Don’t let this be you.

The No. 1 thing you have to be as an actor is prepared. This means having a ton of songs in your audition book that you can pull out at a moment’s notice. After all, you could get a call today that you have an audition and have no time to learn something new. You must have an arsenal of material that you can hit out of the park at all times.

Here’s a breakdown of the types of songs you should have in your audition book:

1. Golden Age

The Golden Age (anything from 1940 to the 1960s) is a musical era you must have in your book. Ideally, you’d have at least one Rodgers and Hammerstein song in there.

2. Jazz Standards (American Songbook)

For this genre, think of the tunes made famous by Frank Sinatra. Jessie Mueller once told the story of how she auditioned for “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” and sang, “It Might as Well Be Spring” from “State Fair.” They immediately asked her if she had anything more jazzy to fit the style of the show. She didn’t have anything, so she asked the accompanist to speed up her original song and sang the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic as if she were Ella Fitzgerald. She got the job.

The moral of the story is to make sure you have a jazz standard in your book — or be prepared to do some major musical tweaking on the spot if you don’t.

3. Sondheim

Most people say to never sing Sondheim, but if you can handle his crazy rhythms and phrasings at the drop of a hat, you’ll be sure to impress the casting team.

4. Rock Musical

This is what you need for shows like “Rent,” “Rock of Ages,” “American Idiot,” “Spring Awakening” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

5. Contemporary

I call this the Jason Robert Brown-style song. Look for standalone cabaret songs, such as those from Goldrich and Heisler or Kerrigan and Lowdermilk.

6. Pop

With more recording artists such as Sara Bareilles and Carole King dipping their toes into Broadway, it’s good to have a Top 40 song in your book.

7. Disney

Disney has such a strong presence on Broadway that if you are a working musical theatre actor, you probably already have done or will do a Disney production one day. Examples include “Mary Poppins,” “Newsies,” “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

This is just a list to start you out with getting more variety in your book. There are many other types of songs that would be great to have for an audition. Also, keep in mind that while your book should vary in musical genre, you should also have a good mix of up-tempo and ballad songs. Best of luck with your future auditions!

Think of another type of song to have in your audition book? Leave a comment below…

The post 7 Types Of Songs That Should Be In Your Audition Book appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. Website Design

It’s vital for every working actor to have a website. Most actor websites have headshots, resumes, dance reels, press articles and other information that help you sell your brand as an actor.

2. Photography

Having quality photography skills is always helpful in the theatre. You gain knowledge about what looks best on camera, so you don’t make rookie mistakes with your own headshots. Plus, you can earn extra cash on the side by taking other actors’ headshots or productions’ publicity photos.

3. Sewing

This is a must. From broken shoes to ripping your pants 10 minutes before curtain, you should always be prepared with a small sewing kit to help repair any emergency costume problems. Plus, if costumes need alterations, you are prepared to volunteer to help. Your friends will thank you!

4. Yoga

It’s not just about being flexible and strong, although that is a fantastic result of doing yoga. Most importantly, yoga trains you to have control of your breath. Keeping focused on your breathing and diaphragm coordination can do wonders to help you sing an aria or deliver a lengthy monologue. Learning how to listen to your body and how it moves is very important for actors. Remember, your body is an instrument. And speaking of instruments…

5. Musical Instruments

Having the ability to play a few musical instruments will only help your chances of getting cast. From the musicals “Once” to “Bandstand,” you never know when you will have to play a musically talented character. Gaining knowledge about music will only help you in your musical theatre endeavors. Plus, you can get a lot of side gigs as an accompanist for your fellow actors or yourself.

6. Makeup

If you find the makeup aisle dangerous for your wallet, you might be able to put that passion to use. Experiment with different types of stage makeup, and one day, you could find yourself getting a job as the makeup artist for a show. With so many fantasy shows such as “Shrek” currently playing in regional and community theaters across the country, the theatre needs people with a knack for makeup.

7. Cooking

Eating well is very important to keeping yourself in top shape as an actor. Know how to eat the best foods to power through your two-show day. Study what makes you feel good and what keeps your voice healthy and strong. This knowledge will give your acting career more longevity if you remember to always take care of yourself. Make being healthy part of the job!

What are some special skills that helped you get a role or a job in the theatre? Let us know in the comments below…

You may also like:

7 Life Skills Every Theatre Kid Will Learn

8 Life-Winning Skills All Thespians Possess

The post These Hobbies And Special Skills Will Help Your Theatrical Career appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Who knew musical theatre could be used as a strange form of torture? Luckily, singing showtunes doesn’t count as a form of cruel and unusual punishments, so sing away with these six songs:

1. ‘Tomorrow’ from ‘Annie’

This one is at the top of the list for a reason. One surefire way to torment those around you is singing this overdone screamfest with the same amount of passion as a young Andrea McArdle.

2. ‘Oklahoma!’ from ‘Oklahoma!”

“And the land we belong to is grand! And then we saaaayyyyy NO PLEASE! STOP! WHY!”

You’re not “doin’ fine” if you think this a Top 40 hit. It’s tolerable during the show, but humming this song while you lather, rinse and repeat is a little coo-coo ka-choo.

3. ‘One More Angel in Heaven’ from ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

Once upon a time, Andrew Lloyd Webber tried to write a hoedown — long story short, it’s a fun dance number, but it has the power to get stuck in your head for months on end. The brothers are singing a song to their father about how Joseph died unexpectedly, when in reality, the brothers sold him into slavery. They’re pure evil! No wonder the song is so bad! Also, any musical number with sudden, unexplained southern accents can’t be a good thing.

4. ‘Shipoopi’ from ‘The Music Man’

The title says it all.

5. ‘Fugue for Tinhorns’ from ‘Guys and Dolls’

It’s a classic: three guys singing about horses in a horse race for no other reason than to show the audience they are going to watch a show about gambling. Although, if you were me, you spent the rest of the show trying to figure out why they kept mentioning Paul Revere. This one is bound to annoy those around you. For the best results, try singing all three parts at once.

6. ‘Anything’ from ‘Cats’

Or, better yet, just buy a funky leotard, throw on some cat ears and heavy makeup and dance around your house. Your roommates will hate it. I know this from personal experience.

Which showtunes make you cringe? Or better yet, what’s your guilty pleasure musical theatre song? Add yours to the list!

The post Torturing Your Roommates: The Most Annoying Showtunes To Sing In The Shower appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

‘Bonnie and Clyde’

Total Broadway Performances: 36

Even though “Bonnie and Clyde” was only on Broadway for three months, the show has developed a large cult following. The score is gorgeous, and Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes had wonderful chemistry (not to mention vocal chops). Luckily, there is a cast recording, so we can properly mourn this show’s early closing.

‘[Title of Show]’

Total Broadway Performances: 102

This four-person musical is only one act, but it features some wonderful, witty songs about show business, from “Secondary Characters” to “I Am Playing Me.” The show follows Heidi, Susan, Jeff and Hunter through the rehearsal process of creating a show. After 103 performances, it probably flopped because it’s unrelatable for audience members who aren’t part of the theatre community, and it’s less flashy and commercial than most Broadway musicals.

‘Carrie: The Musical’

Total Broadway Performances: 5

This show, based on the famous Stephen King novel, is about a high school girl with telekinetic powers who deals with her religious mother and the high school prom. This show flopped, but it became the inspiration for a book by Ken Mandelbaum called, “Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Flops.” During previews, there was a mixture of standing ovations, thunderous applause and a chorus of boos. Ticket sales didn’t suffer, but the critics ripped the show apart, causing financial backers to pull their money out of the production.

‘Anyone Can Whistle’

Total Broadway Performances: 9

It’s kind of nice to know that even Stephen Sondheim isn’t perfect. This musical is about a town that creates a fake miracle in order to bring in tourism. Meanwhile, inmates from the local insane asylum have escaped. The show, originally starring Angela Lansbury, only had nine performances.

‘Side Show’

Total Broadway Performances: 91

Well, it seems as though this show “will never leave you.” This musical received a revival in 2014, but it had the same lack of success as the original Broadway production. This is a beautifully tragic story about twins in a freak show. Unfortunately, the amazing female power ballad duets weren’t enough to keep the show open after 91 performances (the revival only had 56).

‘Chess’

Total Broadway Performances: 68

This show, created by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, is about American and Russian chess champions who face off against each other during the Cold War. The show’s premise probably led to its early closing, with only 68 performances. However, its concept album was very successful and led to the popularity of “Anthem,” “One Night in Bangkok” and “Someone Else’s Story.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J1zN7PwPL8

‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’

Total Broadway Performances: 32

This show about the “Peanuts” gang actually premiered in 1971, but you probably didn’t hear about it because there were only 32 performances. It wasn’t until the revival in 1999 with Kristin Chenoweth, Roger Bart and Anthony Rapp that this show was put on the map. It is now a crowd favorite and is very popular for school theatre productions.

Sometimes shows just can’t figure out how to sell out at the box office. However, we can still enjoy them through cast albums, YouTube videos and — if we’re lucky — eventual revivals!

Did we forget your favorite flop? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 7 Broadway Flops That We Still Love Anyway appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

9. “Promises, Promises”

Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote this hit musical comedy about a businessman trying to climb up the corporate ladder by letting his superiors use his apartment for secret rendezvous.

8. “1776”

This Sherman Edwards musical about the Founding Fathers centers around John Adams and his efforts to convince people to sign the Declaration of Independence.

7. “Hair”

Galt MacDermot, James Rado and Gerome Ragni wrote this rock musical about bohemian hippies in New York who resist the Vietnam War, society’s norms and their conservative parents.

6. “The Man of La Mancha”

Inspired by “Don Quixote,” Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion’s musical is a play within a play that prisoners perform while Miguel de Cervantes waits for a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition.

5. “The Boyfriend”

This show by Sandy Wilson was Julie Andrews’ big break on Broadway. Set in the 1920s on the French Riviera, the musical tells the story of the girls who live at Madame Dubonnet’s School for Young Ladies.

4. “Grease”

Jim Jacob and Warren Casey’s musical, “Grease,” has been a classic since its 1971 debut. It has had countless revivals, and hundreds of high school productions are staged around the country every year.

3. “The Music Man”

Meredith Wilson’s classic story is about con artist band director Harold Hill, who tricks the town of River City into buying instruments for a phony band program. Meanwhile, he develops feelings for the local librarian.

2. “Oliver!”

Lionel Bart wrote the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” with well-known songs such as “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything” and “Who Will Buy?”

1. “The Wiz”

In this modern musical adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz,” composer Charlie Smalls rewrote this timeless story in the context of African-American culture. The 1978 film version starred Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow.

Even though these composers only produced one hit on the Great White Way, their works of art are truly timeless.

The post 9 One-Hit Wonders On Broadway appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1.

*Lady rolls down her car window at 181st street*
"congrats on HAMLET!"
Me: "I WISH I wrote Hamlet!"
Lady: "Yay HAMLET!"
*drives away*#myday

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) February 19, 2015

2.

The trip I took inside my eyelids was INCREDIBLE last night.
That's a weird way to say I slept good.
Hope you slept good.
Gmorning!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 17, 2016

3.

I am thinking of my mom who in my most despairing moments said, "Remember how it feels. You'll need it. Write it down."
What a gift.
Gnight.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 9, 2016

4.

Gmorning.
Today the 1st generation of kids for whom Hamilton exists take the AP US History exam.
I've done all I can do to help.
G'luck!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 6, 2016

5.

Good morning.
Words fail us, often, but when we put em together the right way they can pull boulders out of us.
Keep working with 'em.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 27, 2016

6.

Angelo guards our stage door, & inspires this rewrite:
"I will send a fully armed Italian to remind you of my love." pic.twitter.com/RgdiTGkW6z

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) August 8, 2015

7.

God I hate it when people don't realize they're extraordinary and capable of tremendous things
[i am subtweeting at you now right]
Gnight!

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 10, 2016

8.

6 years married today.
All-time high-score love of my life. pic.twitter.com/x5vEcQ62At

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 5, 2016

9.

You stage door your idols.
& sometimes with hard work, luck, and talent,
you grow up & they stage door you.
Gnight. pic.twitter.com/bQrQ1bELbw

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) August 6, 2015

10.

*stands at the craps table*
Gnight!
*rolls dice*
I'm rolling the dice on YOU.
*begins singing Luck Be A Lady*
Dealer: sir are you playing or

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 14, 2016

11.

Good morning.
You are perfectly cast in your life. I can't imagine anyone but you in the role. Go play.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 29, 2016

12.

I want to love something as much as my son loves raisins and trains.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) April 9, 2016

AND FINALLY…

13.

I was waiting until it was official. It's official! https://t.co/KN0ELldIQd

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 31, 2016

Though tickets to “Hamilton” might be out of reach, Lin never fails to keep us inspired, 140 characters at a time! Thank you, from Theatre Nerds everywhere!

What is your favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda tweet? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 13 Tweets Proving Lin-Manuel Miranda Is Practically Perfect In Every Way appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. Sardi’s

Located on West 44th Street in the Theatre District, Sardi’s Restaurant is the ultimate tourist destination for the Broadway enthusiast. Sardi’s is best known for its collection of caricatures from the Broadway scene. This tradition began when Vincent Sardi decided to recreate a restaurant in Paris with caricatures of film celebrities. Instead, he honored Broadway. He hired artist Alex Gard to draw the caricatures, and he continued to draw in exchange for free meals until he died in 1948. Sardi’s is also the famous site of where Brock Pemberton created the idea of the Tony Awards to honor Antoinette Perry.

sardis.com

2. Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Times Square is not just a dining experience —  it is also a 1950s-style diner with a singing waitstaff, the Stardusters. You can eat some classic American food while hearing your favorite Broadway showtunes and other popular songs. Open from 7 a.m. to midnight, it’s the perfect place to grab some grub with the family before a matinee or evening show.

ellensstardustdiner.com

3. Shubert Alley

Shubert Alley, which links West 44th and 45th streets, earned its name from successful producers Lee and Jacob J. Schubert, whose offices overlooked the alley. It originally functioned as an exit for the Shubert and Booth theaters, and actors were often seen lining up in the alley for audition calls. Today, Shubert Alley is not only an iconic landmark for show business, but it is the location of many popular Broadway events, such as Stars in the Alley, Broadway Barks and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Auction. Shubert Alley is also home to One Shubert Alley, a gift shop exclusively for Broadway lovers and theatre nerds.

4. Joe Allen

Located on West 46th Street, Joe Allen Restaurant is Sardi’s antithesis. Instead of glorifying Broadway’s greatest accomplishments, it celebrates all the flops that have come and gone on the Great White Way. The tradition started when the cast of the show “Kelly” gave the restaurant a poster for their show. When the show closed after one performance, Joe Allen decided he might as well hang it up in the restaurant. While no producer hopes to see their show on the wall in Joe Allen’s, it’s nice to know that even the most unlucky Broadway shows aren’t forgotten.

joeallenrestaurant.com

5. The Drama Book Shop

The Drama Book Shop is hands-down the best resource for theatrical material in NYC. It has a supply of over 8,000 plays and is the working actor’s dreamland. The shop also has a black box theatre in the basement, workshops upstairs and a balcony of musical scores in addition to a plethora of resources for anyone in show business. Find a comfy chair and browse through plays to find your next go-to monologue!

dramabookshop.com

6. 54 Below

If you want to experience the thrill of a Broadway show in a more relaxed setting, look no further than Broadway’s living room, Feinstein’s/54 Below. This nightclub and dining atmosphere hosts up to three shows per night, so there is always something fun to see! A popular hangout for Broadway stars to blow off steam, let loose, and give intimate concerts. If you’re currently a student with a high school or college ID, it offers half-price student rush tickets 30 minutes before the show. Or, if you only want to get a quick, quality meal, pre-show dining starts at 5 p.m. and goes until around 6:30 p.m. If you want to see some of your favorite Broadway stars and enjoy a night of live music, stop by West 54th Street between Broadway and 8th for an elegant night on the town!

54below.com

What is a “must-do” on your NYC bucket list? Let us know in the comments below…

The post The Theatre Nerds Guide To New York: 6 Places You Must Visit appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. “When He Sees Me” from Waitress

Range: Ab3 – Eb5

The Sara Bareilles musical based on the 2007 film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress who becomes pregnant and falls in love with her gynecologist. Meanwhile she hopes to enter a pie-baking contest in order to have the funds to leave her dysfunctional marriage. Sung by the one of Jenna’s fellow waitresses, Dawn, this song is a humorous uptempo about the anxiety of going on a first date. It’s cute, has solid character development, but has more depth than your average uptempo audition song.

2. “Higher” from Allegiance

Range: G3 – D5

Allegiance is the musical inspired by the life of George Takei, and follows the story of a family in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Lea Salonga slays this beautiful, heart-breaking, girl-power ballad. I personally love this song because I feel like women of any age can relate to this message.

3. “She Loves Me” from She Loves Me

Range: C4 – D5

This title song from Harnick and Bock’s musical is a little too adorable, especially in the most recent revival with Zachary Levi. After a flirty encounter with his co-worker Amalia (Laura Benanti) after bringing her ice cream to cheer her up, Georg (Zachary Levi) walks down the street, giddy with butterflies, that he has found an unexpected love.

4. “Top of the World” from Tuck Everlasting

Range: A3 – G#5

Tuck Everlasting tells the story of eleven-year-old Winnie who runs away from home and meets Jesse Tuck. Jesse drank water from a spring that grants eternal life, and will forever be  17-years-old. This song is perfect for the youthful male protagonist. Plus, Andrew-Keenan Bolger is always swoon-worthy.  

5. Come Out Of The Dark from On Your Feet

Range: E3 – E5

The musical that tells the story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan brings their classic songs to the stage. Originally performed by Gloria Estefan, this ballad has such a cool melody and a whole lot of soul.

6. If Only You Would Listen from School of Rock

Range: A3 – D5

Based on the 2003 movie starring Jack Black, School of Rock is about a rock guitarist/singer who finds himself as a substitute teacher for a 4th grade class. He taps into the students’ musical talent and prepares them to compete in Battle of the Bands. This song from School of Rock is a better alternative to the cringe-worthy “Castle on a Cloud” or “Maybe” for child actors. The kids of School of Rock sing about the difficulties of feeling like their voices aren’t heard or valued by adults in society. It can be hard for child actors to find songs, but this one can definitely show the audition panel that you can be taken seriously.

7. You’ll Be Back from Hamilton

Range: D3 – C5

One of the more “classic” musical theatre songs from Lin-Manuel’s new hit, “You’ll Be Back” is the perfect arrogant-villain song. I could imagine someone picking this song to audition for Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Although, I’d hurry and use this one before Hamilton is added to “overdone” and “do-not-sing” lists everywhere!

8. The Sailor of My Dreams from Dames at Sea

Range: C4 – F5

Originally off-Broadway with Bernadette Peters, and recently on Broadway with Eloise Kropp, Dames at Sea tells the story of a chorus girl who comes to the Big Apple, gets a role on Broadway, and quickly rises to stardom. In this song, Ruby sing about Dick, a songwriter and sailor who she has developed feelings for.

Keeping up to date with Broadway’s newest shows can put you at an advantage during auditions. Casting directors are less likely to have heard your song, but are probably at least aware of the show it is from.

Do you have a favorite song from a current Broadway show? Share it with us below…

The post 8 Great Audition Songs From The 2015-2016 Broadway Season appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Stage 1: Denial

You wake up in a panic thinking you lost your script, or are late to rehearsal. You continue to have theatre nightmares where the stage collapses on you or something goes drastically wrong.

Stage 2: Sentimental and Sappy

You post pictures of your awesome cast and crew all over social media to show off the amazing new friendships you made. You plan reunions for your cast to spend more time together to sing karaoke to your favorite cast recordings.

Stage 3: Identity Crisis

You start an extensive search for auditions in the area to get back in the rehearsal room ASAP. Because if you’re not at rehearsal or on stage, who even are you?

Stage 4: Reliving Every Moment Of The Show

You reminisce with your friends about the show, and try to get them to join you in sing/dance-alongs.

Stage 5: Regret

You suddenly are overwhelmed with a wave of “what if”s.

“What if I made a different choice here?”

“Oh man, I wish I didn’t fall during that dance sequence.”

“That would have been so awesome if I had done something different for that scene.”

Stage 6: Depression

Some people skip right to this step and fall into a dramatic, tear-filled depression like the dramatist they are… This step is rough. Go buy some ice cream, listen to the cast recording, and wallow. But keep it in check…give yourself a few days, a week at most, and then put on your big-kid character shoes and get back out there!

Stage 7: Acceptance

You realize that while you will cherish your memories of show’s past, you need to keep moving forward and make new theatre memories.

Stage 8: You Get Cast In Another Show And The Process Starts Again

That wonderful moment when you can look forward to months filled with theatre and all of the wonderful experiences that come with being a part of a production. It’s the Circle of Life.

As Sherie Rene Scott would say, “The scary thing about theatre—it doesn’t live on… It doesn’t last. Only in people’s memories and their hearts. That’s the beauty and sadness of it. But that’s life—beauty and sadness. And that’s why theatre is life.”

Did we miss a stage that you experience? Leave a reply below…

The post The 8 Stages of Post-Show Grief appeared first on Theatre Nerds.