(Applause Books). "I am your accompanist. You do not know me. I am the guy who sits behind the upright in the unflattering fluorescent light of the dance studio, a bottle of water on the floor, a half-eaten Power Bar on the bench, and your audition in my hands." Award-winning New York theatre composer and pianist Andrew Gerle pulls no punches in this irreverent, fly-on-the-wall guide to everything you've never been taught about auditioning for musical theatre. From the unique perspective of the pianist's bench, he demystifies the audition process, from how to put together your book and speak...

(Applause Books). Music theory has an unfair reputation as an arcane, complicated subject. But it can be easy to learn and beneficial for a successful career in singing. In Music Essentials for Singers and Actors, award-winning composer Andrew Gerle offers an accessible presentation, conveying an in-depth, practical method for learning the fundamentals of music theory and sight singing for aspiring and working singers alike. Gerle leads readers step by step through every aspect of written music, using examples pulled entirely from real-world Broadway scores. He delves deeply into each...