Back to School Means Auditions Aren't Far Behind

Summer days are are slowly fading away and it won't be long before the new school year!

For high school musical students the new school year means MUSICAL!! Some schools announce their upcoming musical even before school begins Others hold auditions in late fall for a spring musical. 

Whatever your schedule, auditions are a major part of the high school musical experience. We'll be touching on the audition process in our next few blogs.

  Go for It….

The musical, announced. Audition dates, set. For months you’ve been singing show tunes with your peeps. You secretly wonder what it would be like walking across that stage with the spotlight on you. Congratulations, the theater bug has bitten you. This is it. This is the year! You’re going to take part in your high school musical.

I can’t tell you it will be easy. I can’t tell you that you won’t have to put a ton of work or hours into the production. I can tell you that you will be in for one of the best, and most fun rides ever. Guaranteed.

If you’re a theater newbie there are a few tips that can make your first high school musical experience a little easier, and a lot less scary. Because after all theater and performing is well...fun. But admittedly, sometimes a little scary.

I’ve learned, talking to students over the years, that the audition process is probably the scariest. But there is a way to get through that too, and make it fun. Yes, I did say fun.

Once the show‘s decided and audition dates set, your director will post a list of songs from the musical that you will be asked to perform at auditions- one for male leads and one for females. They may also provide a handout with a short dialogue from the musical, as well. This is to judge your acting ability.

Get the handouts as soon as possible when you sign up for auditions, and immediately get familiar with the music and the show. Let’s say, for instance, that your show is The Sound of Music. Watch the movie, or better yet, check the numerous high school productions posted on You Tube. Also familiarize yourself with the show’s score.

Listen to the soundtrack. Always make sure it is the stage version not the film. Film versions of musicals tend to be a little different, with different songs. Especially, get comfortable with the audition song or songs.

Occasionally, a director will have you sing a given selection from the show with no advanced warning what the song is. For instance, if your show is Mary Poppins, he may have everyone sing a few bars of Chim Chimney. That’s why it’s important to know the show’s score, so you’ll be familiar with the songs.

We'll be talking more about auditioning for a particular part in our next blog.That role you've always dreamed of can be yours! So check back in for Auditions Part II.

July 12 was the birthday of the great Oscar Hammerstein. I take note of this because he is the composer of my all time favorite musical "The Sound of Music", and so many more wonderful classics. "The King and I".. "Oklahoma". "South Pacific". I could go on.

I also mention this because as a high school musical student I hope you are privileged one day to participate in one of his shows. Talking with high school students, I know you love to perform the new and modern day musicals." Grease". "Les Mis"." Phantom", and of course, all the Disney classics too numerous to mention. They are truly special and exciting musicals to perform, and I am so proud to see schools taking on such incredible shows- and knocking them out of the park.

What many students don't realize is that Rodgers and Hammerstein are perhaps the reason today's musicals exist. As far back as the early 1940s through the 1960s these composers were taking on such topics as the Nazi threat in World War II (Sound of Music) to prejudice (South Pacific)and a changing political dynasty (King and I). Not to mention the beautiful scores in each and every one of their musicals.

A long time ago I was told by a high school musical director that the great sign of a good show is that you come out humming nearly every song. To this day, I find that to be true with and R & H musical.  I can easily hum two, three or even four of the songs from each of their classics. These two special men set the bar a long time ago, and brought musical theater where it is today.

So dear students, my wish for you is this. If by chance in your high school musical career, you are given the great honor of participating in one of their shows, consider it a great honor. You are reading the words, and singing the songs of two men who probably are part of the greatest influence in musical theater. If by chance to you have the opportunity to do a community production by these composers, I hope you will consider it, and embrace it.

I can promise you will have a special influence on your high school musical career and future theater performances.

Welcome High School Musical Students, Directors and Everyone who Loves High School Musical Theater

Welcome high school musical students, directors, and everyone who loves high school musical theater! We're glad you're here.

Right now, you, like most high school students, are enjoying summer vacation, and returning to school and preparing for your musical are probably the last thing you're thinking about...maybe. Or, perhaps you've been spending Summer vacation perfecting your voice through lessons, taking a dance class, acting class or participating in a summer musical camp. Maybe you're performing in a summer musical production.

Back in my high school days, our annual musical was never far from my thoughts, even during summer vacation. I was a proud "theater kid" back then. We're talking late 70's guys. I was a pretty shy kid in a new school setting and wondered how I would "fit in".

You can probably guess what I’m going to say next. I discovered high school musical theater-and it changed my life. A new best friend at my new school joined our cast of The Music Man that spring and encouraged me to do the same. “We need chorus people," she said. Because I loved theater and always “dreamed” what it would be like to be on Broadway someday, I said “yes”.

It was the BEST decision I ever made. Suddenly there were many new and wonderful friends and they all loved theater, just like me. And if you can believe it, we are still friends today. Check my Facebook page and you’ll see. My love of musical theater introduced me to friends who are still near and dear to me 40 years later.

Although I performed in some community theater after college, the real world set in with job and family commitments. I chose a wonderful career as a figure skating journalist and love covering my skaters. I even published a skating book series. Skating and theater are actually a lot alike, in many ways. No surprise I chose to follow this wonderful sport.

Of course, my bucket list includes beating the boards again someday, but until then I am able to share the joy of high school musical theater, this time as a judge for my local high school musical theater awards.

That’s where you come in. You’re the students and you perform the shows I judge. I thank you. Over the years I have seen the most amazing high school productions. Schools continually pushing the envelope and performing musicals we wouldn’t have even dreamt about 40 years ago. I remember the first time I saw a high school perform Phantom. It took my breath away.

If you are reading this, and considering taking part in your musical this year I would encourage you to go for it with great gusto. I guarantee it will be the best, most fun experience of your high school life, and you’ll learn some neat things about theater too. Not to mention make a few new and wonderful friends along the way.

Over the next few months, we'll share everything from preparing for auditions, finding the perfect part, ensemble roles, production numbers, rehearsals, opening night and much more. We also LOVE students' and directors' input, so, along the way, we'll be asking for you to share everything from audition tips to sharing your favorite role. We also hope you will share information and photos of your upcoming musicals.

So grab those character shoes and get tapping. We’ve got a show to put on.