Expert: J. Spyder Isaacson - 12/15/2008

Question
This spring my school will be doing The Wedding Singer and competition is going to be intense. She expects to have to hold three audition days as opposed to the normal two, and frankly this makes me nervous. Very nervous actually. So I've been hoping to find an audition song that will fit the show. I was wondering One: If you knew any musicals that were obscure but modern. Two: What musical would you liken to the Wedding Singer as far as style of music goes? I'm not positive, but I think I'm a mezzo-soprano, and I'm 15, but will be 16 by the time the musical comes around, if this helps you to know. I know this shouldn't be difficult but with my knowledge of musicals being limited I'm having trouble finding a song just about a girl who's in love that is modern. I would like the part of Julia so I thought that a song of that nature would be relevant.

Answer
Hmmm . . . obscure and modern . . . .

At first, I misread your question.  Unfortunately, I don't know the musical styling of "The Wedding Singer", so can't speak directly to that show.  However, based on the rest of your question, look for songs from the following shows:

"Here's Love" is the stage musical version of "Miracle on 34th Street", and was written by Meredith Wilson, who also wrote "The Music Man."  It contains a number of solos by the main character, who is a soprano.

"Cotton Patch Gospel" is the Gospel story as told in the modern-day deep South.  The words and lyrics were written by the late Harry Chapin, better known for writing and singing "Taxi" and "Cat's in the Cradle".  It has lots of VERY high soprano parts and solos.

Finally, *anything* from a Stephen Sondheim show ("Sweeney Todd", "Company", "Sunday in the Park with George", "A Little Night Music", etc.) will sound *really* impressive, if you can pull them off. Equally impressive is the song "On My Own" from "Les Miserables" (which is my personal favorite from that particular opera).

As a footnote, if none of these suggestions pan out, you might get some good ideas by looking through the catalog of Music Theatre International (www.mtishows.com).  They are the licensing agency tht handles more than 250 different musicals, including most of the big ones ("The Producers", for instance).

Break a leg, and let me know how you do!

-- Spyder