Plotting not Plodding by Warren Bull

Plotting not Plodding by Warren Bull

Image by Jesse Ramirez on Upsplash

I plan to attend a general audition, fondly known as a “cattle call,” which will allow many singers and actors to strut their stuff to several theater companies at the same time. To ready myself for the event I joined Portland Area Theater Association. I need to have a “headshot” and a resume that fits specific requirements.  The theater organization put out the notice below:

Audition Requirements – Read Carefully

Each actor will have 2 MINUTES to perform up to 2 contrasting contemporary pieces. Alternatively, you can use your 2 minutes to perform a monologue and a song. 

Your 2 minutes start AFTER you slate.[Slate means you describe the song, the character who sings it ,and show the song is from] If you are singing, you must slate after you give your music to the accompanist

A single chair will be available on the audition stage.

DO NOT bring any hard copies of your headshot or résumé.

DO NOT bring props, costumes or instruments. 

Remember to dress for a job interview!

Your audition time is an appointment – please call or email if you cannot attend. 

See, no sweat. Just chose no more than one hundred and twenty seconds of two contrasting and contemporary songs. And perform them with a pianist who is basically sight-reading, i.e., playing music he or she is looking at for the first time.

Like a television commercial — get in, get out and while in do something that will stand out in a positive way compared to the herd of singers who proceed and follow you.

How?

Think of a story arc presenting the tale of me as a singer.

The first task is the selection. Of all the contemporary musical theater songs, which ones should I choose? That depends on how I am presenting myself. When people who cast parts in shows see me, what kind of character do I want them to see in me? Physically I am an old, fat, balding man.  Vocally I am a baritone. So, for example, if someone is casting Oliver, I don’t want to perform songs sung by the characters of Oliver or Nancy because I will not be considered for those parts no matter how well I sing. However, Fagin fits my appearance and my range.  

The second task is to find contrast. If I sing something upbeat and showy where I can, “chew the scenery” first, then I will want to follow up with something melodic and lyrical perhaps a ballad or a lament. 

An upbeat song I’ve had good results with is Love Potion Number Nine.  That is loud and comedic.  I can start with a four measure introduction and then the lyrics She Jumped down…That chunk of the song allows me to have a comedic, dramatic and overblown ending. 

I have a number of ballads in my reparatory but I would like to try something new. Characters that I fit include Arvide Abernathy, Sarah Brown’s grandfather in Guys and Dolls, Fagin, the grandfatherly crook who sends boys out to pick pockets in Oliver, and Henry Higgins, the crusty old bachelor who teaches a Cockney flower girl to speak like a Duchess in My Fair Lady. Abernathy has one song, a lovely simple ballad. Fagin has a couple of comedic songs. Higgins has several songs. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face inMy Fair Lady has enough information for a story plus an opportunity to show emotional change during the first few bars of the song. I’m going to attempt that. 

Two minutes. One hundred twenty seconds. What could possibly go wrong?