How to Get the Lead in the School Musical

Check the song requirements for the audition. There's a good chance that they'll ask you to sing a pre-requested song from the show, maybe you'll be asked to sing whatever shows your best abilities. For most shows, it's the exact opposite. Whatever you're asked to do, follow the requirements.

Know your own voice. For females, a soprano hits the highest notes (a relatively common range), an alto hits the middle notes (the most common female range), and baritones hit the lowest notes (a less common range). Some people have very limited ranges, and some have very extensive ranges. For males, tenors hit the highest notes, baritones hit the middle notes, basses hit the lowest notes, and, rarest of all, countertenors can reach well into a female range. When determining your voice range, choose whatever feels the most comfortable for you to sing loudly (belt/chest voice) without hurting yourself. Oftentimes, a skilled voice teacher can help you analyze what your voice part is.

Find out if the character you want has a matching voice part. Also, if you're not a music buff and are still unsure about if you and the character have compatible voice parts, try to sing the songs from the production online with a recording in the same key and see if you can hit all of the notes in the same way that the original singer did. And, even if you can't hit that low G in that same rich quality as the original Broadway singer did, don't get discouraged- This could be partially because of range or partially because of a lack of training in that area.

Unless you're asked to, don't sing a song from the show. That is considered theatrical suicide and shows desperation for a certain role, which just shows the directors that you have a lack of experience. Other unspoken no-nos are Happy Birthday, any nursery rhymes, and rap (unless your desired character has songs that resemble works by Nicki Minaj or Eminem).

Look through a theatre anthology/collection and choose something you can easily memorize or learn quickly. Also, don't skimp on acting in the song! It is recommended that you do not use props, however.

Dress for success! It sounds cheesy, but dress up in something that makes you feel confident, and reflect the character if at all possible. If you choose to do this, however, don't go overboard. If you're auditioning for the role of a farmer, it's usually better to look rather tired and a little bit messy rather than full-on overalls and a straw hat. Directors are looking for acting talent, not cosplaying talent. Make sure your outfit is modest and does not display any controversial or adult messages (such as political slogans). It's better to dress up than dress down, and the bare minimum you should go for is jeans and a (CLEAN) tee shirt.

Keep hydrated! Many actors get dehydrated before an audition and can't sing to the best of their abilities. Also, make sure you're well-rested and study your material before you enter the audition room.

Be respectful! If you disrespect the panel you're auditioning for, they might disregard your audition altogether and not assign you a role. Be kind and control your emotions until you're done with the audition. Also, this will show self-control, which directors always like in their leads.

Be friendly! This goes with being respectful, but in addition to that, leaving a good impression on the directors never hurts. However, be careful with small talk. Some directors appreciate it, and some see it as a waste of time. A simple "Hi, how are you?" exchange before you start your audition is a good tradeoff.

Follow the rules of acting! Articulate, enunciate, read clearly and slowly, with character behind the lines. Remember, you're auditioning for a role that you'll have to portray. You have to become that person on-stage. Unless you're trying to communicate directly with the audience, you have to ignore the fact that they're there. Don't let them distract you; the theatre term for this is to "Build the Fourth Wall."