Musical Theater
Find your niche in musical theater
Musical theater is a specialized area of the performing arts. It is often a better fit for kids as the songs are easier for them to remember and perform. Training can also be more specialized, with musical theater summer camps and musical theater colleges becoming commonplace. Here are a few things to keep in mind when going for musical theater auditions.
What skills are required?
Musical theater requires a diversity of skills, playwrights inject dancing and singing to acting and character development. Know what will be expected of you before you go to the audition. Some auditions will ask you to know parts of a specific song and others may allow you to bring your own music. Parts that are more dialogue-heavy may have a script that must be memorized ahead of time. Be sure you know any dance parts that are involved in the audition. Practice any routines and ask the casting director if specific clothing is required.
Pick the Best Material for Your Skills
After you find out exactly what will be required at the audition, you can select the song or dance routine that shows off your best qualities. Of course, you may be limited in your options if a certain song is mandated by the director, but there are often ways to inject your personal style with your outfit or mannerisms.
Practice a few different songs in front of your agent, teacher or friends to find out which one you perform the best. You will only get a few minutes to make an impression on the casting director, so go with your strongest performance. The same principles apply if you are asked to perform a piece of dialogue. Try to choose a piece that matches your style of delivery and sense of humor. You don’t want to go to the musical theater audition and perform something that makes you look and feel uncomfortable.
Practice Makes Perfect
Do not take any chances with making a mistake during the musical theater audition. By this time, you should know exactly what material you will be performing, so there is no reason to not have it down perfectly. Start as early as possible so the whole routine feels natural. The less thinking you have to do while you are performing, the better.
Be sure to also practice in front of people to get rid of any nervousness you may have. You can usually find some willing family members or friends who can critique your routine and point out any rough spots. If you do have to make any adjustments, make sure you practice the new routine again in front of them. Keep it up, and you’re well on your way to a career in musical theater and performing arts!
