Studying the Song - Audition Prep and Musicianship for Musical Theatre

Have you ever wondered how much movement is too much movement in an audition?   Have you struggled to find movement that feels authentic to you?   In this episode, Roger Ellis (@rogerellis), head of movement in the MFA Acting Program at Northwestern University, shares how he develops character, creates choreography, and develops a directorial vision through the lens of movement.  He pulls back the...

Ever wonder what it’s really like to WORK a National Tour of a Broadway musical?  I mean, like being in BUSINESS as an actor and dealing with contracts, agents, and managers? In this episode, April Josephine shares her journey as an actor in New York and how she booked the First National Tour of Mean Girls.  She admits that she had to learn the ropes of the business side of things by asking other...

A disarmingly honest conversation about career, loving yourself (ie your voice), and taking on the identity of "artist." In this episode, you’ll hear Sasha talk about finding success in unexpected opportunities like workshops, readings, and cabaret shows.  She also shares her honest realizations about fighting her “type” and coming to terms with her voice (which she now loves, btw). Sasha received...

Discover how training your brain and neurological system can instantly yield more freedom, control, and flexibility in your voice. You guys, I’ve seen Kimberly Moller’s work first hand, and I have to say - it’s like magic!   In this episode, I ask Kim all my questions about how neurology (all things nerves and nervous system) affects our voice.  How can we improve tone, resonance, and control so t...

In this 2-part series, I’m going to tell you exactly how to mark your sheet music so that the accompanist has all the information they need to play well and in sync with YOUR version of the song. Today’s episode covers how to mark the cuts inside your song, whether to use highlighters, what to do if you’re changing lyrics, how to clearly mark your ending, and even a short tangent on Bruce Willis. ...

Learn the 6 pieces of information that MUST be on the first page of your audition cut. Do you worry the accompanist won’t play your song the right way? Well, worry no longer, friend. In this 2-part series, I’m going to tell you exactly how to mark your sheet music so that the accompanist has all the information they need to play well and in sync with YOUR version of the song. Today’s episode is a...

Let’s talk about 3 ways you can create contrast in your song choices and show your range of abilities and skills! So you’ve got an audition coming up and they want you to bring “two contrasting songs.”  What do you choose? Do you find yourself paralyzed by this question?   Or at a minimum, staring at your audition book with a dazed and confused look as you struggle to decide which two songs to sin...

Ever wonder what you should be writing into your sheet music during rehearsal?  When I’m music directing a show, I have a very specific list of things I want singers to write down in their score.  These are stylistic choices that go beyond what’s written on the page, and when everyone performs them as a unified ensemble, the music elevates to another level of nuance and professionalism. But, what...

You guys, this episode is GOLD!!! I sat down with Jacole Kitchen, Casting Director for the La Jolla Playhouse (San Diego, CA), and asked her all the questions I’ve been dying to know about the casting process and what directors and casting directors are looking for in auditions.  And, boy did she deliver! We talked about: What is the role of a casting director? What place does “type” have in today...

Hey friends, in today’s episode we are talking repertoire suggestions from the rarely done (yet Pulitzer prize winning) musical, Fiorello! (1959).  From the writing team of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (also Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me), this Golden Age show has a score that alternates between brassy, energetic uptempo numbers and string-driven bittersweet ballads.  Throughout all the s...

Friends, are you constantly worried you’re singing a song that’s overdone for auditions?  Do you worry you won’t stand out from the crowd and that maybe, GASP, someone else will sing the same songs as you?!  OR, do you have this undiscovered gem of a song and you’re not sure if it’s a good choice for your audition? Well, first let me way:  There’s a time and place for every song - both the well wo...

Hey friend, have you ever wondered “why does my version of this musical theatre song sound so plain in comparison to the cast recording?”  Or maybe you wondered, “how can I differentiate my performance from so-and-so’s famous Broadway version?”  Well, I’ve got you covered, boo!  In this episode I walk you through a process I call “shaping a melody,” a skill that all singers MUST have.   Shaping a...

Hey Friend! In today’s episode I’m laying out the 3 tier system I use with clients to help them create a diverse and powerful audition book that also showcases their strengths and personality. I’m talking all about how you can show the creative team who you are both as an artist and as a PERSON, as well as making sure you cover your bases with a variety of music styles. If you’ve been needing to r...

Hey friends, it’s been a minute since I posted a new episode!  In today’s episode I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing why I had to put down my podcast for 5 months, why I’m back, and how I’ll be moving forward with the show. If you’re feeling burned out, overcommitted, or feel like time is slipping through your fingers, then this episode is for you.  You’re not alone.  I was feeling all those...

Whether you’re a young actor or a Broadway veteran, chances are you’ve had a horrifying audition experience.  Ever had the accompanist stop playing in the middle of your audition?  Or did you show up late and nearly miss your audition appointment?  In this special episode, my fellow music director Kathryn Lounsbery and I share our own horror stories from behind the piano as well as submissions fro...

Charles Gilbert is an educator and author who has been training young performers and creating provocative original work for the musical stage for forty years.  He started the Musical Theater Program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and headed it for nearly 20 years. He's the author of the book, The SAVI Singing Actor, and the creator of SAVI Cards, a unique training tool for singing a...

Learn seven different ways to create an introduction for your audition cut that will communicate the mood, tempo, and key of your song. Singers, this oft overlooked part of preparing your audition can actually be the key to your success! When your introduction is well crafted, you’ll be able to launch into your performance with confidence knowing that all the elements of your song – key, tempo, an...

How do we perform folk music in the world of musical theatre?  That’s the question I’m covering today with special guest, Madison Mae Williams. With folk musicals like Hadestown, Come from Away, and Bright Star being so popular right now, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from singers on where to find a folk song and how to perform it for their audition.  This category of musical can seem diffi...

A breakdown of the creative team, production history, character arcs, and music styles of my favorite show, Little Shop of Horrors! This dark comedy sci-fi horror spoof by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken is a gem of show full of quirky characters and an effervescent score that perfectly intones the pop music styles of doo wop and rock ‘n roll in 1950’s and 1960’s. But just why does this show “work?”...

Learn the hallmarks of Ashman’s lyric style and how he brought the dramatic conventions of musical theatre songs to Disney. Howard Ashman was playwright, lyricist, and director who wrote lyrics for some of my favorite shows: Smile, Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast.  His song lyrics feature delightful rhymes and incredibly specific imagery that enrich the world o...

Discover the 4 types of songs that should be on your practice session work list.  Do you look at your enormous repertoire book and wonder where to start when it’s time for your at-home practice? Do you start practice warming up by singing through songs, only to find you haven’t learned anything new or honed any skills by the end of the hour? If you’ve ever struggled with knowing what to work on du...

Broadway veteran and award-winning director, Thomas James O’Leary, lifts the veil and shares his journey to Broadway where he played title role in Phantom of the Opera for over 1,000 performances.   In this in-depth episode, Tom shares loads of lessons about rising through the ranks of some of the greatest mega musicals in history (Les Miserable, Chess, Miss Saigon) as well as the specific perform...

Are you an Actor/Singer who wants more confidence in your singing voice?  Or are you a Singer/Actor who feels like your vocal technique goes out the window when you start acting more fully? In this episode, I reveal how acting gets in the way of singing with a beautiful tone.  Then I talk about 3 easy concepts to think about as you’re singing that will give you more consistent resonance, better in...

Are you constantly hitting a wall in the audition room?  You know you have what it takes to play the role, but the director just doesn’t seem to get it?   What you need is to identify your niche. In this episode, we’ll uncover the powerful concept of niche.  We’ll discuss what niche is and how to identify your niche so that you can communicate clearly to the director the assets you bring to the ta...

Learn how to unlock the secret of SONG FORM by analyzing common structural formulas of melodic form. Today’s episode concludes our 3-part series on MELODY and how it tells a story.  We’ll examine how to identify phrase lengths, how to discover the structural formula your phrases are following, and how a song’s form emerges from phrase groups, more commonly called “song sections.” Once you understa...