How to Audition for the Musical Theatre: A Step-By-Step Guide to Effective Preparation (Career Development Book)

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Summary: HOW TO AUDITION FOR THE MUSICAL THEATER covers the basics.
Review: Donald Oliver does a brilliant job of covering all the audtioning basics in this entertaining, yet informative book. Oliver uses witty and often hysterical anecdotes to describe the neccessity of preparation, confidence, and common sense for an audition. Everything from headshots and resumes, to callbacks and casting agents is covered in a timely and humorous fashion. Oliver does a particulary fine job of describing the best types of audition songs and where to find them. Several helpful Appendices (located in the back of the book) give helpful information; lists of places to find sheet music and performing-arts texts, as well as a list of the most overdone audition songs. This is a must-have book for every actor seeking employment.

Rating:
Summary: The best book available on auditioning!
Review: Donald Oliver's "How to Audition for the Musical Theatre" is a wonderfully witty and insightful guide to understanding and mastering the audition process. This is perhaps the new version of Fred Silver's classic, and is certainly more practical -- especially for today's musical theatre actor. The book is a remarkably easy read -- nothing academic here -- and is a wonderful comedy in and of itself. Oliver's stories (many of them first-hand experiences) of the successes and failures in the audition process are either hysterical or heart-warming (the opening segment about how a young woman won her first broadway role brought tears to my eyes). This is a must-have for any actor in the business -- the advice on choosing and preparing material, audition protocol, and how the process really works is right on the money. I insist that my students own a copy, and for this price it's the best bargain I've seen in a long time. Buy this book.

Rating:
Summary: not too impressed
Review: I am not too impressed with this book, nor its author, Donald Oliver, with whom I had the "priviledge" of taking a series of his classes. His book, and consequently, his methods, are far too rigid; the guidelines in the book are presented to the reader as if they are the ONLY way to do an audition, and if you don't do it HIS way, you are wrong. He even provides a list of songs NOT to sing. However, I believe that a successful audition is not about following a set of rules, but rather what works for each actor. A song might be overdone, but if one can do it, and do it well, then, by all means, do the song. Additionally, Donald Oliver is a pompous, arrogent man, who "name drops" to try to impress his students, and believes that his way is the only way. Do not buy into the "rules" of this book. If you must read this book, only use it as a reference. I recommed the book "NEXT" by Steven M. Alper instead.