Top vocal coach Claire Delaney shares her top tips on how to prepare for a Mamma Mia! audition. 

It’s one of the most successful musicals of all time and has been watched by 65 million theatregoers around the world.

And it’s packed with cracking, feel-good songs like Lay Your Love on Me, Thank You For The Music and Money, Money, Money.

So, when the chance to audition for a leading role in Mamma Mia! arises, performers need to be ready.

But what’s the best way to prepare for a Mamma Mia! audition? We put that question to Claire Delaney, a vocal coach who spent several months last year working in Corfu on the ITV show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.

The programme was a talent search to find two performers to play the characters Sky and Sophie in the West End production of the show.

Here are Claire’s three top tips for wowing the judging panel.

1 Do your research before choosing repertoire

“The key to any audition is to do your background development on the character you’re going for,” Claire says.

“From that knowledge, you can pick an appropriate song with lyrics that make sense for the character – that’s where the magic is.

“It shows the panel that you’ve thought about the character instead of just picking something from your repertoire that allows you to show off your vocals and have a bop.

“Go for it from a character and storytelling point of view. Link up with the emotion and situation of the character. As with any musical, storytelling is a must.”

2 Learn vibrato and straight-tone

What role should vibrato play in a musical theatre performance? It’s a question that divides opinion. But rather than taking sides in the vibrato-versus-straight-tone debate, Claire suggests singers learn both so that they have options when performing.

“I personally love vibrato because it adds colour and a feeling of release in the voice. But at the same time straight-tone is preferred by lots of people.

“It’s important to develop both aspects – straight tone and vibrato – to give yourself options in the vocals.

“But don’t bog yourself down with it because we all offer something different. It does come to personal style; be authentic, and you will find your people.”

3 Take the job seriously, but not yourself

“While you should always take a job seriously, the key [with Mamma Mia!] is not to take yourself seriously and to see the joy that pops up in all those moments. It’s not Shakespeare, it’s pure entertainment.”

Learn more

Listen to the full-length interview on the Singing Teachers Talk podcast to learn:

• How Claire landed her job on Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream.
• How to develop contacts in musical theatre and TV.