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Acting in Plays, Singing/Baritone Contemporary Broadway

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Expert: - 7/14/2008


Question
Hi Spyder,
I'm a legit baritone and I am in need of a contemporary Broadway audtion song, preferrably an uptempo...any suggestions?
Thanks,
Ken


Answer
Thanks for the question.

There is a wealth of available material, so it's rather difficult to choose.  Fortunately, you're asking a Baritone, so that makes it a bit easier.

My favorite piece that matches your description is "I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight" from "Camelot".  Other good choices would include "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from "South Pacific" (my current show), "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from "Kiss Me Kate", "To Life" from "Fiddler on the Roof".

If you want to really grab their attention, take a standard Alto piece, change the gender of the lyrics, and sing it one octave lower.  For instance, change the "him"s to "her"s, etc., and do "On My Own" from "Les Miserables", or something like that.

Mind you, these are just a few of the literally hundreds of possibilities out there.  If you want more, check at your local library for collections of Broadway songs and try them out.

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

-- Spyder

Acting in Plays, Singing

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J. Spyder Isaacson

Expertise

Especially the Seattle theatre scene. Seattle is the number two theatre city of the nation, having more theatres than any other city (including Chicago!) except New York. I know the reputations of most of the local theatres, have worked with quite a number of them, and am currently earning the majority of my livelihood through live theatre. Beyond that, I have been a working professional for the past 10 years (after a long career in an unrelated field), have done just about everything in the field, and have done every possible type of theatre. Currently, I am also pursuing a new (and unexpected!) career as an animated film producer. (PLEASE NOTE that I am NOT an expert in music!) ***DO NOT*** ASK ME QUESTIONS REGARDING AUDITION SONGS OR MONOLOGUES - the answers require way too much information to be passed along by the All Experts system.

Experience

I have been an award-winning actor, singer, playwright, director and administrator (on various levels, all categories) for the past 30 years. A large part of my expertise has been with live theatre, although I do have a minor connection to filmed theater. I have done musicals, straight dramas, straight comedies, and experimental theatre.

Organizations
Theatre Puget Sound Magical Mystery Troupe Centerstage Theatre Conservatory Board of Trustees (former) Express-Theatre Northwest (former) Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater

Publications
Unrelated trade publications

Education/Credentials
B.A. in Theatre Arts, Gonzaga University M.Ed. in Education and Technology, Western Governor's University (in progress)

Awards and Honors
Mutiple awards (ask for specifics), Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Valley Community Players, Best Supporting Actor

Past/Present Clients
C's Animation Studio Productions, LLC

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