My son is 10 and is going out for the lead in Oliver. He sang "Just Can't Wait to be King" for another show really well, but the director of Oliver was there and I'm not sure it's good to repeat something the director has already seen. I'm also not sure whether to go high or low (he can do either). I'm thinking we should have one uptempo and one ballad in the wings. I don't know which would be appropriate for Oliver.
Please advise! I can't sing so I can't help!
Update:This one was tough! There was such good advice from each of you. Thank you all so much. I've decided to rehearse him with "Just Can't Wait to be King" upbeat and a children's ballad called "Moonlight Whispers" that he already knows that I think is parallel to Where is Love, just because I am strapped for time and decided it's too late for a new song. But! I'm definitely going to look into all of the song suggestions given for future auditions. Elsa thanks especially for your tip on appropriateness to a 10 year old...that's where I got the idea to go with Moonlight Whispers and Lion King for the short term.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
DO NOT use a song from the show he is auditioning for; it's presumptuous.
How about:
"Gary, Indiana" from The Music Man
"Wonderin'" from Anne of Green Gables
"I Want to Know" from Big
"I, Huckleberry, Me" or "Arkansas" or "Waitin' for the Light to Shine" from Big River
"The Letter" from Billy Elliot
"I'm Not Saying a Word" from Blood Brothers
"Little People" from Les Miserables
"You're My Best Girl" from Mame
"Round-Shouldered Man" from The Secret Garden
"It's Possible" from Seussical (some parts might work, interrupted by chorus)
See if any of these work.
On the contrary, incandescent_poet, singing a song from the show is not presumptuous at all. It shows the director what you can do, and it almost always makes them like you even more.
Good Oliver songs are:
UPBEAT
Consider Yourself
Oom Pah Pah, but not necessarily for Oliver
Be Back Soon
BALLADS
As Long As He Needs Me (if he wants to sing a girl part)
Where is Love?
Who Will Buy?
I've been in two separate productions of Oliver, once as a workhouse boy when I was 9 and once as Bet when I was 13. It's a wonderful show, and my dad agrees. Of course, he played Bumble when I was a workhouse boy and Fagin when I was Bet. Break a leg!
NEVER use a song from the show that you are auditioning for unless the directors ask you specifically to use a song from the show (which sometimes they do). Make sure you check the audition notice for specific directions on what they want you to sing, how long they want you to sing for, if they want you to sing by yourself or with a pianist (in which case you will need to bring music). Try to pick a song that would be appropriate for the character. Oliver is a sweet kid, so nothing obnoxious. Try to pick something that shows off his range. What ever song he choses make sure it is a song that is believable for a 10 year old boy to be singing. I just Can't Wait to Be King is a good choice. If he sings it well I don't see any problem with him doing it again. Make sure that he has something else prepared in case they want him to do 2 songs. Make sure he is also familiar with songs from Oliver in case they want him to sing a bit from the show.
nicely for the west end production of Oliver! they are continuously auditioning boys as much as the age of 13 who're decrease than 5ft and whose voices are nonetheless intact :P they have been asked to sing the biggest verse of evaluate your self, a chilled music and could motivate the little ones to need to be interior the final overall performance! good success with the auditions x
Try Oliver's opening solo in "Who Will Buy (This Wonderful Morning)?" A good upbeat song from the show is "Consider Yourself." Good luck to your son!