Sundays: 

7/20 12-2

7/27 12-2

8/3 12-2

Age requirements

This is an adult course. If you are a motivated younger adult (13 and above), please reach out

and we’ll see if it’s a fit!

Musical Theatre Auditioning Workshop

Taught by Ella Mae Dixon

About the course:

In this course, students will develop and strengthen their Musical Theatre auditioning skills. In

addition to the practical knowledge of preparing one’s audition “book,” this course will explore

repertoire building, managing audition anxiety, storytelling tools, and the creative side of

preparing an audition. With a focus on peer-to-peer learning, this course will have you

performing in front of a built in audience of your peers. By the end of this workshop, you will

have a ready-to-go audition book with properly marked sheet music, a variety of audition cuts,

and an appropriately formatted resume. The course will culminate in a “mock audition” where

students will practice audition skills in a supportive, stress free environment. This workshop is all

about getting up on your feet, building your confidence, and preparing you for the real

experience of auditioning in Musical Theatre.

We will cover:

● The 32 and 16 bar cut

● Marking your music for the audition session pianist

● Formatting your theatrical resume and headshot

● Building your audition book with various styles and genres

● Repertoire recommendations

● Making strong acting choices

● Self tapes

● Connecting to the lyric

● Finding the emotional arc of your audition cut

About Ella Mae

Ella Mae Dixon is a New York City based performer. In her career as a singer, Ella Mae has

headlined some of New York City's most prestigious nightclubs. For her debut at Birdland Jazz

Club at just 19 years old, Ella Mae was hailed by New York critics as a “prodigy” with a

“genuinely special gift,” [Stephen Mosher, Broadway World]. Her most recent headlining concert

at the esteemed 54 Below was described as “flawless” by critic Andrew Poretz of Theater

Pizzazz. Ella Mae has been a guest artist with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra, sold out

concert venues in Massachusetts and California, and has cut her debut album set to release in

the fall of 2025.

Ella Mae studied musical theatre privately with Broadway performer Brian Russell Carey and

IVA trained educator Jack Shapiro. She studied acting with Israel Scott and script analysis with

playwright Kenny Finkle. Ella Mae continues to study jazz (Nancy Marano, Veronica Swift),

classical voice (Jane Olian, Donna Gill) and the art of cabaret (under the mentorship of living

legend Marilyn Maye). In addition to her private studies, Ella Mae was a student of the Juilliard

School’s Extension Program with a focus on classical voice. Ella Mae was a Massachusetts

State finalist in the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition. She

participated in the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild’s Winter Festival in Tennesse

Williams’ The Purification and Naomi Iizuka’s Polaroid Stories.

Students will need:

Three ring binder

Binder dividers

*For the first class, students should bring printed copies of two to three audition cuts of any style

(if you’ve auditioned before, bring in a song you’ve auditioned with!)