Most overdone audition songs right now

[gingerlemon]

I remember a few years back casting directors would list "No Les Miz or Miss Saigon" in their ads for auditions. What are the overdone songs right now?

[EganFan2]

I'll take a wild stab at "No Phantom" (movie) and "No Wicked" ('nuff said).

[littlelotte64]

I would have to agree with EganFan. I'm actually afraid to even know how many times people have auditioned with wicked songs.

[wickedobsessed]

Each year when I try out for my fall high school musical, I always hear from about 10 freshman girls that the are doing "Little Girls" from Annie.....boooo.

[BroadwayBound062]

Any audition I always hear one girl and sometimes guys sing Summertime...im so sick of it. Its all because of American Idol when Fantasia did it of course she didn't even have the right tune!!!!

[kyguy78]

We've been holding auditions for the high school's musical this week and I've heard "Defying Gravity" butchered at least a dozen times.

Wicked is the WORST to audition with! Sorry but not many people can sing "Defying Gravity" well and how it's supposed to be sung.

[EponineAmneris]

I'd have to go with WICKED, PHANTOM and maybe even RENT since the movie has been out.

Methinks LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA will fall into this category soon

[renthead92]

I would say these:
Songs from "High School Musical"
Songs from "Rent"
Songs from "Wicked"
Songs from "Grease"

This is based on what a lot of people I know are picking for their audition.

[GClef2]

Phantom of the Opera is Everywhere.

So is memory from Cats.

Someone to Watch over me can be heard in every highschool audition room.

Thoroughly modern Millie is also a big one.

[jaybrrd]

I'll throw JRB material in general to this mix -- I've heard Stars and the Moon too many times to care anymore, and L5Y has gotten a bit too prominent as well.

Plus, it almost invariably gets butchered by a accompianist who doesn't quite get the groove on it unless they're really, REALLY good.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Yeah, my frieind auditioned for our school musical last year and said she heard quite a few songs from Millie, and I've heard of a couple people who did songs from Rent (Seasons Of Love and One Song Glory) and from Grease as well. Also, quite a few things for Hair.

[gustof777]

on my own!! Good God I can't even count how many times I've heard it butchered!

[SarahBeth]

This year at every audition i've been at i've heard Les Miserables, Phantom, Wicked, and RENT just murdered.
I've heard people try the end of Defying Gravity so many times and it just never works. It's *almost* killed that musical for me.

[somethingwicked]

Both at Florida district and state thespian competition this year, I heard "Climbing Uphill" from L5Y done at least thirty times (including from a girl in my troupe.) Unfortunately, none of the renditions I heard were good... "Spelling Bee" was also done to death this year.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

For the last two shows I've had to cast way too many people auditioned with songs from The Last 5 Years and Songs for a New World which got real old real fast. For the next show I direct there will be a BIG SIGN that says "NO LAST 5 YEARS OR SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD"

[thevolleyballer]

The University of Michigan Dept. of MT lists these:

"In preparing for the audition, avoid choosing songs from ANNIE, BIG RIVER, CANDIDE, A CHORUS LINE, GREASE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR."

Big River surprised me, but I can understand all the choices. :)

[Michael Bennett]

Definitely, absolutely: Jason Robert Brown. His entire oeuvre. Every song. Every last five year. Every star and moon.

Most people auditioning for Broadway shows know better than to go in with LES MIZ or WICKED. I haven't heard "Memory" from CATS sung for a professional audition in a long time. You could probably get away with that one.

[EmieMarie]

I've heard my new philosphy from charlie brown way to many times.....

My secret: I sing guys songs (Cuz I can sing tenor!) Even though I'm a girl, right now i'm working oin consider yourself from oliver, last year i did a song from Peter pan

[michelle4]

We shouldn't forget Mr. Wildhorn's "Someone Like You" and "When I Look at You".

[neddyfrank2]

Shy
Rent and Wicked!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Here's a comprehensive list for you. Anything from:

WICKED
LES MISERABLES
RENT
CHICAGO
JEKYLL AND HYDE
PHANTOM
THE LAST FIVE YEARS (or pretty much anything else from JRB)

Also many "famous" musical theater songs from classic shows, including:
Can't Help Lovin' That Man
If I Loved You
What I Did For Love
I Hate Men
Somewhere That's Green
Adelaide's Lament
I Could Have Danced All Night
Shy
Don't Cry For Me Argentina
I Get a Kick Out of You
Lonely Room
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Some Enchanted Evening
This Nearly Was Mine

For men, it's easier. But for women, especially sopranos, it can be difficult to find something that they haven't hard ten zillion times. But of course, if you do something REALLY well, even if it is overdone, ultimately that's what matters the most!

[SarahBeth]

And Disney songs. No, just no. I am in love with Disney but i'd never use it for an audition.

[brdwybound2]

Oh geez, Wicked is about to drive me insane. A lot of people have been attempting Wizard and I and Popular at the auditions I've been at... I don't even own the Wicked music, I would never even attempt it.

At a recent audition workshop I was at I sang I Got Rhythm. I know it is probably somewhat overdone but I needed a fun uptempo song. I used to always sing One Boy at auditions too from Bye Bye Birdie but it's been a few years since I used that.

There's this one song a girl sang at this workshop and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember the name of it. It's from a show called like Jim and Bob or something really random, and the song was something about flying and being like an eagle. Anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?

[bwayondabrain]

i say almost everything from ANNIE,especially "Maybe" and "Tomorrow"
ugh