In my previous post, I shared some tips I’ve picked up from Broadway actors, music directors and casting agents on how to choose five songs that will be right for almost any audition. You’ll never again have to scramble to learn a song at the last minute! (If you missed it, you can read it here.)

So what’s next? In each of those five songs, you’re expected to show your best singing and acting by cutting each one down from its original length to what seems like a nanosecond. Let’s talk about how to condense that great song into a great cut.