Self-Tape Challenge

Letizia Yay! If I was to cut this (for an 18-32 bar audition tape), I would grab that last section. Excellent work and I LOVE the middle mix you use on this.

Letizia Fantastic questions!
Musical Theatre singers work on a book. In that book are songs that they are ready to sing for an audition. They represent different styles and roles that you can sing and would be appropriate for. They should also have their 13-32 bar cuts clearly prepared and marked out for each one of those songs. If you don't have a book, I always suggest that you start with four songs:

1. An uptempo classic style (golden age)

2. An uptempo contemporary (1995-present)

3. A Classic Ballad

4. A Contemporary Ballad

Once you have pieces, you can start to build out (Do you have a Sondheim song, Kander and Ebb, Cole Porter, A Rock or Pop Song...).  The goal is to have a book that would be representative, so you always have something prepared for an audition when and if they arise, and they often do arise very quickly. I literally just taught a lesson to a singer whose agent called her on Friday for a Wicked National Tour Audition (Glinda)  - she goes in front of the directors tomorrow!

Now, what should you sing? If they're not giving you sides (these are excerpts from the show that you're auditioning for - you usually sing these from memory for a call back), you want to present a piece that is similar to the show/role that you want WITHOUT being from the ACTUAL show. You also want to avoid singing something that is currently on broadway or might be too popular. This is referred to as "the do not sing list".

If you have a good book, you will almost always have something that can work. The goal here is not to show off your voice as much as it is to show that you are perfect for that specific part/musical. If you can do that AND show off your skill - great. But showcasing your voice is not nearly as important as having the director imagine you in that show. Your 18-32 bars needs to accomplish that.

Before I give you any suggestions on songs, tell me the ones you already have. Then we can go from there :)

Letizia You didn't screw anything up - you sang what you love! That's always way more important than some silly convention. And I'm sure you learned a lot in the process :)
That said, I would LOVE to hear you sing "A Little Bit in Love" from Wonderful town OR "Some Other Time" from On the Town. Both of those songs have some of that jazzy style that you were exploring in "Summertime." And I think they would sound GREAT in your voice. For something more contemporary, it would be a fun challenge to have you work on "I've Decided to Marry You" from Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder - just the first section (Pheobe's solo). It's A LOT of diction work (even for a native speaker), but it could give you that challenge you enjoy.  

Letizia I don't know how I missed this one! I LOVED it in the recital. So fun - you have such a great sense of character :)