Ted Michael - So You Wanna Be a Superstar?: The Ultimate Audition Guide

DEDICATION

To Nina Pfeffer, Louise Carmon, and Jeff Maynard, who helped us find our inner superstars.

T. M., N. C., and M. J. H.

2012 by Ted Malawer

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I can remember my first audition as if it happened just yesterday.

I was only six years old and was brought by my mother at the suggestion of her niece who was very active with a local repertory company. When it came my turn to get up and sing, I went up on the stage and sang Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music.

After I was done, the director (who was sitting right in front of the stage) asked me if I had a poem or a nursery rhyme that I could recite from memory. I said that I didnt know any poems, but that I did know my Girl Scout oath (my investiture happened a few weeks before, so I still had the oath memorized). She told me to go ahead. I then raised my hand in the Girl Scout salute, and proceeded to recite.

After that was done, I then shouted to my mother, Mom, how did I do?

The director then said, You did fine. Now get off the stage.

I got hired.

Every performer knows that an audition is, by definition, a possibility. A chance.

Maybe youll walk into a room, sing a song, and your life will change: Youll get cast in a show or land a coveted spot in a glee club or talent show. Your dream will come true.

Or maybe youll walk into a room, sing a song, and then go back to your regular life, waiting for the next audition to come around.

Even for the most seasoned performers, lots of things are out of your control: What show or group are you auditioning for? Have you worked with anyone on the creative team before? Have any of the other parts been cast, and do you need to have chemistry with those performers?

So why not focus on what is in your control: Did you get a good nights sleep and eat a healthy breakfast? Did you memorize your lines for your monologue? Have you warmed up your voice so that youll be ready to sing?

Everyone has to start somewhereeven superstars.

When I think back to my audition for Miss Saigon, I remember what a different experience that was from my first audition at six.... I was seventeen years old, a premed student in university, and completely terrified.

I had prepared On My Own from Les Misrables as my audition piece. When it came my turn to sing, I headed into the room where Cameron Mackintosh (Producer), Nicholas Hytner (Director), Alain Boublil (Lyricist), Claude-Michel Schnberg (Composer), Vinnie Liff (Casting Director), and James Thane (one of Camerons associates from Australia) were waiting, seated behind a table.

I shook everyones hand, and then stood on the X on the floor. The pianist began to play... but something was wrong. His tempo was too slow. So the entire song was sung way too slow. I tried very hard to hide the panic that was coursing through my veins, but beyond that, I tried to hide the worry that I would mess up this audition and lose my chance at getting cast. After I finished, Claude-Michel got up from his chair, played a few bars of On My Own, and asked if I could sing the high part (I guess, just to check if I could). He then went back to his seat.

Nick then asked if I had prepared another song. I didnt, but knew of another song that I could do, a cappella if I needed to. I told them that I could sing The Greatest Love of All which was at this point in time extremely popular, thanks to Whitney Houston. I headed to the piano to ask the accompanist if he could play it for me.

I then spotted some sheet music sitting on top of the piano. My curiosity got the better of me, and lo and behold, it was sheet music for The Greatest Love of All. So I handed it to the piano man and said, Here, play this.

Back to the X on the floor I went, praying all the while, hoping that the song would be in my key. Once the piano started to play, I knew that it was right. I then sang the song from start to finish.

I got hired.

Of course, these are only two examples out of many. No matter what happens on the day of an actual audition, you must prepare. Experience in musicals, show choirs, and talent shows at an early age will help you learn how to sing, how to be part of a musical team, and what to expect when youre working on a showeither behind the scenes or right in the spotlight.

In this book you will find fun and valuable information about how to identify what your talents are, focus on your goals, and achieve success. Because being a superstar isnt just about being a good performerits about doing your research, practicing your craft, and, above all, believing in yourself and knowing that your dreams can come true.