Back-Pocket Necessities for the 13-18 Musical Theatre Female

Written by Alexandra Muscaro

December 19, 2017

There are countless moments throughout the life of a performer when out of nowhere they will be asked by a director to sing a completely different song than the one they originally prepared. In these situations, the performer must pull a random song out of their “back-pocket.” And a director could honestly ask for a range of different genres. The actors who are prepared for this kind of situation are at a much higher advantage than those who let the surprise get to them. But what are these genres and what types of songs do I need? Don’t worry! We have compiled some of the most useful music materials selected just for you from our collections!

1. The 16-Bar Cut Golden Age



Now the staple piece of any performer’s book is the 16-bar cut Golden Age. Not only does this song showcase a more classical side to a performer, but it also shows the director your versatility!

Our top pick for this back-pocket necessity is “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Nice Work If You Can Get It. Now this song is from the Tin Pan Alley days of Broadway, where composers (like the Gershwin’s who wrote this song) would write songs that could stand alone as hit singles and then be incorporated into a musical. Therefore, this song throughout its history has been performed in many different styles (ballad soprano, up-tempo alto jazzy, etc.) so a performer could raise and lower the key to their heart’s content without having to worry about making the song “too different” from the original.

Get the music here.

2. The 16-Bar Cut Contemporary



The second back-pocket necessity to always have prepared is a 16-bar cut Contemporary. Per theatre historians, “contemporary” is arguably any musical after Hair, so this is the chance to have fun and to bring a bit of yourself into the character.

Our top pick for this back-pocket necessity is “Live Out Loud” from A Little Princess. Not only does the song fit perfectly into your age range, but it also offers a performer an amazing chance to showcase some serious acting chops in only 16-bars.

Get the music here.

3. The 32-Bar Cut Golden Age



The third back-pocket necessity is a 32-bar cut Golden Age. Now, this song could always simply be an additional 16 bars to the previous Golden Age mentioned. But these additional 16-bars offer wiggle room to tell more of a story; therefore, we suggest that the performer uses this opportunity to explore a different song.

Our top pick for this back-pocket necessity is “If I Were A Bell” from Guys and Dolls. This song is perfect for showing your range while also giving you the perfect vehicle to show off your acting skills. This song can be belted, mixed, or even sung purely head voiced. The best part of this song is the opportunity to make it your own!

Get the music here.

4. The 32-Bar Cut Contemporary



Next on our back-pocket necessities list is the 32-bar cut contemporary. As previously mentioned, this can be a continuation of your 16-bar cut contemporary, but the opportunity to tell even more of a story is irresistible! Therefore, we suggest you make the most of those extra 16 bars.

Our top pick for this back-pocket necessity is “Journey to the Past” From Anastasia. This song gives you the chance to show a different, more vulnerable side of yourself. And while it can be extremely difficult to find ballads that fit your age range, this song is a perfect match!

Get the music here.

5. A Full Length Song You Love to Sing


Last and possibly the most important back-pocket necessity is a song that you love to sing! This is the song that lights up your eyes. You can sing it backwards and forwards the song is so much a part of you. And most importantly, you have fun singing it. There is nothing a director loves more than to see a performer truly enjoy and love the song they are singing. Also, this is your go-to song whenever someone asks to hear you sing because odds are this song showcases your voice better than anything else.

Because this back-pocket necessity is so unique to you, we can’t tell you what song you should love. But we can give you the link to our entire catalogue of full-length sheet music to start you on your path of discovery!

Explore our full length sheet music selection here.


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Alexandra Muscaro is from Tampa, Florida, and moved to New York to follow her dreams. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts with a dual concentration in Performance as well as Theatre History and Performance Texts with a Minor in Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College. When she’s not rehearsing, dramaturging a developing play, or studying for theatre history, you will find her at the Metropolitan Museum of Art…specifically the Egyptian exhibit. Or check your local coffee shop and you may find her with her nose in a book. You can visit her website at alexandramuscaro.com.