
Do you feel like you are going to throw up? Fantastic! Cry? Super! Pass out? Hooray!! You know who doesn’t feel nervous? People that do the same thing every day and never try anything new or out of their comfort zone. Nerves are the best! The feeling of nervousness is called adrenaline and it’s kicking in to help you do your best. Runners use their adrenaline to run marathons, why shouldn’t we use it in auditions. Turn your nerves into energy, then use that energy to boost your performance and show us what you’ve got!
It’s Go Time!
Deep breath, you can do it! Introduce yourself with confidence and a huge smile. Acknowledge everyone at the casting table State your full name and the name and author/artist of your piece. Keep it happy and bright. Definitely practice this as part of your audition with lots of energy. One of our best tips for auditions for kids is to remember to “take a beat”. This means, take at least 1 deep breath, position yourself, and then begin your song. Directors need a moment to shuffle their papers, take notes, or take a sip of their drink before they’re really ready to watch you. Don’t let them miss that important first moment of your audition.
Don’t say sorry.
Never let them see you sweat! Don’t make excuses for your audition. Even if you mess up, don’t say “I’m sorry”. Instead, just politely ask if you can start again. Casting will be determined on your character look, age, talent, height and how you handle yourself in the audition. Don’t tell the director that you just decided to audition and you haven’t practiced. What the director hears is, “I might not be prepared during rehearsals”. Don’t tell the directors you have a cold, I promise they can tell. Just go in and do your best. If you need to start over, no sweat, it happens all the time.
Smile and have fun!
Directors aren’t expecting a perfect audition, they just want you to do your best. If you go into the audition with the attitude of having fun, it will be a great audition. Don’t imitate anyone else, we want to see YOU! Look at the audition as a chance to do something you love most- to perform! Show off, have fun and you will knock their socks off!
What the heck is 32 bars?
No, not candy bars, (although you are welcome to bring those for the directors too). 32 bars is about 1 minute of a song. You may be stopped at 30 seconds and you may be asked to sing more if you can.
What should I sing?
This is the all-important question for musical theatre auditions. First, find something that you feel comfortable singing and that shows off your voice. Second, make sure it is in the style of the part you are auditioning for. For example, don’t sing Adele if you want to be cast as Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Actually, just don’t ever sing Adele at an audition. Third, make sure your song is age appropriate. Fourth, sing something in the style of the show. If you are auditioning for Hairspray, sing a fun upbeat 50’s or 60’s song. See below for a compiled list of age appropriate songs.
What not to sing.
What not to sing is just as important as what you should sing. DON’T sing a popular song that others might be singing, chances are, someone will sing it better than you. Some songs to avoid are anything from Moana, Frozen or the Greatest Showman. Don’t sing the same audition song over and over. If you have auditioned for this director before, make sure you prepare something they haven’t heard. We want to see a variety. Don’t sing acapella. The best way to sing a song is with an instrumental sound track (almost everything can be found on youtube). You can bring your phone into the audition with you and play it right from there. We will provide a speaker for your music.
Prepare!
Make sure you memorize your music. Directors want to see your face, not the back of the sheet music you are looking at. Practice, Practice, Practice! Practice with your accompaniment music. Not all instrumental versions are the same, make sure you know yours.
What to wear.
Believe it or not, this does make a difference. We suggest that everyone dress up for their audition. That doesn’t mean you need to rent a tux or a little black dress, but show the directors that you are willing to invest some time and energy in your audition. There have also been studies done, that you perform better if you are dressed up. (Ok, the studies were done on test taking, but I’m sure it could apply to auditions too.)
At the Audition
Filling out paperwork.
Paperwork is the worst! You hate it, we hate it, everyone (except Cherie) hates it! Luckily, we have streamlined everything, so we only have one piece of paper for you to fill out. The Audition Form. To save time, make sure to bring a calendar of all of your conflicts for rehearsals. Know how tall you are (don’t worry, we have a measuring tape if you don’t have the tools to do this). Know your past shows and roles. If you would like to save even more time, we suggest you have a resume that you print and bring with you. It’s not required, but it will save you time!
Be Patient.
We know, we know! At auditions, it is usually the hurry up and wait game. We do our best to get everyone in on their time slot, but sometimes it just isn’t possible. These are kids, things go wrong. Sometimes it’s a technical problem, sometimes a child is too shy or embarrassed to sing. We want every child to have a good experience and that means sometimes spending more time with one group. The good news is, everyone gets the amount of time and attention they need. If you end up waiting, just know that you will get the time and attention you need too!
The Parent Audition.
That got your attention, didn’t it? The audition starts the minute you get out of your vehicle. When you enter, be kind and courteous. Parents, did you know that you are auditioning too? It’s true. If you are rude to, or impatient with our staff, there is an extremely good chance that the directors will hear about it. If you were directing, would you choose the child whose parents would be helpful or unassuming, or the parent that will make your job harder?
Being nervous is great!
Do you feel like you are going to throw up? Fantastic! Cry? Super! Pass out? Hooray!! You know who doesn’t feel nervous? People that do the same thing every day and never try anything new or out of their comfort zone. Nerves are the best! The feeling of nervousness is called adrenaline and it’s kicking in to help you do your best. Runners use their adrenaline to run marathons, why shouldn’t we use it in auditions. Turn your nerves into energy, then use that energy to boost your performance and show us what you’ve got!
It’s Go Time!
Deep breath, you can do it! Introduce yourself with confidence and a huge smile. Acknowledge everyone at the casting table State your full name and the name and author/artist of your piece. Keep it happy and bright. Definitely practice this as part of your audition with lots of energy. One of our best tips for auditions for kids is to remember to “take a beat”. This means, take at least 1 deep breath, position yourself, and then begin your song. Directors need a moment to shuffle their papers, take notes, or take a sip of their drink before they’re really ready to watch you. Don’t let them miss that important first moment of your audition.
Don’t say sorry.
Never let them see you sweat! Don’t make excuses for your audition. Even if you mess up, don’t say “I’m sorry”. Instead, just politely ask if you can start again. Casting will be determined on your character look, age, talent, height and how you handle yourself in the audition. Don’t tell the director that you just decided to audition and you haven’t practiced. What the director hears is, “I might not be prepared during rehearsals”. Don’t tell the directors you have a cold, I promise they can tell. Just go in and do your best. If you need to start over, no sweat, it happens all the time.
Smile and have fun!
Directors aren’t expecting a perfect audition, they just want you to do your best. If you go into the audition with the attitude of having fun, it will be a great audition. Don’t imitate anyone else, we want to see YOU! Look at the audition as a chance to do something you love most- to perform! Show off, have fun and you will knock their socks off!
Audition Songs
We are always asked, "What song should I audition with?"
We have come up with a list of songs that always work for auditions.
Both vocal and instrumental tracks are included, but use the instrumental tracks for your audition.
We have come up with a list of songs that always work for auditions.
Both vocal and instrumental tracks are included, but use the instrumental tracks for your audition.
Girls: |
Boys: |
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Part of Your World: Start at time stamp 2:11 and go to the end.
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Go the Distance: Start at timestamp 2:21 and end at 2:52
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Let it Go: Start at time stamp 2:32 and go through 3:03
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Lost in the Woods (Frozen 2)- Vocals start at timestamp 1:25 and go to 2:17. Instrumental start at timestamp 1:34 and go to 2:25
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Naughty: Start at 2:35 timestamp and go through the end
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One Jump Ahead: Start at beginning and end at timestamp :37
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Belle Reprise: Start at timestamp :37 and go to the end
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Edelweiss: Start at timestamp :33 and go to 1:01
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Tomorrow: Start at timestamp 2:48 and go through the end
(You don't have to sing the barks. You can just sing the word tomorrow) |
Kiss the Girl: Start at timestamp :40 and end at 1:19
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Good Girl Winnie Foster: Start at timestamp 2:22 and go to the end
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Travel Song: Start at the beginning and go to timestamp :38
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Mother Knows Best: For vocals start at timestamp at :37 and go to 1:19
For Instrumentals start at timestamp :42 and go to 1:24 |
Who I'd Be: Vocals start at timestamp 2:02 and go to 2:56
Instrumentals start at timestamp 2:06 and go to 3:00 |
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I Won't Say I'm in Love: Start at timestamp 1:27 and go to the end
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Santa Fe: Beginning to timestamp :57
OR Letters From the Refuge: Start at timestamp 2:30 and go to the end, |
The Next Right Thing: Start at timestamp 2:42 for vocals and end at 3:26
Start at timestamp 2:52 for instrumentals and end at 3:36
Start at timestamp 2:52 for instrumentals and end at 3:36