Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 11/23/2010

Question
I'm auditioning for Oklahoma and would love to be either Ado Annie or Laurie and have the range for both.  I only get to sing one song at auditions and am unsure what "type" of song to sing since the characters have opposite sounds.  Would it be better for me to sing a song that shows that I can sing correctly/beautifully like "Someone Else's Story" or that I can sing in character like "Alto's Lament" or somewhere in the middle with a belting song like "Meadowlark"?  I've done a show with these directors before so I feel like they know I have a great chorus voice, but I want to show them I can be a lead too.  Any advice you have for my audition would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Hi there, Emily....Great question.  Congrats on the audition.  :)

What is the purpose of an audition?  An audition is for the purpose of the director getting to know the actor/ singer and also to see the technical skill and level they are at.  It is also an opportunity for a director to see you and get a picture of you on the stage with other actors that they are auditioning.  A director is always looking to create the best composition they can as well as the best story.

So with that in mind, let's look at your relationship with these directors.  They already know your voice, you say.  Have you done any solo work with them?  If not, you will want to pick the song that shows them your best solo work.  If you sing a song that stretches your voice and it is not your best sound, that will not give them the best read on what you can do.  So choose a song that is going to show them the best lead that you can be.

Does that help you?

Wanda