Grease: Audition Tips

As I'm preparing students for auditions like this one, I like to keep track of the tips and resources I share with them so that others can benefit and give their very best on the day. I'll update this with new tools and thoughts leading up to the audition. Here we go!

Update: Audition Information Is Out

Grease

Audition Date: 6 August

Performance Dates: December 2022

Produced By: Sprouting Rice Productions, at Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton, NZ.

Book Your Audition: Audition Facebook Page

Since its electric Broadway and West End debut in the early 1970’s, GREASE has remained one of the world’s most popular and enduring musicals.

Funny, frank and featuring the hit songs “Greased Lightnin’,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “You’re The One That I Want,” and “Summer Nights,” GREASE follows the journey of Danny and Sandy, alongside the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, as they navigate high school to the unforgettable rock n’ roll soundtrack that defined generations.

Audition Tips:

As always, read the audition information and instructions carefully and prepare what you have been asked for by the audition panel.

In this case full audition information hasn't been released yet, so audition requirements are not completely clear. A good plan is to have a song from the musical theatre genre in the style of the show ready to go. Think 60's style songs with a motown inflection, or high-school romance/comedy subject matter.

You don't know if they'll ask for a song from the show (and they may well ask for anything but a song from the show!). Having a selection that you love, know inside out and really own is preferable to quickly brushing up on something unfamiliar from the show itself and leaving a lukewarm performance. I'll include examples of songs in the style of grease below to give an idea.

Show References

• Listen to the most recent  Broadway Cast Album (Youtube) as the songs and arrangements will differ from the film
• Watch the classic film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John for a reminder of the style and spirit of the story. Be aware there will be differences between the film and the theatre show. 

Shows with songs in the style of Grease

• Hairspray
• The Buddy Holly Story
• All Shook Up
• Bye Bye Birdie
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Jersey Boys
• Memphis

General Observations 

• Kyle Chuen is the director for this production. You should get along and see the show he is currently working on That Bloody Woman, an original NZ Punk Rock Musical about Kate Shappard and the fight for suffage and women's rights. It will be well worth it and a great chance to get a sense of his style!