Angelina Musik-Comp posted on February 04, 2010
I love to sing and one day I decided to audition for a musical. I have a great range, confidence and in hindsight I roll over in laughter on how I tried to pull this off.
“Mama Mia, here I go again…my, my how can I resist…” embracing another adventure without the preparation for the opportunity. My naivety and tenacity sometimes leaves me with a story that makes my kids roll with embarrassment for me, even though my heart is in the right place at the time of my ‘risk to explore’.
Even though I’d been singing for years with teachers challenging me because of my vocal range and lung capacity, they never ever address the topic on 'how one auditions for a musical'. So one day I thought I would just grab hold of an opportunity to learn just how NOT to!
‘Dames at Sea’ was a musical that was auditioning for actors, singers and stage hands. I love the theatre and had done well directing and acting. Since I could sing.
I had no doubt in my mind that I could land a vocal part. Except that I’d never seen a musical audition or even understood what it entailed.
At the audition I noticed that the actors all did the same thing. Presented a peice of sheet music to the piano player and then belted out a song from the actual musical. Of course since I didn't know the musical I just figured it was some of their favorite songs.
So I decided to share one of my favorite songs at that time from ABBA, was a pop music group formed in Sweden in 1972. I would sing 'Take a Chance on Me' a ca pella.
The toes of the judges tapped and they smiled almost in disbelief that I was auditioning with an ABBA song. For my courage to so what I did they decided to take a chance on me and hire me as a stage hand initially. That opportunity allowed me to learn first hand the ins and outs of how a musical production came together.
I learned all of the songs to the musical and one day I was asked to become the understudy to Ruby, the main character. "Of course," I said.
This would be one of many lessons that would form how and why I do and know things today to help others, who are not as dorky as I was at the time, as I had only been in the U.S. two years.
I did become a praise and worship leader for two churches for several years in Houston. I did eventually produce my own Christian pop CD and even put a band together to create an acoustic CD.
Not many who love to sing can say they've done that. The truth is anyone can do this, it's just a matter of being educated on 'how'.
