A Midsummer Night’s Dream Auditions
Audition Sides—Male Roles
Workshop not required. Just call or text: 575-312-7623
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Roles: Theseus, Demetrius
Scholarships available!
Fairy song for boys with soprano/alto voices who would like to sing.
The accompaniment provided here will also be provided at auditions.
The audition song is not required of any males who audition.
If you wish to sing, prepare only one verse for auditions (see “Lyrics” to choose your verse). Choose the one that has lyrics that are easiest for you to sing. If you need a piano/vocal score, there is one provided for each of the verses.
Caution! Lines 2, 3, & 4 in the first verse don’t match the lyrics in the recorded sample, so don’t learn those lines from the recording—Please refer to the vocal score or lyrics sheet.
You don’t need to sing well because the Mechanicals are comic characters. Actually, you don’t need to sing at all—this is optional and only for those who really love to sing. Your casting in the show will not depend on whether/not you sang for auditions.
Speed
The song is known for its speed, not the vocal quality of the singers. Indeed, the vocal range is so large, that you might find the upper/lower end difficult to reach. If so, just speak those words, or, chant the whole thing to the proper rhythm, if you’re not a singer. Because “it really doesn’t matter”.
For learning the song, we provide a “Slow for learning” accompaniment version, and an “Intermediate Tempo” version to help you get up to speed.
About the Song
This song is from another show, and after changing three lines, it fits the Mechanical’s character, style, and temperament, AND it’s a fun song! Why does it fit? Because the Mechanicals often fear they will be killed for doing something wrong when they present their play to Theseus. This song talks about having to die tomorrow by the sword or by the dagger (which also fits the Pyramus and Thisby play!)
Dance or gymnastics skills—Prepare a routine using the song below.
If you play a portable instrument (drum, bongos, violin, viola, flute, clarinet, guitar, use, etc.) prepare to play it at auditions.
Applies to Fairies, Mechanicals, Lovers, Philostrate.
If you have physical skills, such as juggling, or swordfighting, be prepared to demonstrate these skills during auditions.
Find your vocal range at left. Note that each octave is numbered, with middle C being C4.
Numbering of each successively higher octave begins at “C.”
AUDITION HEADQUARTERS—For Production Dates, Tuition, etc.
DIALECT/ACCENT OVERVIEW—http://dialectblog.com/british-accents/
Caution–some links on this page lead to people using bad language—monitor your child’s use of the links within this link.
All other skills being equal, we will select the actor with the most appropriate accent. For most, the “Received Pronunciation (see link above) is the best bet, but some sailors may use a lower-class accent (see link above).