AUDITION SONGS

Old school Sweeping lines Memorable melodies Shows emotional and vocal range Displays knowledge of musical theater

lexicon

TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATER

Wordy, with lots of complicated, rapid-fire lyrics

Displays diction, memorization skills, personality

PATTER

Sentimental love song, typically where the singer laments over a lost love

Great lyrics, great melodies, great display of vocal range

EMOTION AND ACTING SKILLS presented

TORCH SONG

More and more shows have country songs in them

Known for their stories

COUNTRY

Songs that specifically display a comedic character

Usually story songs Sometimes use character voices Always a good display of acting skill

COMEDY

Needed in this age of rock and rock influenced musicals

Displays range Should have several in your book from

different eras

POP/ROCK

Always changing You should be familiar with current and

current-ish shows Also sometimes a way to avoid over-sung

songs

CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL THEATER

OK to follow great song writers and use pieces not in shows, but musical theater-ish

David Freidman Heisler and Goldrich

CABARET

Know songs by different songwriters and songwriting teams

Rodgers and Hammerstein Kander and Ebb Sondheim Jason Robert Brown Lerner and Loewe Aherns and Flaherty Andrew Lloyd Webber Comden and Green

COMPOSERS