Choosing the right song for your "Into the Woods" audition is crucial. This Stephen Sondheim masterpiece demands vocal prowess, dramatic range, and a nuanced understanding of character. This guide will help you navigate the options and select a song that showcases your talents while highlighting your understanding of the show.
What Makes a Good "Into the Woods" Audition Song?
Before diving into specific song suggestions, let's consider what makes a song a strong choice for this particular musical:
- Vocal Range and Agility: Sondheim's music is challenging. It requires a strong voice with a wide range, capable of handling complex melodies and intricate harmonies.
- Emotional Depth: "Into the Woods" is a story of wishes, consequences, and complex emotions. Your song choice should reflect this, allowing you to display your emotional range.
- Character Suitability: While you might love a particular song, it needs to align with the characters you're hoping to play. Consider the character's personality, journey, and motivations.
- Showcasing Your Strengths: Select a song that best highlights your strongest vocal qualities—whether that's soaring high notes, intricate runs, or powerful belting.
Popular "Into the Woods" Audition Song Choices (and why they work):
For the Baker:
- "No One Is Alone": This beautiful ballad showcases vulnerability and hope. It allows you to demonstrate your softer side while still showcasing vocal control. It’s a good choice if you want to show your ability to handle both tender and powerful moments.
- "Any Moment": A more upbeat choice, this song allows you to show your versatility. It displays both joyous excitement and underlying tension. It's perfect if you want to highlight your ability to portray optimism alongside a hint of desperation.
For the Baker's Wife:
- "I Know Things Now": This powerful ballad highlights a character's growth and understanding. It showcases a powerful vocal range and emotional depth.
- "Moments in the Woods": This showcases the yearning and vulnerability of the character and allows for a display of both powerful belt and more delicate phrasing.
For Cinderella:
- "On the Steps of the Palace": This hopeful melody shows a character's longing and desire. A good choice if you want to highlight a softer, sweeter tone. Be mindful of not sounding too saccharine; Cinderella is a complex character with hidden depths.
- "Stay with Me": This dramatic ballad perfectly captures the character's conflicted emotions. Choose this if you want to showcase a powerful vocal belt and emotional intensity.
For Little Red Ridinghood:
- "I Know Things Now" (also works for Red): This song allows for a wide emotional range and a compelling performance showing character development and vulnerability.
- "Little Red Ridinghood" (from the actual show): A more challenging option but it could work brilliantly if you have excellent comedic timing and vocal skills.
For The Witch:
- "Last Midnight": This iconic showstopper requires immense vocal power and dramatic presence. It's a risky choice but rewarding if you can pull it off successfully. Only choose this if you are supremely confident in your vocal abilities and stage presence.
- "The Last Midnight" Reprise: This is a more subdued, yet still powerful, version of the same song. It allows for more character nuance and displays vocal vulnerability in addition to strength.
H2: What if I want to sing a song NOT from the show?
While choosing a song from the show itself is often preferred, a well-chosen song from another musical can also work. Focus on these qualities:
- Similar Style: Select a song with a similar vocal style and emotional intensity to the songs in "Into the Woods."
- Character Alignment: Choose a song that showcases characteristics similar to the characters you are auditioning for.
- Demonstrate Your Skills: Select a song that highlights your best vocal attributes and acting capabilities.
H2: What songs should I avoid?
Avoid songs that are:
- Too simple: "Into the Woods" is complex, so your audition should show you can handle vocal and emotional challenges.
- Too dissimilar in style: A jarringly different musical style may not show your suitability for the show.
- Too long or too short: Aim for a song that is approximately 16-32 bars long, allowing you to make a complete statement while being respectful of the auditioner's time.
H2: How to Prepare for Your Audition
Beyond song selection, diligent preparation is crucial:
- Learn the lyrics perfectly.
- Master the melody and rhythm.
- Develop a strong interpretation of the song.
- Practice performing the song with confidence.
- Prepare for questions about your choice.
Choosing the right "Into the Woods" audition song is a key component to landing your dream role. Careful consideration of your vocal abilities, the character you hope to portray, and the overall style of Sondheim's music will put you on the path to a successful audition. Remember to always present yourself confidently and enthusiastically!
