How to Act a Song for Musical Theatre Auditions
Step-by-step guide to performing your audition piece with confidence and authenticity
Preparing your audition song isn’t just about singing the right notes — it’s about telling a story that connects. Whether you’re auditioning for a regional musical, a Broadway workshop, or submitting self-tapes online, learning how to analyze and act a song can completely transform your performance.
In this post, we’ll break down the exact steps I use with my clients to help them show up confident, prepared, and connected every single time.
1. Get Organized Before You Start
The first step to any great audition is preparation. Gather your materials early so you’re not stressed the night before.
Make sure you have:
The correct sheet music (in your key)
Cleanly marked start and end cuts
A printed copy or iPad setup ready for rehearsal (I personally prefer iPad for all songs and sides now)
Getting organized ahead of time frees up your energy to focus on the acting and emotional work that makes your song come alive.
2. Mark Your Score Like an Actor
Don’t just look at the notes — look at the story.
Highlight lyrics, notations, and emotional shifts. Use colors to track energy changes or key moments.
If you’re working digitally, apps like Notability or forScore make it easy to annotate your score and stay organized across projects.
I have been using Notability since I went to grad school for my MFA in Musical Theatre.
3. Understand the Musical Storytelling
Pay attention to musical directions like freely, with urgency, or build. These are emotional cues that guide your acting beats.
Even if you don’t read music fluently, learning where the tempo or key changes helps you understand what your character is feeling.
4. Speak the Lyrics as a Monologue
This is my favorite exercise to help performers explore the acting of their song through a different lens.
Take the melody out completely and speak your lyrics like a monologue.
Ask yourself:
Who am I talking to?
What do I want from them?
What happened right before this moment?
You’ll start to discover the emotional truth behind every phrase and your performance will immediately feel more grounded and honest.
🎶 Want help choosing songs that actually fit your voice, type, and goals? Download my free Audition Book Blueprint — it walks you through how to build or refresh your book with songs that tell your story and get you noticed.
👉 Get the Free Audition Book Blueprint
5. Combine Acting and Music
Now that you’ve found your emotional beats, bring the song back.
Sing through it with your new discoveries in mind — no overthinking, just honest connection.
Remember, the goal isn’t to show off. It’s to make the casting team feel something.
6. Bonus: Film Yourself and Review
Self-tapes have made video playback one of your best teachers. Record your run-throughs, watch them back, and take notes.
Look for:
Moments that feel forced or disconnected
Sections that aren’t grounded and rooted in truth
Energy dips in storytelling
You’ll be amazed at how quickly your work evolves when you start treating rehearsal like self-direction.
🎬 Ready to make your next self-tape look professional from home? Grab my free Self-Tape Guide — I’ll show you how to set up your space, nail your framing, and deliver a performance that stands out.
👉 Download the Free Self-Tape Guide
Watch Next: How to Choose the Right Audition Song
Final Thoughts
Acting your audition song is about honesty, clarity, and connection.
It’s not about perfection — it’s about presence.
If you’re ready to refine your materials, choose new audition songs, or rebuild your confidence before your next big callback, I can help.
👉 Book a 1:1 coaching session to get personalized guidance on your song analysis, self-tapes, and performer mindset.
Ashlee Espinosa, MFA is a professional actress and career coach helping performers and artist-entrepreneurs build bold, burnout-free creative careers onstage and off. With two decades of experience and a unique bi-coastal perspective, Ashlee blends mindset, marketing, and business strategy to help multi-hyphenate artists grow their visibility and income without sacrificing their well-being. Through 1:1 coaching, free weekly resources, and digital tools, she helps creatives design careers that feel as good as they look — and pay them well too.
Want to keep this conversation going? Every Tuesday, I send my best strategies straight to your inbox — no fluff, just the tools and real talk you need to grow your creative career with clarity, confidence, and joy.
