Casting Call: A Guide to Auditioning for the School Musical

Sparkler Sappranoconda has helpful advice for theater n00bs, and maybe even some theater veterans. Good luck with tryouts, everyone! —SparkNotes editors

So, you want to try out for your school musical? Whether you’re an accomplished actor or brand new to the stage, the audition process can be a daunting (if not terrifying) experience that can leave even the most talented and confident young performers hiding in the prop room backstage crying, “It wabsn’t goob enoub and...and... *sobs uncontrollably*.”

Having sat through (and performed in) my fair share of less-than-Tony-Award-winning tryouts, I have put together some ground rules to help you land the lead in your high school’s production of Candy Land the Musical. Dry your tears, my dear, attractive, sweet-smelling Sparklers, and get ready for a crash course in the art of auditioning for a musical. Even if you "can't sing," you can still win a director over.

1. Sing a Broadway song.

I understand your version of “All the Single Ladies” was amazing at that talent show, as well as your belief that Broadway songs are cheesy, but I must take a moment to point out that YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A MUSICAL. So get used to this type of music. Research it. Practice it, and do it with the jazz hands.

2. Have accompaniment.

Many theatres will not accept auditions sung acappella, so be sure to check in advance to see if you need sheet music for a pianist, or a karaoke CD of your song. Make sure you aren’t just singing along to someone else’s voice; the CD should not have any voices on it. And make sure you practice with your accompaniment, because there is nothing worse than being surprised in the middle of the song by a key change that “wasn’t in the other one,” begging for a redo, and then starting over but being so worked up that you spray the whole front row with Fear Puke. Practice with your CDs, people!

3. Don’t look the director in the eye.

At least not while you’re singing. The director is busy scribbling notes on his clipboard, silently judging you. He doesn't want to be stared down while you pour out your soul on his stage. Some safe places to look: slightly to the right of the director’s shoulder, the exit sign over the door, or at the audience, sweeping over them as you sing. Wherever you look, make sure you really look at SOMETHING so you don't look panicked.

4. Sing LOUD.

This is very important! Even if you are unsure, you will at least be unsure and audible.

5. Get into it.

Fake like you’re happy to be there. Stand up straight, with your weight on both feet, and have fun. A director will cast an entertaining actor over a beautiful singer 90 percent of the time.

What won’t work: Songs written for more than one person, songs written for someone of a different gender or a vastly different age, anything that would not be considered “school appropriate," anything with notes so out of your range you cannot even dream of hitting them, song with notes so long you run out of air, songs so fast there is no room to breathe, anything you don’t know by heart, and any of Elphaba’s songs from Wicked. This isn't Glee, and you are not defying gravity. Trust me.

Have you ever bombed an audition?

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