How To Audition for Musical Theatre - Video

A Conversation with Karina Carr and Olivia Dim

Karina Carr is a voice and piano teacher at Rysons Studio who performs with various Niagara Theatre Companies. Karina is very well experienced in the art of doing an audition for Musical Theatre.

Here are Karina’s top tips for success at a Musical Theatre audition;

• Find out what’s needed for the audition; You may need to know 16 bars of a song and bring your own music. You might need to memorize a one minute monologue.
• Wear proper clothes in case there is a dance call.
• Be prepared to wait awhile; A bottle of water is a good idea to keep the vocal from drying.
• Never pay for an audition.
• Dress appropriately; This is a professional setting. Make a good first impression.
• Select appropriate audition material;
  • Pick a song and a monologue that will suit your talent.
  • Practice the song in the key that the sheet music is written in otherwise the accompanist may not be able to play for you.
  • If you need the song in a different key, you may be able to get it from an online sheet music supplier. Print it and take it with you.Pick a monologue that best suits your acting ability.

• Focus on signing a song that’s within your skill level rather than trying to impress the panel; They’ll be much more impressed with a well performed song.
• Pick music that is similar stylistically to the Musical Theatre production you’re auditioning for.
• Do everything you can to help the panel see you as the character they need for the musical.

The most important tips of all;

• Practice! Be prepared to do your absolute best performance.
• Don’t make excuses for a substandard performance.
• Have fun!
• Make sure you know the entire song, even if it’s a 16 bar audition. They may ask you to sing the rest of the song.

So to summarize this great list of tips for auditoning for a Musical Theatre production;

Be Prepared!

Pick appropriate material.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

We have provided a high school musical listing in our Musical Theatre section.

If you would like more information, just send me an email to; anne@rysonsmusic.com with your questions and we will reply.
Thanks for visiting.