Beautiful singing is half the battle.
Learn how to transform auditions into bookings as you become the believable storyteller every director remembers.
AS CAST BY
Ditch the audition tactics that haven't worked since black and white headshots.
To "show range" in the audition room, you need to do so much more than hit your highest note.
Here's what I recommend:
1
Determine your types.
Examples include the:
- Comic ingénue (Galinda in Wicked)
- Shy outsider (Emma in The Prom)
- Young father (Tateh in Ragtime)
- Buffo sidekick (LeFou in Beauty and the Beast)
This list should encompass your dream roles.
2
Find the songs.
This phase can take some time to get right.
- Listen widely across genres (golden age to contemporary to pop/rock).
- Explore uptempo, comedic, and ballads for variety.
- Try singing them and see if they showcase your voice.
The most important thing is that you sing it well.
3
Create the cut.
To create a cut that serves you and the story:
- The cut should have a beginning, middle, and end.
- The climax should be about 75% of the way through.
- It does not need to contain your highest singable note.
- Avoid "Frankenstein" cuts unless you know how to execute them.
If you struggle to cut the song, set it aside and look for a similar one. The last 32 bars is often not the way to go.
Break legs at your next audition!
Ready to follow all the steps, but want 1-on-1 feedback to maximize your audition success?
Meet Drew Russell DuBoff
OPERA SINGER. MUSICAL THEATRE PERFORMER. AUDITION COACH.
If you're a classical singer tired of spending thousands on YAPs only for them to not advance your opera career, you're in the right spot.
Drew teaches beautiful singers how to become believable storytellers. Don't sacrifice your singing dreams to a soul-sucking 9-to-5 until you've explored every option.
Follow his advice, and you'll book more musical theatre roles. You may even find you get asked for one more aria in your opera auditions.
My name is Drew Russell DuBoff and on top of being a performer, I also manage Philadelphia's professional Jewish theatre company.
My advice is vetted from both sides of the table.
She thought she just needed help polishing an audition piece.
Emily reached out to me for coaching as she was preparing for a Jekyll & Hyde audition and she was considering using a song from Ragtime, and was unsure if it was the right fit.
She left the session with the awareness of how to break down a song dramatically and make meaningful artistic choices.
And she took away techniques that will improve her own teaching as a vocal coach.
P.S. She booked Ensemble, and I couldn't be prouder.
"If you're looking for more than good technique and to go to the next level to be an impactful storyteller, Drew's your man."
~Emily McKinney, Waxahachie TX
Eponine was on her own. You don't have to be.
A career in the arts can be isolating.
Join the FREE Singers & Performers Community to:
- Swap audition tips
- Celebrate wins
- Survive rejections
- Ask questions
- Just be who you wanna be
Whether you're into musical theatre, opera, or choir, this is your cast in between your gigs.
From the Blog
Musical Theatre
Turning audition anxiety into opening nights.
Opera
From recitative to curtain call. No subtitles required.
Singing
Practical advice that doesn't fall flat. Only healthy technique.