What Am I Doin' (From "Closer than Ever"): Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection gives singers access to beautifully transcribed material in a format designed specifically for audition preparation and performance. The inclusion of 16-bar cut suggestions and audition-specific guidance transforms these songs into a practical study tool, not just a repertoire book. Because each song is presented in its original key with authentic voicings, singers can approach their auditions with the confidence that comes from using legitimate theatrical transcriptions.

These songs live in intimate, introspective emotional territory. They ask singers to sit with complexity and contradiction—to find humor in awkwardness, resilience in disappointment, and humanity in characters facing uncertainty. The music supports vulnerability while never abandoning theatrical sophistication.

This collection serves both aspiring singers preparing for auditions and experienced performers building a refined audition book. It's equally valuable for voice students studying the demands of contemporary musical theatre and for performers seeking material that showcases emotional depth and character specificity.

• Consult the 16-bar cut suggestions before preparing an audition version, but trust your own instincts about where to start and stop within those guidelines. Sometimes the most compelling version is a bar or two outside the suggested window.
• Pay attention to the chord symbols as harmonic anchors. They reveal voice leading choices that can guide your phrasing and breath placement, especially in less obviously melodic passages.
• Read through the historical and contextual notes provided in the collection before performing. Understanding the character's circumstances and the show's dramatic context deepens your ability to convey intention rather than simply deliver a vocal.
• Work with a pianist who can handle the accompaniment confidently; these transcriptions preserve the sophistication of the original orchestrations, and they deserve clean, supported playing.

Select songs from this collection for audition prep, vocal recital programming, or showcase performances where contemporary musical theatre material is appropriate. The variety of shows represented means you can pair pieces strategically to contrast moods and vocal qualities, or program songs from a single show to build a cohesive narrative arc.

• Interpreting character-driven material with emotional authenticity
• Reading and executing piano-vocal score notation
• Managing contemporary vocal demands including range and agility in character-appropriate context
• Identifying and refining 16-bar audition cuts within a complete song
• Understanding theatrical context and how it shapes interpretive choices