AboutPaul B. Crook Expertise I am qualified to answer questions regarding acting styles (including both straight and musical theatre), audition techniques, directorial questions, script analysis, casting, script selection, and theatre curricula. I cannot answer questions regarding acting/directing for TV or Film, technical theatre, theatre/stage management, theatre history, or dramaturgy. Please do not ask questions regarding homework, as I will not answer those.
Experience I have worked professionally as an actor and director at various theatres around the country for fifteen years. I have worked with outdoor theatres, dinner theatres, and Shakespeare Festivals. I currently serve as the acting/directing professor at Louisiana Tech University.
Organizations Southeastern Theatre Confrerence and Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Publications SOUTHERN THEATRE, SETC News, five original scripts (two 10 minute, two one act, one full-length) produced
Education/Credentials I hold an MFA in Theatre from the University of Alabama and a BS degree in Language Arts from the University of Alabama.
Awards and Honors Druid Arts Awards for Theatre Practitioner of the Year and Theatre Educator of the Year; T. Earle Johnson Award
Expert: Paul B. Crook Date: 4/17/2008 Subject: Contralto desperatly looking for a good audition song
Question Hi, so as I mentioned above I am a contralto, and finding a song for my voice is almost impossible. I need a good audition song for a rock opera that my school puts on every year. Im trying to go for something fresh something that is outside of the musical world that plays to the shows rock avant garde nature.
I am able to pull off rock and pop. And as a true contralto, my lowest note is an "a" (two octaves below middle c) and my highest note is like a an octave and a half above middle c). I have a tendency to do well with rock peices, such as the cranberries and Patti Smith. But I am unable to find that perfect peice. currently I am smitten with because the night by patti smith ( live version) and shadows of the night by pat benetar.
if you could help me fing that right song, that would be amazing.
Answer Hi, Rachel!
First, sorry it's taken me a bit to get to your question. I have a show opening on Wednesday I'm trying to get ready!
Now to your question...
Since you're looking for something outside of the musical realm,I'm not sure how much help I can be on this one, since my primary tastes in music tend toward jazz. Also, the rock and roll I do listen to tends to be a good bit older. However, a couple of songs you might look at would be Janis Joplin's version of "Me and Bobby McGee" or Elkie Brooks' "Perl's a Singer." The second song is a Lieber and Stoller song that is in SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE. Both of them provide nice contrasts in that they allow you to start off in a ballad style and the really start to wail at the end.
