Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 12/9/2007

Question
I am auditionig for the musical ragtime next week and I want to be sarah. People say i have a belter sort of voice but i can't decide on one song to sing. I was thinking about shadowland from lion king but i don't think it shows my range off enough for 16 bars. And are you familiar with the character Sarah? I want to know as much as I can, I've read the book, and looked up all the songs sarah sings in the musical.. Also I am not the smallest girl going out for Sarah but i believe that I have a better voice than them(not to sound cocky), will that affect me in anyway?"

Answer
Brianna, Thanks for writing and congrats on the audition!

I'm not familiar with the character Sarah from Ragtime.  However, I can give you some tips on how to make your audition the best you can possibly make it.  

Have you gone to the library to look for a song that you like?  That's the first step.  If you want to sing something from The Lion King, that's fine.  I would choose a song that you can do at least one verse and chorus of.  Take out the CD or DVD of the movie or the musical to listen to.

Once you find your song, listen to it over and over.  Learn the tune first really well just by singing la la la la.  Then learn the words of the verse and chorus you are going to do.  Once you have the words memorized, then add the words to the music.  Practice that combination over and over until you know it.  Then, figure out what the climax or the point of the song is.  Once you have that in mind, then decide what movements/gestures with your body would help to tell the story of the song you are singing.  Once you know that, then practice putting the gestures/ movements with the tune and the words.

It's great that you have read the book and looked up the songs for the musical.  That's great.  But what's more important right now is that you find a song that you like to perform and that you do it to the best of your ability.  The director will know if you are meant for a role in the musical just from how well you perform.

As for your size, it really depends on the vision that the director has for the show.  If you are meant to play Sarah, it will be obvious.  If not, that's ok.  It's really important that you don't go into the audition with only that role on your heart.  It might be the role you want but what if there is another role in the show that you are perfect for?  Be open to whatever happens even if you are not chosen.  The most important thing is to go out there and do your best each time you audition.  Learn from the experience and keep growing.

Does that help you?

Wanda