waapa audition HELP!

Hey, I am 19 and have spent the last year training at the Conservatorium in classical voice. However I want to make the change into my true love - musical theatre and hence audition for a BA of Musical Theatre. However the only advice I can get from my parents etc, is that operetta and more operatic songs like "I hate men" in the words of my mother "show of my voice". Having a very high, big soprano voice - can I get away with singing Gilbert and Sullivan? I can sing pure MT but it tends to be the more operatic romantic lead stuff. Please Help me!

MT style is a little different to operatic. The basics are the same - breathing technique, use of head/chest voice etc. The way my singing teacher describes it is that MT repetoire requires the use of "brighter tones". There's less vibrato required (though some is still encouraged) and a cleaner/crisper sound. In my opinion, MT songs also need to be performed with emphasis on facial expressions. A lot of character needs to be injected into the performance. Do other MT people agree with this?

Musical theatre and opera singing are similar but there is one thing that radiacally differentiates the two. Operatic singing from what i have seen is focused on technique. MT singing has a basis in technique but rests largely ont he performers ability to act. You should think of a musical theatre song as a monologue. Technique doesnt create the magic of musical theatre the ability to believe in the circumstances and what you are singing (usually to someone) will create something that is intersting to watch. SO if you ahvent had much acting training then it may be hard to simply tell you to sing it truthfully and real. So if your training in opera has focused on the technique of attaining the right pitch etc and has not focused on conveying the meaning behind why it is you are singing thats what you need to focus on as much as possible for the audition. But auditions are so wide and open. People get in who havent had much training, people get in who have had heaps. Id focus on why you are singing the song and placing yourself int he circumstances rather than am i hitting the right note with the right volume etc. Paul.

Sing what you enjoy singing, don't do G&S or anything from the classical opera repertoire. I Hate Men would be a good choice, as would any number of songs from the same era - check out things like The Boyfriend, She Loves Me or even Princess/Baker's Wife stuff in Into The Woods. Show them that you love performing - be natural and, contrary to the above post, sing the right notes. Good luck.

i think if you are not worrying about the notes so much and more about the charecter/ acting/ telling the story then you will most probably hit the notes anyway rather than worrying about hitting the notes and not showing that u love performing or have a connection with the song

If you try and sing the notes you may not reach them. Whereas if you are firmly in the world and your circumstances are clear you will hit the notes without focusing on that. Of course you need to get the notes but they will come by being real. Paul Mclaughlin.