USC SCHOOL OF THEATRE
THEATRE 343 – MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION
••SYLLABUS • •
UNITS:3TIME 2:00 – 3:50 PM
SESSION:Fall 2012DAYS: Mon. / Wed.
INSTRUCTOR:John RubinsteinCLASSROOM:MCC 106
TELEPHONE:(818) 419-5560OFFICE HOURS:Schedule in advance
EMAIL:,
ACCOMPANIST: Michael Alfera
TELEPHONE:(561) 339-5668
EMAIL:
FINAL EXAM: Friday, December14, 2-4 PM in the MCC THEATRE
Course Description:
A performance class in which actors work on choosing, preparing, and performing musical theatre songs for use in auditions. Emphasis is on singing, acting and presentation, as well as additional discussion about repertoire, casting calls, technical musicianship, use and preparation of sheet music, wardrobe, resumés, publicity photographs, and other elements involved in auditioning.
In class, the students will work on and develop their performance skills; outside of class, they will broaden their knowledge and awareness of the musical theatre literature to find songs that they enjoy singing, and which allow them best to demonstrate and display their particular talents and strengths. They will also be asked to write a review of a show that they attend during the current semester.
Goals and Objectives:
The main objective of this class is to give the students a positive and confident approach to obtaining work as performers in the musical theatre. At the end of the semester, the students will have at least two songs which they feel confident enough to audition with professionally. In addition, they will have developed the scope of their preparation, so that they are ready to take on new musical assignments with knowledge and assurance in their college and professional lives.
Textbooks and Materials:
Good sources, other than the Library, for the sheet music you will need for research and for your audition songs:
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Baxter-Northup Music
14534 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks 91403
(818) 788-7510
musicnotes.com
Hollywood Sheet Music
(located inside Hollywood Piano)
1033 N. Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505
hollywoodsheetmusic.com
(818) 567-4338
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REQUIRED reading and reference:
Kiechle, Suzanne. The Keys to Vocal Freedom.
Markwin Press, Silver Springs, NV, 2008(paperback) $29.95
to order via mail:
Markwin Press
Post Office Box 1143
Silver Springs, NV 89429
to order via telephone:
(775) 577-0676
to order online:
RECOMMENDED additional reading and reference:
Sondheim, Stephen.Finishing the Hat.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010
Sondheim, Stephen.Look, I Made A Hat.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2011
Hunt, Gordon.How to Audition: A Casting Director’s Guide for Actors.
Dramatic Publishing, 1977
Green, Stanley. The World of Musical Comedy.
A. S. Barnes, New York, 1981(hardback)
Da Capo Press, New York, 1984 (paperback)
Silverberg, Larry. Loving To Audition.
Smith and Kraus, Lyme, NH, 1997
Grading:
The grades will be based on a combination of performance in class, written assignment(s), and preparation and study outside of class:
• the degree of participation, and the energy in and commitment to the performance work
in class (45%)
• the amount and quality of preparation outside of class (10%)
• the consistency of class attendance (5%)
• the mid-term exercise, which will be announced during the first half of the semester. (15%)
• the written review of a musical production seen during the current semester (10%)
• the final exam, an audition for a specific role in a musical (15%)
Attendance, Lateness, and Absences:
Each student is encouraged to attend every single class from start to finish.
However, a maximum of three “excused absences”, where the student has, beforehand, requested an absence from class on a specific date for a particular reason, and the instructor has granted that absence, will be allowed. No unexcused absences will be allowed.
Each student is expected to arrive in class on time, and to be ready to work at the start of class. However, a maximum of three “excused latenesses”, where the student has, beforehand, requested to be late to, or leave early from, class on a specific date for a particular reason, and the instructor has granted that lateness or early departure, will be allowed. No unexcused (or not previously cleared) latenesses will be granted.
NOTE: the above notwithstanding, the maximum combined number of “excused latenesses” and “excused absences” will total four only!
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Academic Integrity:
Dishonesty in any form harms the individual, other students, and the School of Theatre. Therefore, USC policies on academic integrity will be enforced in this course. Papers suspected of containing plagiarized material (the unacknowledged or inappropriate use of another’s ideas, wording, or images) will be verified for authenticity by the School of Theatre through Internet services.
I expect you to familiarize yourself with the academic integrity guidelines found in the current SCampus (
Disability Services:
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301, and is open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
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