Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a song - 2008/04/21 00:05Auditions are coming up for a production of "Chess" at my college. The only song restrictions are that the song should be "16-32 bars of a contemp (post 1970) musical theatre or pop/rock song." Naturally, I have a few songs but am having trouble deciding.
I am a baritone and can hit up to an A flat. I am rather unfamiliar with the characters and songs in Chess, but I was thinking of using one of the following audition songs, and would love to know which might be better suited towards the show:
Hair (from "Hair") Solla Sollew (from "Seussical") Master of the House (from "Les Miserables") Gethsemane (from "Jesus Christ Superstar")
Of course it doesn't help that each of these has their own separate dynamics, but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
EDIT: I figure I should add in parts I've played in the past to give you all an idea of the type of parts I play well.
Rooster in "Annie" Thenardier in "Les Miserables" Moose in "Crazy for You" Papa Ge in "Once on this Island"
I tend to do character parts well, as well as humorous/evil characters.
Post edited by: DocHolliday, at: 2008/04/21 00:17
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If you haven't already, the link to MTA's Chess page is here.
If you want to familiarize yourself with the Chess music, buy the soundtrack or google "Chess Benefit Concert". It has 3 of 4 parts up so you can get an idea for the show and the songs, and specific searches can find the remaining numbers. Chess is an amazing show, I would have loved to have done it when my school was doing it, but I couldn't make the audition date.
Have fun with this!Currently Auditioning for: Narnia
Currently involved with: Nothing...
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DocHolliday
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Re:Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a son - 2008/04/21 14:28Most of the musicals listed I am either not familiar with or are out of my range. You seem to be mistaking me for a tenor, and while I wish I was I am not (Martin Guerre goes up to a high B, Radames is a tenor, Queen songs are all out of my range). Also, Chess has not been available on iTunes as it's only a partial album and besides spending $30 I could not obtain all of it. Why are the songs I gave not suitable? They are all from rock musicals. Is it for character reasons? I also might mention auditions are tomorrow, so I am in quite a pickle if none of them are okay.
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These songs might not be perfect, but if you are comfortable with them then they at least have that in their favor.
Which are you MOST comfortable with?
(Keep in mind, Chess is a bit more pop than rock, in my opinion)_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a son - 2008/04/21 15:22Okay, I just have to freak out- CHESS?!?! I loooooove this show so much and I want to be in it soo badly (it's currently in my car CD player). Have fun!Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
Currently In: Nothing
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I think this is a good opportunity to learn a lesson about preparing for auditions - if you wait until each audition has been announced before looking for an audition piece, it puts a lot of pressure on you.
Now would be a good time to start building your repertoire, to avoid this problem in the future.
Break a leg!_____________ Kris MTA Admin
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I think this is a good opportunity to learn a lesson about preparing for auditions - if you wait until each audition has been announced before looking for an audition piece, it puts a lot of pressure on you.
Now would be a good time to start building your repertoire, to avoid this problem in the future.
Break a leg!
That may be the best advice I've read on this site.Andrea
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DocHolliday
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Re:Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a son - 2008/04/22 23:18Well, I went with a completely different choice and ended up doing "Stars" from Les Miserables which earned me a callback as Anatoly and Walter. Any advice on those two characters would be much appreciated, and thanks for the help given thus far.
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btbushi
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Re:Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a son - 2008/04/23 11:42Anatoly: Repressed and disillusioned Russian grandmaster. Falls in love with Freddy Trumper (the American's chess player)'s second, Florence Vassy. He has a wife that was more a political and youthful arrangement in an otherwise dead marriage. Often torn between his duty as Russia's representative and his own wishes. (Chess takes place during the Cold War, so any international events such as this match between the US and the USSR are highly publicized and political)
Walter: A CIA operative who goes undercover as Freddy's new second after Florence goes off with Anatoly. He quite often demonstrates that the end justifies the means, manipulating those around him to secure goals of his own or the CIA's. He lies to Florence to secure a prisoner exchange he arranged with Molokov (Anatoly's KGB retainer).Currently Auditioning for: Narnia
Currently involved with: Nothing...
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Starlet_Actress21
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Re:Auditioning for Chess - Need help picking a son - 2008/04/23 17:35Anatoly is the Russian who falls in love with Florence but is also married to Svetlana. He is very caring towards Florence but can be nasty if he wants to.
Walter is just a jerk all 'round. He's manipulative and conniving.Auditioning for: Brigadoon, theatre season, American Music Theatre, Into the Woods, Sound of Music, and AMDA.
Currently In: Nothing
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