West Side Story Audition Songs

[talklessblogmore]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 1:26pm

Hiya! I might be auditioning for Anybody's in West Side Story, and we have to sing for the auditions. Anybody's doesn't really sing, and they ask that we sing a piece from WSS or something from a classical/traditional show. Anybody's is a tomboy and a bit flirty, and my mind is blank right now. I'm 14 (I look older, but I don't wanna sing something inappropriate for my age) and I'm a mezzo belter. Thanks!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 1:42pm

Nobody Steps on Kaffritz from HENRY SWEET HENRY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyAnq8HdWYQ

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 3:54pm

"One Hallowe'en" from APPLAUSE

"Last Midnight" from INTO THE WOODS

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 4:12pm

"I'm Just A Girl Who Cain't Say No" from Oklahoma!

"Nobody Does It Like Me" from Seesaw

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/31/17 at 11:26pm

Did ya'll miss the part where the OP wrote she is FOURTEEN?!

Except for henrikegerman, none of the suggestions above are remotely appropriate. And if you are just screwing with a teenager, then shame on you.

My suggestions:

Look at "What's Going On?" from PAINT YOUR WAGON. It's from a traditional show but probably isn't done too often. The singer is talking about how the men around her have begun to act strangely since she reached puberty (not at all graphically).

Or if you want a ballad, try "It Might as Well Be Spring" from STATE FAIR. It is sung by singers of all ages, but it was written for a teenage girl. (But before you do it, check out the You Tube of Ann-Margret's screen test singing it. The single best rendition ever, IMO.)

Or you could always do "The Trolley Song" from MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. The character is 17, but she's an innocent 17 from a more innocent era. It will play fine for a 14-year-old today and still feel "traditional".

If you want to convey the androgyny of Anybody's, the PAINT YOUR WAGON number may be your best bet. The singer isn't butch, but she's been raised without any female influence.

 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 2:37am

Considering Oklahoma is a staple of high school and youth theatres I can't say that I agree that "I'm Just a Girl Who Cain't Say No" is inappropriate for the OP to be singing. I'm sure there have been plenty of 14 year old girls who have sung it on their high school stages.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 5:22am

But it's altogether wrong for Anybodys.

 

I'd actually consider singing a song traditionally song by a boy...maybe Peter Pan?

Updated On: 2/1/17 at 05:22 AM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 6:15am

^^^^Peter Pan is an inspired idea!

AEA, I know high schools do OKLAHOMA!, but I think there's a difference between singing the song as Ado Annie in costume and make-up in the context of a play and singing it as talklessblogmore doing an audition.

I also know 14-year-olds have cable TV and see all sorts of things that are racier than "I Cain't Say No" -- but I don't think they need to be pushed to act older than they are (especially when they want to play a character that is not older than they are).

That's all. It's not an issue I'd go to war over. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/1/17 at 7:14am

And to the op.....she is not flirty.