What You've Been Looking For
See what I did there? Can't not be Sharpay.
I've started to see a lot of my junior friends thinking about what they want in a college (and summer program: more on that later!). So I thought I would share the list of questions to ask yourself about what you want that I was given when I first started out looking.
As someone who has only recently discovered what I like in a theatre school, I just want to say that everything changes even as you go through the process. Some things confirmed what I always knew, and others shifted, and one or two even rotated 180 degrees. Also, I would definitely say that if you have any special interests at all, really, take that into account. At first I thought I was willing to give up management for acting but came to realize I could do both. Not only does it eliminate a lot of programs, schools love to hear that you're not solely interested in performing. At least, the ones I auditioned for did!
Anyway, here it is!
Ask yourself if you want a school...
- close to or far from your home
- in a city, small town, or rural area
- where you will spend all your time with other theatre students
- where you can pursue another passion, such as sports or visual art
- where you can have the "traditional college experience" with football and keggers and stuff
- with Greek life
- where you can unwind in nature (this is kind of like the city question)
- where you have the freedom to create or participate in student run projects
- in an area with urban nightlife
- where you can have a city's cultural opportunities: museums, shows, shopping, etc.
- with a certain type of culture (either in the school or department--ask current students about this!)
- where certain dietary needs can be met (i.e., Kosher or Halal, vegetarian, allergies)
- where you will be supported academically
- where you will be challenged academically (this was a big one for me!)
- what sort of program style you want: conservatory (2 or 4 year, usually 80+% studio classes), conservatory style (usually 1/3 to 3/4 studio classes), or liberal arts (1/2 or less studio classes)
AND ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. And then apply wherever you want because who knows what scholarships and aid you can get. But keep in mind that it really sucks to get in and not be able to go because of money. Or have to take on incredible amounts of debt because it's really hard to have a job and audition/be in a BFA program. Also, this can be super tough for parents. My family lies right in that awkward middle-class-own-4-cars-but-have-nothing-saved-but-make-well-above-the-average-US-income pocket so I know how it is. Or will soon.
When you're looking for a program, here is what you should ask (of yourself for what you want, and of the school for what is provided):
- How many acting classes are there over the 4 years?
- Will we dance every semester/year/day?
- Will we take voice every semester?
- Can I choose my voice teacher? (as the child of musician parents who send kids to music school, this one is more important than you might think)
- Is the voice faculty from the music department? (Most are. My voice teacher has told me about students of his that struggle with the 100% classical training. Pretty frustrating for us belters!)
- Are BAs cast in the main stage shows?
- Can freshman perform?
- What sort of tech requirements are there?
- Do you offer classes in playwriting, directing, or another specific theatrical interest?
- What is the Shakespeare training like?
- Is there a cut or review system? (In a cut program, more freshmen are accepted than the school can graduate, so at the end of a year they cut back to a specific number. These are going extinct. In a review program, you have juries at the end of every semester/year where the faculty determines whether you have been progressing. If not, you're put on probation and eventually asked to leave. Beware of juries as well! A girl I know said they really stressed her out her first couple of years even though she never had a problem passing.)
- Are there opportunities to be involved in show choir, student productions, a cappella, dance ensembles, etc.?
- How does the program/faculty feel about students taking leaves of absence to be in professional productions?
- Does the school encourage and/or facilitate auditions for summer stock, etc.?
- Are there classes in the business of the business?
- Are internships available/required?
- What sort of industry connections does the school have? (Showcase, workshops, etc.)
- Is study abroad available/required?
These sorts of questions will be important all through the admissions process. You can certainly save some of them for info sessions and auditions! Good luck (is break a leg applicable here?) determining what you want in a college!
I've started to see a lot of my junior friends thinking about what they want in a college (and summer program: more on that later!). So I thought I would share the list of questions to ask yourself about what you want that I was given when I first started out looking.
As someone who has only recently discovered what I like in a theatre school, I just want to say that everything changes even as you go through the process. Some things confirmed what I always knew, and others shifted, and one or two even rotated 180 degrees. Also, I would definitely say that if you have any special interests at all, really, take that into account. At first I thought I was willing to give up management for acting but came to realize I could do both. Not only does it eliminate a lot of programs, schools love to hear that you're not solely interested in performing. At least, the ones I auditioned for did!
Anyway, here it is!
Ask yourself if you want a school...
- close to or far from your home
- in a city, small town, or rural area
- where you will spend all your time with other theatre students
- where you can pursue another passion, such as sports or visual art
- where you can have the "traditional college experience" with football and keggers and stuff
- with Greek life
- where you can unwind in nature (this is kind of like the city question)
- where you have the freedom to create or participate in student run projects
- in an area with urban nightlife
- where you can have a city's cultural opportunities: museums, shows, shopping, etc.
- with a certain type of culture (either in the school or department--ask current students about this!)
- where certain dietary needs can be met (i.e., Kosher or Halal, vegetarian, allergies)
- where you will be supported academically
- where you will be challenged academically (this was a big one for me!)
- what sort of program style you want: conservatory (2 or 4 year, usually 80+% studio classes), conservatory style (usually 1/3 to 3/4 studio classes), or liberal arts (1/2 or less studio classes)
AND ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD. And then apply wherever you want because who knows what scholarships and aid you can get. But keep in mind that it really sucks to get in and not be able to go because of money. Or have to take on incredible amounts of debt because it's really hard to have a job and audition/be in a BFA program. Also, this can be super tough for parents. My family lies right in that awkward middle-class-own-4-cars-but-have-nothing-saved-but-make-well-above-the-average-US-income pocket so I know how it is. Or will soon.
When you're looking for a program, here is what you should ask (of yourself for what you want, and of the school for what is provided):
- How many acting classes are there over the 4 years?
- Will we dance every semester/year/day?
- Will we take voice every semester?
- Can I choose my voice teacher? (as the child of musician parents who send kids to music school, this one is more important than you might think)
- Is the voice faculty from the music department? (Most are. My voice teacher has told me about students of his that struggle with the 100% classical training. Pretty frustrating for us belters!)
- Are BAs cast in the main stage shows?
- Can freshman perform?
- What sort of tech requirements are there?
- Do you offer classes in playwriting, directing, or another specific theatrical interest?
- What is the Shakespeare training like?
- Is there a cut or review system? (In a cut program, more freshmen are accepted than the school can graduate, so at the end of a year they cut back to a specific number. These are going extinct. In a review program, you have juries at the end of every semester/year where the faculty determines whether you have been progressing. If not, you're put on probation and eventually asked to leave. Beware of juries as well! A girl I know said they really stressed her out her first couple of years even though she never had a problem passing.)
- Are there opportunities to be involved in show choir, student productions, a cappella, dance ensembles, etc.?
- How does the program/faculty feel about students taking leaves of absence to be in professional productions?
- Does the school encourage and/or facilitate auditions for summer stock, etc.?
- Are there classes in the business of the business?
- Are internships available/required?
- What sort of industry connections does the school have? (Showcase, workshops, etc.)
- Is study abroad available/required?
These sorts of questions will be important all through the admissions process. You can certainly save some of them for info sessions and auditions! Good luck (is break a leg applicable here?) determining what you want in a college!
The Do Sing List
When you are thinking of auditioning for musical theatre schools, you obviously need excellent material that shows you off. A lot of people will direct you to "do not" lists, but that feels so negative. Plus, what you really need is to know what material you CAN do! In this post I will offer some tips about how to find songs for college auditions.
HOW TO PICK SONGS FOR COLLEGE AUDITIONS:
When I started to look for songs, I was so positive that the perfect ones were out there. And they were. I'm very confident in the songs I settled on. They're not well-known, which I think is excellent because it shows you are willing to put in the work. More on that later!
Here are some resources that helped me in my quest to find the perfect songs:
1.) My voice teacher. I ended up singing a ballad he gave me two years ago! My teacher happens to have an insane collection and knowledge of MT rep. But I didn't solely depend on him because I want to know the rep myself. Doing this kind of research will pay off in a million ways, I swear. Obviously, voice teachers can help you find songs that show you off vocally.
2.) YouTube. A lot of people say not to use YouTube to find songs but it's just so useful. A lot of times when I discover a great song, I'm inspired by a video of a performance. Just don't get sucked in and try to emulate it. Specifically, look at:
-If It Only Even Runs a Minute
-senior showcases! I found my favorite monologue by watching the senior showcase of a school I was interested in. I didn't perform it for them, though.
-FamousInNY has a lot of videos up from benefits and stuff. Super useful.
Once you've found a song or show that interests you, you can listen to the soundtrack for free, which brings me to...
3.) Spotify! I love spotify. I hate the mobile one because you can only listen if you shuffle. But yeah. Spotify has whole albums of surprisingly obscure shows. Just not contemporary ones. But for Golden Age material that isn't overdone, this is your place. Also if you find a song you like on YouTube, you can listen to the full album and find more songs the character (or another one) sings.
4.) auditioningforcollege.com has a list of all the age-appropriate material in the rep books.
5.) A specific college audition coach. (I did not technically have one but the song interpretation teacher at Circle also is one and she gave me excellent song options, one of which I worked on with her and sang for my auditions.) Coaches will save you so much work because they know what is going to look good on you or someone of your type AND have a huge MT knowledge base. I have audition friends who have had success with MTCA, but it's a little expensive. You can probably find a local person (or multiple people) that you already know who will work with you for a lot less money if that is a concern. Or you can do what I did and go to a summer program where they specifically work on audition rep. Just make sure you brush it up before you start actually auditioning.
Here are some criteria you should look for in your college audition songs:
1.) You have to love and connect to it. This is arguably the most important thing. These people want to know who you are so they can see if they want to spend every day with you for the next 4 years. So what you perform has to be representative of you as a human. Everything you bring in the room-your shoes, your headshot, maybe even your speakers-needs to scream your name. But especially your actual material. When you finish, they need to feel like they have had a glimpse into your life. Psychologically. Emotionally. Keeping this in mind, you maybe want to use a very personal acting technique for this. Like, relate it to something in your life. I know that a lot of people are anti-"method" (and this isn't actually the method, and I've been trained by a student of Strasberg, and it's actually all about keeping healthy and sane, but that's a discussion for another post), but it's the best way to be honest, I think.
2.) It's just got to be age-appropriate. Roughly. I mean, the character doesn't have to be exactly 17 or whatever. But it should probably be a character between the ages of 14 and 24. Unless you can sell 12, and you look 12.
3.) Make sure your songs fit your type. Some people say type is limiting and a thing of the past but as a relatively specific-looking person, there are a lot roles I can't play. I'm not a vixen because I don't have the body, and if I came in with Big Spender it would be weird. You want these songs to be roles you could be cast in NOW, TODAY-this goes back to the age thing. So, because we're trying to focus on what we should look for rather than avoid, you have to figure out your type. Unfortunately, there's no advanced search where you can eliminate all ingenue results.
4.) A lot of schools will have a pre-1960 or Golden Age requirement. I avoided the pre-1960 thing (although I had a song in my back pocket) and sang a piece from 1964. Totally still in a classic MT style though, and that is what really matters.
5.) Similarly, some schools ask for one contemporary piece. Be careful with these because it doesn't have to be from the last 5 years (see what I did there? I am going to rant about L5Y in a bit). A lot of very recent stuff is overdone, like Bring It On and Dogfight. Also, some contemporary MT composers write songs that stylistically don't lend themselves to auditions because they tell long stories or have crazy accompaniments. So check out more obscure musicals from the 1980s and 90s. Just make sure they've been produced.
6.) You have to be able to sing it. Vocally. That's why I switched my ballad after my first audition. You most likely will not have time or a place to warm up. If you do, it's going to be for 15 minutes and possibly in a crowded room with a lot of other people around. I had all morning auditions, except for Unifieds. And you might get a cold.
SONGS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY NOT SING FOR YOUR COLLEGE AUDITIONS:
I say probably because people say "if you can sing Don't Rain On My Parade better than Streisand, go for it!!!!" I am of a different opinion. First of all, the auditors are going to think of Barbra. And that particular song requires a sort of accent, which is a no for college auditions. And also, there is SO MUCH great MT rep out there. Singing something very overdone shows no originality, even if you do have a deep spiritual connection to it and sing it well and act the shit out of it and fit the type. Seriously, you want to pick material they didn't know they missed. They give you brownie points, or at least keep you in the room a few seconds longer to compliment you on your choice. Any extra time in that room and any little extra (positive) thing for them to remember you by is precious! And I guarantee you there is something else out there that shows you off better than Don't Rain On My Parade.
I'm not going to make a list of what not to sing specifically. There are tons of lists out there that I can connect you to. Most of the material on there is obvious anyway. This post is about what TO do.
(But I have to say...please do not sing anything from Last 5 Years. First of all, you aren't married or divorced. I hope. Second, accompaniment. JRB is risky as most everyone knows. Honestly, I've never had an issue with an accompanist in a college audition. But still. Also it shows no imagination. If you relate to the lost love thing, find another song about it. MT is full of them. L5Y is my biggest pet peeve.)
HERE ARE SOME SONGS I DID NOT SING FOR MY COLLEGE AUDITIONS BUT SOMEONEELSE TOTALLY SHOULD:
1.) Anything from Flora the Red Menace. I did Sing Happy for a cabaret last year, but A Quiet Thing and All I Need Is One Good Break are also stellar. People know about this show but it is just the best so I had to bring it up. Also look at other less common Kander & Ebb shows.
2.) The Usher From The Mezzanine from Fade Out-Fade In. I was this close to singing it but all the belted long e sounds were tough. ("The usher from the mezzaneeeen will soon beeee seeen on the silver screeeeeen") If you can do it, you should. It's the cutest song ever and so relatable.
3.) Saturday Alone from Calvin Berger. If you can play a convincing young teen, which I cannot. Also I don't have the Dana Steingold soft belt thing down. She kills it though.
4.) What About Today from Starting Here Starting Now. I found a video of Molly Hager singing this and she quickly became my idol. A lot of Maltby and Shire stuff is wonderful and not overdone. The types of songs colleges will look at and say "oh my gosh, I forgot that I love this song!"
5.) Inside Your Heart from Bat Boy. Why is this not overdone? Bat Boy gets put on enough. I actually just auditioned for it a couple weeks ago! Plus, the song is age-appropriate and really pretty.
When you are thinking of auditioning for musical theatre schools, you obviously need excellent material that shows you off. A lot of people will direct you to "do not" lists, but that feels so negative. Plus, what you really need is to know what material you CAN do! In this post I will offer some tips about how to find songs for college auditions.
HOW TO PICK SONGS FOR COLLEGE AUDITIONS:
When I started to look for songs, I was so positive that the perfect ones were out there. And they were. I'm very confident in the songs I settled on. They're not well-known, which I think is excellent because it shows you are willing to put in the work. More on that later!
Here are some resources that helped me in my quest to find the perfect songs:
1.) My voice teacher. I ended up singing a ballad he gave me two years ago! My teacher happens to have an insane collection and knowledge of MT rep. But I didn't solely depend on him because I want to know the rep myself. Doing this kind of research will pay off in a million ways, I swear. Obviously, voice teachers can help you find songs that show you off vocally.
2.) YouTube. A lot of people say not to use YouTube to find songs but it's just so useful. A lot of times when I discover a great song, I'm inspired by a video of a performance. Just don't get sucked in and try to emulate it. Specifically, look at:
-If It Only Even Runs a Minute
-senior showcases! I found my favorite monologue by watching the senior showcase of a school I was interested in. I didn't perform it for them, though.
-FamousInNY has a lot of videos up from benefits and stuff. Super useful.
Once you've found a song or show that interests you, you can listen to the soundtrack for free, which brings me to...
3.) Spotify! I love spotify. I hate the mobile one because you can only listen if you shuffle. But yeah. Spotify has whole albums of surprisingly obscure shows. Just not contemporary ones. But for Golden Age material that isn't overdone, this is your place. Also if you find a song you like on YouTube, you can listen to the full album and find more songs the character (or another one) sings.
4.) auditioningforcollege.com has a list of all the age-appropriate material in the rep books.
5.) A specific college audition coach. (I did not technically have one but the song interpretation teacher at Circle also is one and she gave me excellent song options, one of which I worked on with her and sang for my auditions.) Coaches will save you so much work because they know what is going to look good on you or someone of your type AND have a huge MT knowledge base. I have audition friends who have had success with MTCA, but it's a little expensive. You can probably find a local person (or multiple people) that you already know who will work with you for a lot less money if that is a concern. Or you can do what I did and go to a summer program where they specifically work on audition rep. Just make sure you brush it up before you start actually auditioning.
1.) My voice teacher. I ended up singing a ballad he gave me two years ago! My teacher happens to have an insane collection and knowledge of MT rep. But I didn't solely depend on him because I want to know the rep myself. Doing this kind of research will pay off in a million ways, I swear. Obviously, voice teachers can help you find songs that show you off vocally.
2.) YouTube. A lot of people say not to use YouTube to find songs but it's just so useful. A lot of times when I discover a great song, I'm inspired by a video of a performance. Just don't get sucked in and try to emulate it. Specifically, look at:
-If It Only Even Runs a Minute
-senior showcases! I found my favorite monologue by watching the senior showcase of a school I was interested in. I didn't perform it for them, though.
-FamousInNY has a lot of videos up from benefits and stuff. Super useful.
Once you've found a song or show that interests you, you can listen to the soundtrack for free, which brings me to...
3.) Spotify! I love spotify. I hate the mobile one because you can only listen if you shuffle. But yeah. Spotify has whole albums of surprisingly obscure shows. Just not contemporary ones. But for Golden Age material that isn't overdone, this is your place. Also if you find a song you like on YouTube, you can listen to the full album and find more songs the character (or another one) sings.
4.) auditioningforcollege.com has a list of all the age-appropriate material in the rep books.
5.) A specific college audition coach. (I did not technically have one but the song interpretation teacher at Circle also is one and she gave me excellent song options, one of which I worked on with her and sang for my auditions.) Coaches will save you so much work because they know what is going to look good on you or someone of your type AND have a huge MT knowledge base. I have audition friends who have had success with MTCA, but it's a little expensive. You can probably find a local person (or multiple people) that you already know who will work with you for a lot less money if that is a concern. Or you can do what I did and go to a summer program where they specifically work on audition rep. Just make sure you brush it up before you start actually auditioning.
Here are some criteria you should look for in your college audition songs:
1.) You have to love and connect to it. This is arguably the most important thing. These people want to know who you are so they can see if they want to spend every day with you for the next 4 years. So what you perform has to be representative of you as a human. Everything you bring in the room-your shoes, your headshot, maybe even your speakers-needs to scream your name. But especially your actual material. When you finish, they need to feel like they have had a glimpse into your life. Psychologically. Emotionally. Keeping this in mind, you maybe want to use a very personal acting technique for this. Like, relate it to something in your life. I know that a lot of people are anti-"method" (and this isn't actually the method, and I've been trained by a student of Strasberg, and it's actually all about keeping healthy and sane, but that's a discussion for another post), but it's the best way to be honest, I think.
2.) It's just got to be age-appropriate. Roughly. I mean, the character doesn't have to be exactly 17 or whatever. But it should probably be a character between the ages of 14 and 24. Unless you can sell 12, and you look 12.
3.) Make sure your songs fit your type. Some people say type is limiting and a thing of the past but as a relatively specific-looking person, there are a lot roles I can't play. I'm not a vixen because I don't have the body, and if I came in with Big Spender it would be weird. You want these songs to be roles you could be cast in NOW, TODAY-this goes back to the age thing. So, because we're trying to focus on what we should look for rather than avoid, you have to figure out your type. Unfortunately, there's no advanced search where you can eliminate all ingenue results.
4.) A lot of schools will have a pre-1960 or Golden Age requirement. I avoided the pre-1960 thing (although I had a song in my back pocket) and sang a piece from 1964. Totally still in a classic MT style though, and that is what really matters.
5.) Similarly, some schools ask for one contemporary piece. Be careful with these because it doesn't have to be from the last 5 years (see what I did there? I am going to rant about L5Y in a bit). A lot of very recent stuff is overdone, like Bring It On and Dogfight. Also, some contemporary MT composers write songs that stylistically don't lend themselves to auditions because they tell long stories or have crazy accompaniments. So check out more obscure musicals from the 1980s and 90s. Just make sure they've been produced.
6.) You have to be able to sing it. Vocally. That's why I switched my ballad after my first audition. You most likely will not have time or a place to warm up. If you do, it's going to be for 15 minutes and possibly in a crowded room with a lot of other people around. I had all morning auditions, except for Unifieds. And you might get a cold.
1.) You have to love and connect to it. This is arguably the most important thing. These people want to know who you are so they can see if they want to spend every day with you for the next 4 years. So what you perform has to be representative of you as a human. Everything you bring in the room-your shoes, your headshot, maybe even your speakers-needs to scream your name. But especially your actual material. When you finish, they need to feel like they have had a glimpse into your life. Psychologically. Emotionally. Keeping this in mind, you maybe want to use a very personal acting technique for this. Like, relate it to something in your life. I know that a lot of people are anti-"method" (and this isn't actually the method, and I've been trained by a student of Strasberg, and it's actually all about keeping healthy and sane, but that's a discussion for another post), but it's the best way to be honest, I think.
2.) It's just got to be age-appropriate. Roughly. I mean, the character doesn't have to be exactly 17 or whatever. But it should probably be a character between the ages of 14 and 24. Unless you can sell 12, and you look 12.
3.) Make sure your songs fit your type. Some people say type is limiting and a thing of the past but as a relatively specific-looking person, there are a lot roles I can't play. I'm not a vixen because I don't have the body, and if I came in with Big Spender it would be weird. You want these songs to be roles you could be cast in NOW, TODAY-this goes back to the age thing. So, because we're trying to focus on what we should look for rather than avoid, you have to figure out your type. Unfortunately, there's no advanced search where you can eliminate all ingenue results.
4.) A lot of schools will have a pre-1960 or Golden Age requirement. I avoided the pre-1960 thing (although I had a song in my back pocket) and sang a piece from 1964. Totally still in a classic MT style though, and that is what really matters.
5.) Similarly, some schools ask for one contemporary piece. Be careful with these because it doesn't have to be from the last 5 years (see what I did there? I am going to rant about L5Y in a bit). A lot of very recent stuff is overdone, like Bring It On and Dogfight. Also, some contemporary MT composers write songs that stylistically don't lend themselves to auditions because they tell long stories or have crazy accompaniments. So check out more obscure musicals from the 1980s and 90s. Just make sure they've been produced.
6.) You have to be able to sing it. Vocally. That's why I switched my ballad after my first audition. You most likely will not have time or a place to warm up. If you do, it's going to be for 15 minutes and possibly in a crowded room with a lot of other people around. I had all morning auditions, except for Unifieds. And you might get a cold.
SONGS YOU SHOULD PROBABLY NOT SING FOR YOUR COLLEGE AUDITIONS:
I say probably because people say "if you can sing Don't Rain On My Parade better than Streisand, go for it!!!!" I am of a different opinion. First of all, the auditors are going to think of Barbra. And that particular song requires a sort of accent, which is a no for college auditions. And also, there is SO MUCH great MT rep out there. Singing something very overdone shows no originality, even if you do have a deep spiritual connection to it and sing it well and act the shit out of it and fit the type. Seriously, you want to pick material they didn't know they missed. They give you brownie points, or at least keep you in the room a few seconds longer to compliment you on your choice. Any extra time in that room and any little extra (positive) thing for them to remember you by is precious! And I guarantee you there is something else out there that shows you off better than Don't Rain On My Parade.
I'm not going to make a list of what not to sing specifically. There are tons of lists out there that I can connect you to. Most of the material on there is obvious anyway. This post is about what TO do.
(But I have to say...please do not sing anything from Last 5 Years. First of all, you aren't married or divorced. I hope. Second, accompaniment. JRB is risky as most everyone knows. Honestly, I've never had an issue with an accompanist in a college audition. But still. Also it shows no imagination. If you relate to the lost love thing, find another song about it. MT is full of them. L5Y is my biggest pet peeve.)
HERE ARE SOME SONGS I DID NOT SING FOR MY COLLEGE AUDITIONS BUT SOMEONEELSE TOTALLY SHOULD:
1.) Anything from Flora the Red Menace. I did Sing Happy for a cabaret last year, but A Quiet Thing and All I Need Is One Good Break are also stellar. People know about this show but it is just the best so I had to bring it up. Also look at other less common Kander & Ebb shows.
2.) The Usher From The Mezzanine from Fade Out-Fade In. I was this close to singing it but all the belted long e sounds were tough. ("The usher from the mezzaneeeen will soon beeee seeen on the silver screeeeeen") If you can do it, you should. It's the cutest song ever and so relatable.
3.) Saturday Alone from Calvin Berger. If you can play a convincing young teen, which I cannot. Also I don't have the Dana Steingold soft belt thing down. She kills it though.
4.) What About Today from Starting Here Starting Now. I found a video of Molly Hager singing this and she quickly became my idol. A lot of Maltby and Shire stuff is wonderful and not overdone. The types of songs colleges will look at and say "oh my gosh, I forgot that I love this song!"
5.) Inside Your Heart from Bat Boy. Why is this not overdone? Bat Boy gets put on enough. I actually just auditioned for it a couple weeks ago! Plus, the song is age-appropriate and really pretty.
Headshots!
I made this post a way way long time ago, but I accidentally posted it to pages. So here it is.
This is the one I have on the back of my resume. I chose it because it contrasts the one in the front (I'm not smiling, and I'm wearing a different shirt).
I really like this one and it is my Instagram profile picture but I just look so washed out!
This is my Jewish looking headshot.
This is my main one that I actually use.
I love this one. I don't know why I don't use it. Geez.
For college auditions, most people won't expect a perfect 8x10 professional headshot. But if you want to get that out of the way for later, go for it. I think it is very wise not to take the photo yourself, however. Most people have a friend with a nice camera. get them to take it in good lighting in front of a blank wall, and then crop it to 8x10. I also used one of my headshots as a senior picture, so it was worth it to do a photo shoot for both. As headshots go, mine were VERY inexpensive. I was lucky to know a guy who had been trained in it and who charged me under $200 an hour. I could have gone to someone fancy in Boston or New York, but as far as college, I think a local thing is best unless you plan on working professionally in the near future.
Before you get your headshots done, practice expressions (especially serious expressions!!) in the mirror. Have someone else do your hair and face--it doesn't have to be a professional, just a friend who owns a lot of fancy make-up and hair products and knows how to use them! Wear a solid color that doesn't clash with your background and looks good with your skin. As you can tell, I love green. I also had some pictures in a purple top but the green one came out best. I changed maybe 5 times during the entire shoot, which is kind of a lot. I brought like 40 other tops with me though! You can never have too many options.
My photographer told me that you should have two headshots: a commercial and a theatrical. The commercial headshot should have a very friendly, smiley, inviting look. I use the second to last one as mine, even though I'm completely uninterested in commercials. The last picture above is my theatrical headshot because it's a little more dramatic and intense. A good thing to do is put your theatrical headshot on the top of your resume, next to your name. I will make another post on resumes at some point! Until then, go forth and look beautiful in your headshots!! (I still don't know if that is one or two words. If you have any clue, please tell me.)
I got my headshots done February of junior year, supposedly in time for my audition for Circle. Not. I ended up having to audition way earlier than originally anticipated, so I didn't get to use any of these. I'm still so glad I got it out of the way early though! If I was still waiting for the edited ones to come back now, I'd be going insane.
I used a local photographer who has specific training in headshot photography and happens to be my dance teacher's husband! Ah, Vermont. So many connections. Anyway, since I got them done locally it was relatively inexpensive. I really loved the original pictures, but as you can see, they are all horizontal: 10 x 8 and not 8 x 10. And in most of them, my face is moved to one side. This is okay with me now but it freaked me out at first! I'm pretty sure it's a trend, so make sure you check with your photographer about how they will edit the final photos.
Here are my 6 favorite headshots:
(As you can see, my eyebrows are horrendously weird.)
For college auditions, most people won't expect a perfect 8x10 professional headshot. But if you want to get that out of the way for later, go for it. I think it is very wise not to take the photo yourself, however. Most people have a friend with a nice camera. get them to take it in good lighting in front of a blank wall, and then crop it to 8x10. I also used one of my headshots as a senior picture, so it was worth it to do a photo shoot for both. As headshots go, mine were VERY inexpensive. I was lucky to know a guy who had been trained in it and who charged me under $200 an hour. I could have gone to someone fancy in Boston or New York, but as far as college, I think a local thing is best unless you plan on working professionally in the near future.
Before you get your headshots done, practice expressions (especially serious expressions!!) in the mirror. Have someone else do your hair and face--it doesn't have to be a professional, just a friend who owns a lot of fancy make-up and hair products and knows how to use them! Wear a solid color that doesn't clash with your background and looks good with your skin. As you can tell, I love green. I also had some pictures in a purple top but the green one came out best. I changed maybe 5 times during the entire shoot, which is kind of a lot. I brought like 40 other tops with me though! You can never have too many options.
My photographer told me that you should have two headshots: a commercial and a theatrical. The commercial headshot should have a very friendly, smiley, inviting look. I use the second to last one as mine, even though I'm completely uninterested in commercials. The last picture above is my theatrical headshot because it's a little more dramatic and intense. A good thing to do is put your theatrical headshot on the top of your resume, next to your name. I will make another post on resumes at some point! Until then, go forth and look beautiful in your headshots!! (I still don't know if that is one or two words. If you have any clue, please tell me.)
"So, what songs are you singing?" How To Talk To People You Meet At Auditions
So, during my pre-unifieds steam, I thought I would take a sec to discuss what it's like to socialize at auditions. It was a huge concern for me going into this process because I've heard some horror stories! One director I've had told me that when her daughter was auditioning 3 years ago, people would try to psych you out outside the audition room by telling you what the school was looking for, the wrong length cut, etc. I'm here to tell you that the vast majority of people at auditions are NICE! However, they occasionally bring up topics that are a tiny bit uncomfortable, simply because they are desperate to bond (I refuse to believe anything else). And I'm going to teach YOU how not to be of them!
THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T SAY TO A FELLOW COLLEGE MT AUDITIONER:
1.) "What songs are you singing?" This is debatable, but by far the most common/cliche thing you can get in trouble responding to. Me not giving material choices away is more on principle and less that I'm afraid of judgment, but here are some things you can say if you're asked and don't want to tell:
-"a legit song and a belt song" then quickly change the subject to making fun of your own singing: "except I can't belt lol!"
-just tell them super quick and then say "you?" Personally, both of my songs are pretty obscure so chances are there will be no response most of the time, except maybe "I've never heard of those!"
-make a joke out of it. "I'm singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis and Defying Gravity from Wicked--you probably haven't heard of them!"
-"I'm singing different songs for different schools. Did you do that too, or keep the same two the entire season?"
-"I haven't decided yet." Which is ridiculous but yeah.
-Pretend to trip.
-"I'd rather not say." Risky because they might think you're a brat or something.
-I heard someone give an excellent answer at Unifieds but I can't remember what it was!
2.) "Who is your coach?" Shit gets awkward fast when you're me and don't have one.
3.) "Where else are you applying?" This prompts a list of schools that will inevitably bore you because they're probably all the same ones you looked at/auditioned for already. It's also an opportunity for judgment on your life choices. Stay away.
4.) "Which prescreens did you submit/pass?" No explanation needed. Also I've been surprised at how many people told me they did not pass prescreens.
5.) Anything about any school ESPECIALLY at Unifieds. Even if it's not negative, it's unwise. The only appropriate time to do this is in a hypothetical situation such as:
Other MT: "I just auditioned at BoCo yesterday. Are you auditioning there too?"
You: "No, I didn't want a conservatory."
Notice a) you were directly asked, and b) what you said was neither positive or negative. (And it was obviously true. You don't have to do research to know that Boston Conservatory is a conservatory.) Remember how I ran into the people who ended up watching my monologues at both SCAD and NYU? Be careful. Even if it's not negative, it might be incorrect.
6.) Be wary of talking about past theatre experiences. This isn't a competition thing (although don't brag). It's just that I, for one, absolutely despised my high school director for extremely valid reasons. When kids start talking about what shows they are in right now (which is perfectly OK, see below), it can be tempting to be like "oh yeah my director would never do that show because she does the same 4 over and over." Don't do it. I have done it. I am super guilty of it. Don't do it.
7.) Anything self-deprecating about something the other person can see. Like, "my head shot looks nothing like me" or "I barely have anything on my resume." Especially if it's true. You can maybe say stuff about your type if it is incredibly obvious. For example, I, an obviously larger than average and quirky human being, could say, "I'm not an ingenue so I didn't audition for Guinivere in my school's Camelot." If someone says this to you and it is true, say nothing. Unless it's like, "well my dream role is Effie in Dreamgirls and I'm a slender white male." I.e., a joke. Hahahaha. It is always good to lighten the mood in an MT-specific way.
8.) "How long have you been doing theatre/MT?" Opens you up to judgment.
9.) Don't comment on anything you see on another person's resume. Don't look at anyone's resume. It can be tempting for the purpose of formatting ideas or whatever, but it's weird. They will notice if you're looking at their resume. They will definitely notice if you're like, "hey, was that a regional or community theatre?" Don't do either.
1.) "What songs are you singing?" This is debatable, but by far the most common/cliche thing you can get in trouble responding to. Me not giving material choices away is more on principle and less that I'm afraid of judgment, but here are some things you can say if you're asked and don't want to tell:
-"a legit song and a belt song" then quickly change the subject to making fun of your own singing: "except I can't belt lol!"
-just tell them super quick and then say "you?" Personally, both of my songs are pretty obscure so chances are there will be no response most of the time, except maybe "I've never heard of those!"
-make a joke out of it. "I'm singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis and Defying Gravity from Wicked--you probably haven't heard of them!"
-"I'm singing different songs for different schools. Did you do that too, or keep the same two the entire season?"
-"I haven't decided yet." Which is ridiculous but yeah.
-Pretend to trip.
-"I'd rather not say." Risky because they might think you're a brat or something.
-I heard someone give an excellent answer at Unifieds but I can't remember what it was!
2.) "Who is your coach?" Shit gets awkward fast when you're me and don't have one.
3.) "Where else are you applying?" This prompts a list of schools that will inevitably bore you because they're probably all the same ones you looked at/auditioned for already. It's also an opportunity for judgment on your life choices. Stay away.
4.) "Which prescreens did you submit/pass?" No explanation needed. Also I've been surprised at how many people told me they did not pass prescreens.
5.) Anything about any school ESPECIALLY at Unifieds. Even if it's not negative, it's unwise. The only appropriate time to do this is in a hypothetical situation such as:
Other MT: "I just auditioned at BoCo yesterday. Are you auditioning there too?"
You: "No, I didn't want a conservatory."
Notice a) you were directly asked, and b) what you said was neither positive or negative. (And it was obviously true. You don't have to do research to know that Boston Conservatory is a conservatory.) Remember how I ran into the people who ended up watching my monologues at both SCAD and NYU? Be careful. Even if it's not negative, it might be incorrect.
6.) Be wary of talking about past theatre experiences. This isn't a competition thing (although don't brag). It's just that I, for one, absolutely despised my high school director for extremely valid reasons. When kids start talking about what shows they are in right now (which is perfectly OK, see below), it can be tempting to be like "oh yeah my director would never do that show because she does the same 4 over and over." Don't do it. I have done it. I am super guilty of it. Don't do it.
7.) Anything self-deprecating about something the other person can see. Like, "my head shot looks nothing like me" or "I barely have anything on my resume." Especially if it's true. You can maybe say stuff about your type if it is incredibly obvious. For example, I, an obviously larger than average and quirky human being, could say, "I'm not an ingenue so I didn't audition for Guinivere in my school's Camelot." If someone says this to you and it is true, say nothing. Unless it's like, "well my dream role is Effie in Dreamgirls and I'm a slender white male." I.e., a joke. Hahahaha. It is always good to lighten the mood in an MT-specific way.
8.) "How long have you been doing theatre/MT?" Opens you up to judgment.
9.) Don't comment on anything you see on another person's resume. Don't look at anyone's resume. It can be tempting for the purpose of formatting ideas or whatever, but it's weird. They will notice if you're looking at their resume. They will definitely notice if you're like, "hey, was that a regional or community theatre?" Don't do either.
THINGS YOU SHOULD SAY TO A FELLOW COLLEGE MT AUDITIONER:
1.) "Are you in a show right now?" Different than "what shows have you been in/can I see your resume." This one provides conversation opportunities. For example:
Me: Are you in a show right now?
Other MT: yeah! My school is doing Young Frankenstein.
Me: I adore Young Frankenstein! [Sings through entire Young Frankenstein soundtrack.] I can't believe you're managing that AND auditioning. I basically had to quit my job.
Other MT: Oh, where do you work?
Me: Local pizza place. It's hard but I get free food!
On goes the conversation.
2.) (If at Unifieds) "Have you walked in anywhere?" This is an equalizer, I think.
3.) Any honest compliment about their outfit! People love to be complimented. You can maybe compliment their headshot, but as I mentioned above, don't add anything disparaging about yours.
4.) "Where are you from?" This is the first thing you ask. It's 1000% harmless. Always ask.
5.) "How did you get here?"/"Where are you parked?"/"Did you fly here?" etc. These are follow-ups to the where are you from question. Also it's interesting to find out!
1.) "Are you in a show right now?" Different than "what shows have you been in/can I see your resume." This one provides conversation opportunities. For example:
Me: Are you in a show right now?
Other MT: yeah! My school is doing Young Frankenstein.
Me: I adore Young Frankenstein! [Sings through entire Young Frankenstein soundtrack.] I can't believe you're managing that AND auditioning. I basically had to quit my job.
Other MT: Oh, where do you work?
Me: Local pizza place. It's hard but I get free food!
On goes the conversation.
2.) (If at Unifieds) "Have you walked in anywhere?" This is an equalizer, I think.
3.) Any honest compliment about their outfit! People love to be complimented. You can maybe compliment their headshot, but as I mentioned above, don't add anything disparaging about yours.
4.) "Where are you from?" This is the first thing you ask. It's 1000% harmless. Always ask.
5.) "How did you get here?"/"Where are you parked?"/"Did you fly here?" etc. These are follow-ups to the where are you from question. Also it's interesting to find out!
6.) Anything at all geeking out. At BU, we were talking about where you can set Hamlet and why Othello isn't taught in schools as often as other Shakespearean tragedies. This was me, one other guy auditioning, and a bunch of current students! I highly recommend bonding with them because I have yet to meet any who aren't super cool and wonderful. Plus it can't hurt in the admissions process, because although I'm not sure many schools ask their students who was the most fun to hang out with, I have heard stories of the opposite!
Hopefully that helps you out! Break legs and do not fear other people!
Things No One Tells You About Writing College Essays
- The word counts are freaking infinitesimal. You better use some giant descriptive words or you can sound so boring so quickly!
- There are 90298470389724508340875 kadrillion ways to approach every prompt. I've grown to love the good old "hook" technique, but I use the first time I heard of/fell in love with said college. It's all cute and storylike. So, pure me.
- Talking about campus visits is ridiculously tempting. I literally visited 3 schools, and applied to 2 of them. AND IN BOTH SUPPLEMENTS I WROTE ABOUT VISITING. It's really hard not to. Really really hard.
- You have to do actual real fucking goddamn RESEARCH. This is not an AP Gov paper. You are not allowed to pull sources from logic or memorized court cases. Oh no. You have to troll the college web site until 3:22 am (what time is it again?), looking for some evidence of some program that interests you. Because they ask that. Oh yes, they ask that. Fuck you, Engle v. Vitale. (I just picked that one because I'm really passionately against school prayer because I am a raging Vermonter cow-tipping quasi-atheist liberal. Hilary 2016.)
- Some schools give you options. "The fun prompt or the not-fun prompt?" No, just kidding. But beware: the fun prompts can be a trap. Brandeis, for example, asks "why do you want to go to Brandeis?", "if you could uninvent one invention, what would it be?" and "tell us about a law you feel is unjust and why it should be broken." (I'm paraphrasing.) I wrote the boring one, because I do love Brandeis and it was easy. I will admit that I was tempted to write about why Kinder Eggs should be legal in the US. But alas. My common app essays is weird enough.
- Do not write your essay in a junior class with a teacher who thinks everything you do is perfect!!!!! I made this mistake. And so I trashed my generic ass essay A WEEK BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
- On having other people read it over: honestly, I suck at taking criticism of my writing. I just want to be a weirdo goodball nuthead and write exactly what I feel and what goes through my brain (oh, like how I talk) (oh, like what I am doing right now). So when people pick my essays apart it feels like they are vultures picking away at my intestines or something. I have no trouble being criticized if it's a performance. I guess because I know whether it sucks already. With writing I legit have no idea. Moral of the story, be careful who you ask for help. Make sure they know what they're doing and will let you down gently.
- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE EVERYONE'S ADVICE. IT IS YOUR ESSAY AND YOUR LIFE.
- I never thought I would say this, but Google Docs is my savior. I hadn't used it except on group projects since about the 7th grade, but it has been a godsend for sending works in progress back and forth from school to home as well as peer editing.
- If you have to do a video personal statement, have that shit fucking MEMORIZED. I made this mistake and we did like 40945784 takes before one was even semi-acceptable. All I had was a vague outline of what I would talk about and there were so so so many awkward pauses. Please. For me. Write it out.
- On using the same essay for two different schools: I won't lie, I started out doing this a lot. And I won't say don't. But. But. Make sure it actually answers the prompt. And make sure what you're copy/pasting is a fucking gold mine of truth and insight. If you're putting in half the work, it had better be good.
- Be unique! I quoted Legally Blonde in my common app essay. It sucks a little, but it is so me. I suck a little too. Okay, I suck a lot. But anyway, don't be generic. It must suck to me a college admissions officer reading the same failure/success essay over and over. Personally, I think if a college doesn't want unique, it doesn't want me. :)
Hope you learned something amidst my 3 am sassiness. Sorry I swear so much. It's even worse in real life, I...swear...
A Comprehensive List of College Audition Resources
When I was first looking at the MT audition process, there were so many little places I gathered info from. I thought I would put them all in one place.
BOOKS:
I Got In by Mary Anna Dennard
This book is pretty classic for MT auditions! It outlines the process really well. There are newer editions, but I have the first one. Nonetheless, Mary Anna spills everything. This book is the Bible. I pretty much memorized it.
Admit One: Ten Steps to Choosing Your Acting or Musical Theatre College Program by Chelsea Cipolla and John West
This book is very, very helpful in figuring out what it is you want/need in a college. By the time I read it, I was pretty much set on a BFA ("or really intense BA") but it still helped me to discover a lot of "hidden gem" colleges and decide what I was looking for.
I know of a book on Amazon that someone wrote about their daughter's personal process. But I can't find it because I am an idiot.
#SOBLESSED: The Annoying Actor Friend's Guide to Werking in Show Business by Annoying Actor Friend @Actor_Friend
Although there is only a chapter dedicated to college auditions, this book is hilarious and so real about what "the business" is like. Some of the humor in the college audition chapter....well, you kind of have to do your research before you understand it 100%. Which brings me to...
ONLINE RESOURCES:
The internet is really really great.......for learning about MT college auditions!! Seriously. It is a fantastic resource that I would have known NOTHING without. Here are some of the best places to gather info and intel:
Forums and Social Media:
College Confidential
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/
AH, the great and terrible College Confidential aka CC! I discovered it several years ago because of a link in a comment on some article about MT colleges on broadwayspotted.com. I have spent hours--perhaps days--of my life on here. The great thing about it is that you get real, firsthand information from real people (mostly parents) who have been through, or better yet, are currently going through the process. (Sometimes if you're really good (read: A REALLY GOOD STALKER aka me) you can figure out who the kids in question are.) The terrible thing is that it's extremely addictive. I would advise NOT to go on once you have actually submitted apps, unless you have a burning, specific question. I started feeling bad about myself once I heard about kids passing prescreens when I hadn't even submitted mine yet! Make sure you check out the drama major section of CC as well.
Here are a couple of threads that are especially helpful:
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1616849-final-decisions-background-class-of-2018.html This is my favorite thread on CC. It is a great way to see how peoples' lists compare and the average numbers of schools students are accepted to (not as high as you might think). Plus, most of the stories are totally heartwarming.
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/477658-preparing-to-apply-information-for-h-s-juniors-and-seniors.html Special info for those just starting the process. Hella useful. Keep this bookmarked.
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/102726-books-and-other-resources-for-mt-students.html Self-explanatory. Not limited to books about auditioning/auditioning for college! (In addition to these, I highly recommend reading some acting technique books. Stanislavski is great, but if you can't get through all of My Life in Art, try Boleslavsky's Acting: The First Six Lessons. We were required to read this at Circle and I loved it.)
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1067706-the-freshman-experience.html This thread is fantastic for comparing programs. Current MT students literally post their schedules with comments about life in their respective programs. Read all of it! It's a FANTASTIC resource.
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1575642-2013-2014-audition-day-review.html Another one of my favorite threads! The info is very personal and specific, about each poster's experience at their school X audition. Just take everything at face value! One person might get a completely different vibe from a particular school than the person standing behind them in the dance call.
- http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/musical-theater-major/1517445-class-of-2018-yikes-sharing-venting-etc.html Last one I promise! This thread is super general, but you can see how the process goes "as it is happening." There is a class of 2019 one too, but I though I would link the one that's complete.
Facebook
Good old Facebook is actually a fantastic resource for MT college info, if you know where to look. I highly suggest joining each MT class's facebook group and scrolling back through posts. The ones I know of are: The Collective (??? 2009? 2011?), The Allied (2017), The Unified (2018) and The Ensemble (2019). I can't speak for the first two but both The Unified and The Ensemble have lists of school reps that you can talk to if you're interested in the schools they represent or their experience with the college audition process in general. People are really nice. I've gotten fantastic advice from sooo many students in the years above me, and commiserated with students in my class!
Twitter
First, follow Annoying Actor Friend and BFA Problems @BFAproblems! Both are hilarious. If you want to go deeper, check out @BFAMTAcceptance and @BFAMTRejected. If you want to go REALLY deep, stalk the people who tweet at both those pages and see what else they've said in their personal tweets. I'm kidding, don't do this. Please. Don't be a stalker like me. I have a problem.
BLOGS AND BLOG POSTS
Blogs are the greatest thing ever and there are SOOOOO many out there! Here are just the ones I know of:
Schools
SUNY Fredonia's Dept. of Theatre and Dance blog is one I literally discovered 5 minutes ago. I haven't had the chance to look through everything but it seems like it can offer serious insight into life in a BFA or BA program.
Teachers
Matthew Edwards, who is a voice professor at Shenandoah Conservatory, runs this blog which offers advice about all aspects of college auditions (for Vocal Performance as well as MT!). I particularly love what he says about type and age appropriate material. There is also a fantastic overdone list on this site. You will want to go to ShenCo after spending 10 minutes on this site. You just will.
http://contemporarymusicaltheatre.wordpress.com/author/contemporarymusicaltheatre/
Contemporarymusicaltheatre.com is another great resource. In particular, author (and Marymount Manhattan MT voice teacher!) David Sisco writes some articles including anecdotes about his students. It is an easy way to see what voice lessons in an MT program are like.
Coaching Services, Etc.
My College Audition is founded by the same people who wrote Admit One! Their blog is chock full of good advice. I haven't visited in a while and I think I need to spend some hours....
This one is really old, but still has relevant info. Check out her post on using your summer!
The infamous prescreen upload site getacceptd has a blog as well! And it's wonderful! Not just about prescreens either :)
ArtsBridge, which is a college audition specific summer program (I know someone who went there and she is now an Ithaca MT!), also has a blog. They feature certain theatre schools every once in a while, and have general advice about auditions.
Students!
She has 2 posts, but they are AMAZING POSTS. READ THEM. BASK IN THEIR GLORY. SLEEP WITH THEM UNDER YOUR PILLOW.
A girl at Shenandoah Conservatory created this blog to document her freshman year, and it is fantastic! Lots of pictures which I adore. (Plus we have two mutual friends and THEY ARE ON THE BLOG!!! THEY ARE FAMOUS!)
This blog is just starting out but it is sooo comprehensive. MTs (mostly class of 2018) from everywhere give advice on topics like headshots, prescreens, and making a balanced list of schools. I'm obsessed with this blog and I think it's insanely useful. Watch for new posts every weekend!
This girl is a freshman at SUNY Fredonia and is detailing her experiences at the school and in the BFA MT program so far. Plus, she posted a really handy MT college audition checklist, which you can also see if you are in The Ensemble!
I love this blog because the author is so candid about her experiences auditioning for college. She talks a lot about MTCA so if you're considering coaching you should definitely read it!
I actually made this blog with a couple people I met in one of the facebook groups! There was this giant post in The Unified (you can still find it if you search "audition horror stories") that has even more. It's pretty hilarious. Add your horror stories if you have some!
VIDEOS
A lot of people say not to use youtube to look up possible audition songs...BUT, if you search "musical theatre college audition/prescreen" you can find a lot of what songs NOT to do! A lot of people post their audition videos on youtube and...a lot of those videos aren't fantastic. Nevertheless, there are good examples of prescreens out there! But that's not all youtube has in store for MT auditioners. Many college audition veterans have made videos about their experiences:
You should watch this before you make any decisions about anything. I actually sat down and did it which was very wise.
http://www.1and16.com/ This is a new reality show/web series about college auditions. I just watched the first one and it's pretty cool.
This video details this girl's experience at LA Unifieds. It is incredibly helpful and I think I have it memorized. I sometimes watch the background to see what people were wearing.
This one is great too! She really talks you through the entire audition process and seems like a fantastic human being. I learned a lot and I feel like I made a friend! Ha!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfbQ-qHEyIY This girl just started making these and they're very informative. And funny! This is the first one but she has 3 more now and will probably keep making them.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU6aFYgj7on0nd2wHeSjlUUP_hLlRzXSk More audition tips, specific to dance/voice/acting...I actually met her at one of my auditions and she was very nice.
This is just a bunch of video footage she compiled during her auditions. It's really cool because it feels like you are going through the whole travel process with her!
Don't watch Stages. You will want to go to Baldwin Wallace. And die.
Actually, watch it. Watch it watch it. It's so perfect. It's a good kind of dying. I swear. You must get to go to Heaven aka get workshopped by Vicky Bussert. Sorry I just have a lot of feelings.
There is also this video where the faculty gives audition tips:
This is a "day in the life" sort of video, made by students at Florida State University. It is super informative and makes me wish I was in college already! (There used to be a whole vlog made by Hartt MT majors but I can't find it anywhere?? It must have been taken down.)
EDIT: When I auditioned at Hartt one of the guys from that vlog was helping with the dance call. It was pretty much exactly like meeting a celebrity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-IUUl0ipVw&feature=youtu.be/ CMU students tell you how to manage when you're actually in a college theatre program!
ARTICLES:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anna-dennard/ Mary Anna Dennard has written some excellent articles on Huffington Post. You can see them all here.
This is a great one for parents to read as well.
http://media.wix.com/ugd/6a667b_7e6d1c6c63a84af5be14281c716d4696.pdf This is done by faculty from Shenandoah Conservatory and it's VERY helpful. Information you might not find anywhere else. Also check out the other article on Jonathan Flom's web site!
A Q&A with one of the authors of Admit One and founder of My College Audition!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/education/edlife/theater.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 A very long NY Times article about Unifieds.
An ArtsBridge person wrote this article! It's in the Buzzfeedesque numerical format everyone and their dog is crazy about. :)
http://theatre.cah.ucf.edu/files/Preparing_for_Musical_Theatre_Auditions.pdf Great advice from MT faculty at UCF!
https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/SCHOOLTHEATRE/dec00%20audition.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJH5D4I4FWRALBOUA&Expires=1422987297&Signature=jNWSrdBLx2Tmcf6scDdFSMe%2BjuM%3D An article originally published in Dramatics magazine.
Playbill is full of wonderful articles, although they're more informational and less instructional. Here are a few articles I found on there:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/whats-the-best-choice-for-a-performing-arts-education-college-or-conservatory-333470 About choosing a performing arts college, from Playbill.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-secrets-you-need-to-know-to-have-a-successful-performing-arts-college-audition-332618 Again, not specific to theatre. But check it out anyway! Most of the info is still relevant.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/everything-performing-arts-students-need-to-know-about-getting-federal-financial-aid-338621 The freaking FAFSA. UGH. This is so important. You finish apps and you're like, "I'm done! No more deadlines! Now comes the fun part!" but OH NO. You still have to submit the FAFSA if you want to be able to actually afford college. I'll write a post about this at some point.
http://majoringinmusic.com/is-musical-theatre-your-calling/ This is great! Although I disagree with the thing in the sidebar about DNA...
Backstage.com is a fantastic resource! They have a college guide, but also there are some articles that might be specifically helpful:
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/10-theater-colleges-kick-start-your-career/ You may have overlooked some of these colleges. Make sure you don't fall in to the BFA MT trap! These are a lot of straight acting schools at liberal arts colleges, but still strong programs. I'm kicking myself for not applying to Vassar, honestly.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/resources/3-things-know-nail-your-college-audition/ Read this! Anything you can find that is from people who are actually behind the table in audition rooms is invaluable.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/9-tips-high-school-students-applying-acting-programs/ Important. Especially the starting early stuff.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/6-questions-ask-about-your-potential-theater-program/ A list of questions to ask college reps and current students! They're different than the list I posted, so make sure to read both.
http://www.backstage.com/advice-for-actors/backstage-experts/7-college-essay-writing-tips-borrowed-broadway/ THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN AND MAKE SURE YOU DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSAYS
That's all for now! I'm sure I'll keep finding great resources and putting them on here.
Another Opening, Another Show (Or Not)
Shows were the only acting training I had for so long. I was never in tons--usually two or three a year--but they ruled my life anyway. After my freshman year (when I was in way more shows than usual!) I decided there were other things that needed my attention more. First, I started dancing more. I finally restarted ballet (which has helped me so much) and tap. I also took two acting classes, got a job, and started going to whatever workshops I could. I still participated in my school show, but I also realized I didn't have to depend on other people to cast me in roles that would benefit me.
In addition to outside training, I put on my own cabaret performance as a fund raiser for my Africa trip. It was tough being a director/producer but I am so glad I did it! In addition to raising money, my friends and I got a chance to perform.
I would never advise anyone to give up shows, but if you want to continue doing MT in college, think about what each one is going to offer you. You do not owe it to anyone to be in shows! Of course, shows are fun. But if the only benefit is social time, think again. I personally went for shows where there were people I would learn from. That meant not being a lead most of the time, but that was okay as long as I was learning. It's so okay not to be a lead all the time. Just think carefully about what you are choosing. I was in a show where a chorus was added in but there was nothing for us to do. We literally sat in the audience for 95% of the show. The people I got to work with were incredibly talented and I made some great friends, but looking back on it, I could have spent that time in a more productive way.
This year I'm not doing ANY shows (at least, not right now). I miss it, but I just can't stretch myself that thin right now. AP English is a full time job as it is. I was not going to be the lead in my high school musical, which is fine. I'm actually glad I wasn't the star of my high school/area, because I don't have unrealistic ideas about my talent level (part of that comes from seeing shows and doing research though). Admittedly, hearing "every kid auditioning for college MT programs had the lead in their high school musical!" is not a huge confidence boost, but you know what? There is nothing I could have done about any of those shows. I could come up with excuses like directorial bias and illness and typecasting and "there's just a lot of talent in my school", but what is the point? I wasn't right or good enough or whatever, and that's okay. It's okay not to get every part, it's okay not to get ANY part, it's okay not to spend your time trying. The important thing is improvement. Go forth and improve, friends.
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