"I get it. We all wanna be Sutton Foster. I wanna be Sutton Foster." He's not wrong.

When I watch these videos where he's recording on his video cam, it almost feels like I'm skyping with Seth Rudetsky... Then I realize it's Seth Rudetsky.

Seth, despite the fact that I can't sing and don't know anything about theater, I like watching your videos and hearing you share your knowledge...which makes me think you must be an amazing teacher! Your successes are well deserved. Thanks for the insight and humor.

4:47 “I can’t see you when you’re up here. Who are you singing to?” *Plays Jesus Christ Superstar theme*

All of these are so accurate, but the last one really got me. I was at an audition where everyone watched, and a girl optioned DOWN the end of "I Could of Have Danced All Night" and I literally said "no" as if it was a bodily function I couldn't avoid.

"I was amazing, she sucked!" IM LAUGHING TOO HARD😂😂

That answer to "Where do I look?!" has possibly been a life saver. Last year during the rounds, I used to look directly at panel, but was told it can make them feel uncomfortable. So far, I've been picking a spot on the wall to 'talk at'. Now I'm going to look between their faces and see if I can finally get a call back this year!

The part about Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie is so accurate. I went into an audition with that song prepared and the director sighed at me when I told him which song I was singing. Not a good start to an audition

This man is my hero.

It took me a decade to find a great 16 bar cut that suited my voice really well, was obscure enough that NOBODY else sings it but not so obscure that nobody has heard of it, and is easy for the accompanist to play.

It's true we all want to be Sutton Foster

when you were looking up to the heavens and playing jesus christ superstar i lost it omfg seth you are a god

So funny. In "Bunheads" Seth gave the same advice to Sutton, told her not to sign the song from Les Mis.

That Wicked "Defying Gravity" bit made me laugh so hard!!! "You can't bring me down..." BOOOOORRRRRRRING!!!! HAHAHA!!!

“I was amazing, she sucked!” WHAT A MOOD! 😤😂

That's true we all want to be Sutton Foster.

LOVE the eye contact tip. Thanks!

My auditions have always been terrible. I wish I still had an excuse to take your class.

Ditto to Aaron's comment. Love learning about the inside workings of the theatre although I personally have no talent whatsoever in singing or acting. Thank you for sharing your remarkable insights. It makes going to the theatre all that more meaningful to those of us not in the business.

"No, I was amazing! She sucked!" So hilarious!

I wish i had done more research in some of my past auditions. I won't be making that mistake again! Thanks for the grand tips!

I have recently discovered you, Mr. Rudetsky, and please let me tell you that hardly have I found as so loving and precise know-how professional person as you are. What a wonderful teacher you are. Thanks for sharing your experience with the younger generations, and I do not say it because I actually am neither young or a student. I am a teacher of English.

i think i love you

Oh, Seth, you are so right about finding music to sing. I'm just before your time (I guess), and spent many an hour at a musical library in Lincoln Center.... going through the scores, show by show, trying to find some interesting and seldom used cuts. And auditioning AT the theaters! OMIGOSH, the memories! Walking alone onto the stage of the Winter Garden on only my 2nd day in New York, looking out at that almost empty auditorium, and then hearing Joel Grey ask me for my name. 44 years later, and I still shake at the memory of feeling "I'm home".

I love you Seth. You're so awesome. I will probably never audition for a Broadway musical but I do sing in church and your videos are a help. Thank you so much for your generous spirit.

The look on Seth's face after "and you can't bring me down" is priceless.

Thank you so much for this, especially for your succinct description of what makes a good 16-bar cut. I teach singing to young students, and it drives me nuts when a newbie comes in and says, "Oh, I'll just sing the first verse, 'cuz that's 16 bars!" I will now be directing these types to your vids.

the ending must be solid and sassafras, advice for life

Thank you thank you THANK YOU SETH! As someone who doesn't really take classes other than voice often (I don't live in NY and I don't do a ton of master classes), this is amazing!!!!!!

Thank you so much. One of the first songs I auditioned with in the early '80s was The Rose. The director (thank God also a friend) pulled me aside and told me never to sing a famous song because no matter how good I was, I'd never be as great as, for example, Bette Midler. That advice served me well over the next 20 years. By the way, thank you and James for being there morning and evening during this pandemic. Much love.

I love that you reference Brenda Braxton!!! Diva! These are all great tips for actors, Seth. Thanks for posting this. Btw, please ask young teenage girls to never sing "At Last." I don't know why so many do - other than it's a great song - but when you're 19 or 20 or 21, the phrase "At last..." is almost laughable as life is just beginning at that age. Great post, Seth.

oh forgot sorry my cousin Is Sandra Joseph performed for years as Christine in Phantom, she has motivated and encoraged Hunnah

I've probably already said this, but I'm two vodkas in, so here goes: I fuckin' love that you referenced the divine Ms. Braxton!!! I was lucky enough to crew on two shows with her and she was wonderful!! Ps: It's a year later and it still makes me laugh!

I loved you in DISASTER! :)

Not gonna lie wish I was sutton foster

You are most incredible. Just discovered your channels... and I am in "awe". You have illuminated so much to me. I am a Broadway Baby... who loves all things Broadway. And all things "hyper-pop" such as Streisand and others.. You are most wonderful...keep up the good work....

Thank you for saving me I Almost used one of these. This helped me so much.

thank you sir!! i’m a young actor and this was very helpful. my theatre teacher always told me to look above the casting directors, haha.

You're the best Seth. I have to say I've been learning to choose better songs for my brand and my voice.

thanks. its the little things that make the difference- if you got the big things of course!

I love you so much. You are so knowledgeable and you make me appreciate musical theatre more than I ever thought I could. Thanks for keeping up with these videos over the years. They are extremely helpful.

Seth, it's been YEARS since I played in your pit orchestra for 'The Apple Tree', and again with 'Company' (I think you were conducting?). Anyway, it's wonderful to see nothing has changed - you are the same amazing, passionate, crazy-wonderful person. Thank you for these audition tips. As a 'straight' actor, I used to pull the last 16 bars of 'Soliloquy' as my big voice, and 'losing my mind' as my lyric. Much love and take care!

I love Seth so much! I wish I could have gone to one of his Master Classes.

I worked with you during the S. Lazarus days- you were helpful then, you're helpful now and after years of hearing you on Sirius, is great to see your virtual reactions. Thanks for good info and laughs!

There is nothing on this earth better than Seth's theatre analysis!!!

I got that last one down I hold a high c at the end of my audition song

I love, love, love Seth and his videos. Hilarious, excellent advice, and so entertaining!

I'm watching this before my musical audition in my highschool. I'm a freshmen and I'm going for the part of pugsley addams from Addams family, this really helped.

I wonder if there is a 16 bar excerpt from Hellfire that could be used for an audition. I was able to do a full song for my last audition, and that song got me my role.

Seth: I was so entertained by this. I'm here in LA. Good for you, sir. You're amazing and you explain it all so well!

Omg how isn’t everyone on the whole world totally in love with you I could just watch your videos for hours if I didn’t have to actually do other things

i only watched 5 seconds and i'm already in love with this man

OMG - can't believe I get to see you with Kelli O'Hara tonight AND do a cruise with you, James and all next month - 2020 is lookin' good!!!!

Thanks Seth, you're a life saver!

Geez, I wish I had seen this video earlier. Totally flubbed an audition today. Flubbed, as in one of the worst in my life.

God, he's so right though! Literally when I was new to musical theatre my first audition song was in fact "Gimme, Gimme"! I absolutely killed it, but did I get the role? No i didn't.

Oh my god I love this man! I wish I had a teacher like him xD

i love the idea of singing in between casting table

I love this! Thank you so much, I will definitely use these audition tips!

Thanks for the tips and the great sense of humor.

Thank-you Uncle Seth!

I died at The Jesus Christ Superstar reference lol

Oh the song memory, I was thinking as that for my audition song

Seth. I can't get enough of ya.

Thanks Seth! Sharing with my students!

Nice tips Seth. Thank you so much.

His advice makes me go to the grocery store and belt out a few.

this was so helpful!!!! thanks so much!!!!

Thank you for the advice!!!!!

STOP LOOKING AT ME

Katherine Steele and Seth Rudetsky are literally my theatre teachers.

SETH! I have to attend your masterclass!

Does anyone have a great 16 bar cut for Finishing the Hat from Sunday in the Park with George? Or a great 16 bar audition cut by Stephen Sondheim (Not from Into the Woods or Company) that is in the range of a BariTenor?

Don't try to convert them...just sing your truth with all your heart. If they believe, they will convert...if they don't....next...and THAT'S SHOWBIZ!

good stuff--thanks Seth!

You are the absolute best

I was taught the exact opposite about the eyes.

I still love you SO MUCH!

GOD I LOVE YOU

This is really helpful

Thank you Seth for the tips. I am an 18 yearly thespian who aspires to be on broadway. My go to audition song is The Old Red Hills of Home. Is this song not overdone?

lol you are awesome! Thank you for this

Thank you so much!

I don't want to be Sutton Foster lol

Video class for us west coasters? I'd pay for video of class. Although I get other people may not want to be on tape. But I'd take you!!! Cheers from Palmer, we go way back to Mrs. Santa Clause. Love your videos!!!!!

brilliant man!!!

Really love your educated and humorous take:)))) I wish I was in NY. I USED to be a singer - just straight acting since. and I MIGHT audition for a musical and need to be prepared - it'll be original material I believe. Would you know anyone her in TORONTO who could help me out. Thank you Bruno Verdoni (imdb)

Gosh. You're hilarious and this is amazing...

"I was amazing! She sucked!" LOL

Seth Rudetsky is a national treasure! I'd pay $250 to attend a dinner party benefit at his apartment, hosted by Seth, and watch him serve wine while deconstructing Chicken Marsala.

Yes you speak truth ❤

The one downside to modern day musical theater is I cannot go to any library and find a musical score. All the libraries around me secretly hate me, too.

We ALL want to be Sutton Foster.... well at least I do. 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻😂

I’m in the unfortunate place where I am having to audition for a JRB show and my only options is really The Last Five Years from Cathy’s songs 💀✨ Meaning I’ve got Summer In Ohio which isn’t the vibe of the show. Still Hurting which is pretty overdone, Part Of That which is wonderful but hard to find a cut and also weird in my range, and then See I’m Smiling which is also hard to find a cut! Like for Sondheim, with JRB you gotta audition with a JRB show 😮‍💨

Hey Seth, I have an audition for a college show tomorrow morning and this video really helped! I know it may not be a big extravagant Broadway audition (or West End) but your tips really helped! Thank you so much :)

we hope everyone follows your advice! you are a guru!

Re: transposing. I have a huge binder of songs but can only comfortably sing a handful of them in public. What's the cheapest way to get this done? I'm assuming I have to hire a pianist with the right software to play them and the computer magically makes them right? Is that the way it's done?

love you Seth! OX

Hi Mr Rudetsky, thanks very much for these valuable tips. Question--if there are two dates for an audition, is there a clear benefit for showing up for one or the other? How about for being one of the first of the day vs one of the last? Also, do you chop the song all up to get that beginning, middle, and big finish all in there, or just start near the end? Could I see an example of a good cut?

That looking above people's heads thing bothers the hell out of me, but aaaaall vocal teachers and coaches are agressively militant about that, to the point where even singing colleagues will scold me for not doing it