How to Audition For a Musical

Preparing for the Audition

Draft and trim your resume down to one page. Include past performances you have played in either as a singer or actor. Remember that any previous experience you may have had as an actor in college or school plays, films, or TV shows can count towards your resume.

Hire a professional photographer to take your headshot. Professional photographers know how and where to show off your best looks. If you can't find a photographer, it is possible to take your own headshot, but pay attention to factors that can affect how you look like lighting and framing. Before you hire your photographer, view their past work and client reviews to determine if they are the right fit.

Research the details of the musical inside and out. Thoroughly understanding the musical will help give you context for why and how you should perform. Knowing what happens goes beyond remembering the parts for your character. Read every line in the script front to back. Doing so can help you better visualize the setting, themes, and characters. If the musical has been performed before or is currently showing, watch other actors perform the musical in a live theater. If there are no showings available, you can look up recorded performances online. Many musicals usually have movie renditions, giving a different perspective of the story!

Choose the song you will sing for the audition. Many times the casting director will ask you to choose and provide your own song. Pick a track that matches those that are in the musical, but is unique enough to help you stand out! Picking a song that is in the musical is considered a rookie mistake and is likely to take you out of the running. Avoid songs that require you to hit notes you can't consistently hit. You want to choose a song with comfortable pitches; the audition is not the time to go outside your voice's comfort zone!

Trim the song you choose at the part that shows off your skills. Some directors have to watch dozens of actors perform in a day, making performance time short. Most songs are too long for a typical audition; pick the part of the song that displays your talents best.

Prepare more than one song for your audition. A director may like the first song you sing, and will then ask you to sing another to test your range. Choose a song that is a distinct contrast from your first song.

Pick comfortable, form-fitting clothes that help you stand out. You don't want to wear anything flashy like an expensive dress or suit as that can turn off many directors, but you also want to avoid clothes that are too casual like hoodies and torn jeans. If the musical audition has callbacks, choose an outfit that you can wear a second time. Consistent clothes help define your look and the director will have an easier time remembering you. Don't forget about your hair! Looking like you just rolled out of bed can be a mark against you. Do not wear an outfit for the musical you are wearing. Many directors view this as eccentric, and not in a good way!

Mind your vocal chords before the audition. Your vocal chords dictate how your voice sounds and sings. It's only natural you want to keep your throat in good shape before you are up on stage. Wear a scarf or sweater that can protect your neck in cold weather. Chilly temperatures can make the muscles in your throat tense. Drinking plenty of room temperature water helps moisturize your throat and keeps it refreshed. The warm, moisturized air of saunas and hot showers can also help.

Avoid dairy, caffeine, and spicy foods. Like cold temperatures, these foods can constrict the muscles in your throat and impair your singing ability. If you need a snack before the audition, try fresh fruit, decaf teas, or a shot of honey.

Performing at the Audition

Arrive to the audition at least 30 minutes early. There's no telling what traffic jam, bad weather, or other act of nature can slow you down. Give yourself enough wiggle room by planning to show up at least a half hour before call-time. When you arrive early, you can ask about everything you need to know before the audition starts like where the bathroom is, where the practice room is, and where you will be performing.

Bring your own sheet music to the auditions. Pianists at auditions can't be expected to bring sheet music for every song out there! Provide unwrinkled sheet music that is easy to flip through. The pianist may be a factor of the casting decisions. Take a moment to introduce yourself to them and point out any tricky parts of the songs like tempo shifts. If you don't expect to have much time with the pianist, you can help them by clearly highlighting start point, endpoints, and shifts in tempo.

Act respectfully towards other performers before and after your performance. Directors pay just as much attention to you off stage as they do on stage. Avoid talking to others and pay attention to other performers who are up on stage. Even if other performers sing other songs, watching them can help give you insight on how to perform better as a singer yourself! Don't forget to turn off - or silence - your phone.

When singing on stage, display confident body language. A director will not just analyze your singing ability during an audition; they will analyze who you are as a person. This may be a little intimidating, but standing up straight, planting your feet, and keeping your hands steady can be enough to display confidence. If you are feeling really nervous, a deep breathing exercise before your performance can help ground you and relax your muscles. Another way to relax is by practicing mindfulness. Some nerves are a matter of thinking too much about what can and can't happen. Stopping to recognize and simplify the moment you're in can help calm your thoughts.

Project your voice when singing. Projecting is an expected practice of many performers, where they literally project their voice towards the audience. Showing that you can project your voice is important, as you will often have to sing over loud music and towards a large crowd.

Don't stop singing if you make a mistake. Making one mistake in the middle of your song does not mean you lost your chance! In fact, showing you can recover from a mistake is a chance to show your professionalism as an actor. Don't look annoyed or complain if the pianist makes a mistake playing the notes of your song. Not only is this rude to the pianist, it signals to the director that you may be difficult to work with.

Don't panic if the director suddenly tells you to stop singing. There are many different reasons as to why a director might interrupt you in the middle of a performance. Usually, it is just because your time is up and other actors have to get on stage. If the director asks you to perform a part of a song in a different cadence or tone, they are most likely interested in how you react to a specific request or situation they may have in mind.

Expect an impromptu request to act out a scene during the audition. Some musical auditions may require you to act out a scene. Auditions that do require acting may not tell you until you are on the spot, so it is better to mentally prepare for one rather than not. Don't worry about stumbling over lines, especially if the musical is original and no one has seen the script before. Instead, focus on listening on what your scene partner is saying and understanding what the scene is about. If the audition is for an original musical, try requesting a copy of the script from the theater hosting the musical (not the audition) in advance.

Thank the director for considering you after your performance finishes. It is common courtesy to thank the judges table for having you after the performance. Don't say any more than a simple thank you, otherwise you may come off as desperate.

Waiting for Your Call Back

Reward yourself after the audition. Preparing for an audition can take a lot out of you. If you don't take some time to reward yourself, it can lead to a fatigue that discourages you from performing again. Treat yourself to a night off, indulge in a hobby, or buy something nice!

Research other musicals you may be interested in. There are usually more auditions scheduled in your area. Focusing on a new project while waiting for your call back is a good way to stay productive and practicing your singing voice.

Follow up with the casting directors. Many actors will come to the audition, do their part, and wait for an answer. Following up with a casting directors will depend on who you audition for, but taking a moment to get in touch can help you stand out. Casting directors are busy people. Instead of trying to figure out when they are free in their schedule to chat, a simple “thank you” postcard sent to their office can help remind them about you. There is no hard and fast rule about how long you should wait before following up. Every musical will be different. For smaller shows, a week after an audition is usually enough time. For larger plays, it may take between six to eight weeks before you should contact the casting director.

Don't forget the bigger picture. Auditioning is a numbers game where you may not get the part for hundreds of different reasons. If you do not receive a callback, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. The more auditions you perform in, the more comfortable you will be doing them!