What's the Tea, MD? | Podcast on RSS.com

What's the Tea, MD?

What's the Tea, MD?

by Delano Mendoza & Margo Mikkelson

Performing Arts Music

Season 1

Choosing an Effective Audition Cut

The audition notice says 16 bars. But which 16 bars make sense? What does the casting panel want to see? Crafting an audition cut can be fun when you have some good starting points. Join Delano and Margo for a hot cuppa as they share their tips on creating a cut that is both authentic and captivating. It's tea time! Follow our IG (@whatistheteamd) and subscribe to the podcast to stay up to date with the latest.

Winning Behaviors in the Rehearsal Room

It's all about the vibes. And in a rehearsal room, there are behaviors that make the vibes ELECTRIC, and actions that bring the whole mood down. The way we show up - from the production team to the cast and everyone in between - can make a huge difference in how the rehearsal process goes. Tea time is nigh! Grab a cuppa and settle in; we're ready to spill. Subscribe to the pod and follow us on Instagram (@whatistheteamd) to stay up to date with our latest episodes.

Acting the Song: Whose Job Is It Anyway?

Some might say that working on acting the song is exclusively the director's job. But what about all of the details in the music that inform the story? And doesn't the story inform the vocal choices to be made? Oooh, there's a lot to break down here. Do you have your tea? Ours is ready, and it's time to spill. Don't forget to subscribe to the pod and follow our instagram: @whatistheteamd

Singing the Ink

Sheet music can be a gold mine for the singing actor, providing a map for the character's journey. So how do we find these clues? How important is it to sing EXACTLY what's written? When is there room for freedom? Answers coming your way. The kettle is hot. Tea time is here! Follow the podcast to stay up to date with our latest episodes!

Building an Audition Book That Makes Sense

Smaller audition books are all the rage! Who has time to shuffle through 30 songs that haven't been touched since senior recital to find the perfect audition piece? Focusing on who YOU are as a person and artist will help you find the best material - you will SHINE! Join Margo and Delano as they discuss ways to build an efficient, concise, and compelling audition book that shows the best of you. You'll be on your way to building the perfect book, and we'll be sipping our tea! Don't forget to follow the pod to stay up to date with our latest episodes.

The Ensemble Sound (Pt 2) - Technical Skills

Let's get in the weeds. How do we help the ensemble discover and portray the story behind the pitches on the page? Teaching notes alone isn't enough. Our duty is to develop and arm our casts with as many tools as we can to empower them to go further. That starts with US. Some useful ideas, tools, and food for thought coming your way. It's tea time.

The Ensemble Sound (Pt 1) - Leadership

Most music directors GUSH over a tight, clean ensemble sound. So what goes into making that happen? Before we get in the weeds over the technical aspects of teaching and directing the ensemble, we gotta talk about leadership. We work with humans, not machines, and that should be the heart of everything we do. Have a seat, grab some tea, and let's chat.

To Belt or Not to Belt, That is the Question!

Let's BELT. Or, maybe not? Should I belt this song? Do I need to belt in every audition? We're in an age where musical theatre continues to be written higher and higher, and they want it LOUD. So, does that mean we need to belt everything? There is nuance, and we're here to spill the tea. Subscribe to stay up to date with our latest episodes!

Top 5 Audition Mistakes

We want actors to SUCCEED! Auditioning can be scary, we know. Listen as we uncover some of the most common mistakes we see actors make and provide strategies to improve them. Don't worry, we also share our most embarrassing audition moments. Subscribe to the pod to stay up to date with our latest episodes!