Civic Education is offering a workshop for ages 15+: Auditioning for Golden Age Musical Theatre.
Please join us on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00AM or Sunday, September 20 at 5:00PM.
We will cover fundamentals of singing and repertoire selection as well as offering a relaxed masterclass format. You can bring a piece for feedback, or get advice on your song selection and presentation. A pianist will be provided and there will be no cost for this workshop. Singers from beginning to advanced are welcome,
Auditioning for a “Golden Age” Musical? Let’s start at the very beginning…
One of the first things to remember is that Golden Age Musicals are your friend! They are usually vocally friendly, and while there may be some differences if it is not something you’ve tried before, there is a golden age audition song for everyone.
The term “golden age” is not precisely defined, and one could argue it is not a perfect label. However, it has come to mean a certain era in musical theatre, generally from 1940-1960, or beginning with the advent of Oklahoma by Rodgers and Hammerstein and the “book” musical.
We’ve linked several resources below to help folks learn more about this era in musical theatre, as well as some lists from theatretrip.com listing all the shows in the “golden age” time period. The TheatreTrip website also includes links to Spotify cast albums and individual songs on YouTube, so it’s a great resource even if you already have a good idea about what to sing, but you want to explore some inspiration or dig a little deeper.
If this feels overwhelming or TMI, here are the highlights and breakdown.
- Choose an audition piece from the list of recommended composers/shows.
- Sing something you connect with that tells a story.
- Sing something that lets the panel hear your voice.
- Feel free to keep it simple – no need to show your killer riffs and pop/rock technique.
- If you can’t find something that fits the bill, a well sung Happy Birthday is absolutely welcome.
Finally, Let Civic Education help you out! If you can’t attend one of our workshops, but still would like some support as you prepare for your auditions please feel free to email education@spokanecivictheatre.com with your specific questions about audition songs prior to September 20th and we will do our best to help.
Golden Age generally refers to musicals created between the early 1940s and mid 1960s where songs, dance, and character are integrated to tell the story. Recommended Golden Age creators include Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Lowe, Frank Loesser, Bock & Harnick, Mary Rodgers, and Meredith Willson. For an extensive list of Golden Age musicals and audition songs, these may be helpful links.
TheatreTrip.com Golden Age Audition Songs
TheatreTrip.com List of Golden Age Musicals
Broadway World Musicals of the 1940s Playlist
Broadway World Musicals of the 1950s Playlist
Broadway World Musicals of the 1960s Playlist