He just can’t wait to be king! 10-year-old Davis Matthews is currently living his dream as Young Simba in The Lion King on Broadway. Davis has loved singing and dancing since he was four years old, and by age six, he was already performing on professional stages. He was inspired by his mom, who is also his acting coach, to take the leap into the spotlight. Like Davis says, “if I did it, you can do it too!” To follow in his footsteps for the 2026 season, young performers need to master the three Ps: practice, preparation, and presentation. These Audition Preparation Tips 2026 will help any child ace their upcoming musical theater auditions.
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Become a Nerve Ninja
It is totally normal for kids to feel stage fright or have butterflies in their stomach when they step out of their comfort zone to perform. To keep those nerves from affecting a song, young actors can use a simple breathing trick to stay calm. They should stand tall, roll their shoulders back, and breathe in slowly for six seconds, hold it for three, and let it out for another six. Repeating this three times helps the body feel relaxed and ready to perform.
Performers can also use a mantra or pep talk, such as repeating the phrase “I’m ready, and I belong here,” to feel focused before entering the audition room. Controlling the breath and staying confident helps you stay in control of your mind and surroundings.
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Show Excitement when saying Hello!
In musical theatre, the first impression is everything because judges start sizing up a performer the moment they walk through the door. The slate is when a child introduces themselves and their song. To look like a pro, they should imagine a string pulling them up from the top of their head, keeping their posture tall and confident.
It is important to look the judges in the eye and give them a big, friendly smile so they know the performer is happy to be here. Children should speak slowly and clearly when saying their name and the title of their piece. Staying professional and positive makes the judges feel your energy immediately. A great smile and good body language are the best ways to be remembered as someone who is easy to work with.
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Make Your Home A Studio
Many auditions are held by submitting a short video or a self-recorded performance. To make a great video, kids need a quiet and safe place at home where they will not be interrupted. While it’s not always easy to get professional equipment, some good speakers and ring lights would do the job.
Practice and record yourself so you can review them repeatedly to identify areas for improvement. Once you are satisfied with the performance, make the final recording before sending it to the judges. It is handy advice to keep a water bottle, a hairbrush, and a music sheet nearby for rapid retakes. Even if it’s not a video audition,
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Be A Great Student
The best Audition Preparation Tips 2026 is to be a great student. Lifelong learners continue to gain wisdom with every success and failure. While not every young artist will be selected for a theater performance, children should learn from the experience and continue refining their art. Judges love to see if a student is teachable and able to take feedback. This means they can listen to a director’s advice and try a song in a new way with a different emotion or intention. If a child forgets a word or the pianist plays a bit differently than they expected, they should just breeze over it and keep going with a smile. They should never stop the performance to apologize or make excuses for a mistake.
Staying positive and demonstrating that you can handle changes on the fly shows the casting team that you are a resilient performer. Being friendly and respectful to everyone in the room shows you have the right attitude for a professional show.
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Maintain a Healthy Star Routine at Home
An artist is always practicing, as practice makes us perfect. To maintain good vocals and body posture, kids should make practice at home a habit before auditions.
Start with a two-week practice routine and increase the time as your audition date approaches. Create a daily routine that includes vocal warm-ups, such as scales and siren sounds. Practice reading monologues and dance moves. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day to stay hydrated. Try warm water with lemon and honey to help soothe a sore throat. Consistency and repetition are the real secrets to becoming a stage star like Davis Matthews.
Join the Triple Promise Success Story!
The Triple Promise Academy for the Performing Arts is the perfect place to help children reach their goals! We routinely offer Audition Prep Classes for children who wish to become part of our musical and non-musical theater programs. These prep classes are also useful for children who wish to perform at their schools or in other theater programs across the country.
Our lead instructor and founding artistic director Jill Hudson, has been coaching young stars for over a decade. Our program has a hard-to-beat record of success. Every single student coached by Jill and our faculty has been accepted into at least one of their top-choice schools! We teach your child everything they need to know about theater performance, including how to pick the perfect monologue, understand their character, and stage movement.
Make Your Broadway Dreams Come True
Following the above Audition Preparation Tips 2026 can help your child build lasting confidence and resilience for the rest of their life. Whether they are just starting out or looking to land a dream role like Young Simba, the right training makes all the difference. Triple Promise helps students find their unique voice and prepare for a high audition success rate.
Support your child in taking their first step into the world of public speaking. Triple Promise is the right place to nurture their natural talent. For more information on the best musical theater classes for kids in NYC and the best audition prep classes for children and teens, please contact Triple Promise Academy for the Performing Arts at info@triplepromise.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most helpful Audition Preparation Tips 2026 for new actors?
The most helpful tips are to practice every day to build strong habits, stay hydrated with plenty of water, and choose a song that fits your vocal range and personality. You should also be a good student, introduce yourself with a big smile, and feel confident.
How does Triple Promise Academy help kids get into musical theater?
Triple Promise provides expert coaching in monologue selection, character development, vocals, singing, dancing, and professional etiquette. According to our history, 100% of the students coached by Jill Hudson and our faculty have gained admission to at least one of their top-choice performing arts schools, while also being part of Triple Promise musical and non-musical theater productions.
How long should a child’s audition song be for a musical theater performance?
In most cases, judges want to hear about 16 bars of a song or a piece that lasts between one and two minutes. It is very important to time the performance at home so the child does not exceed the time limit, as this can sometimes annoy the judges.