Musical Audition Workshop with Instructor Debbie Collins
- chelseabmcfadden
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Instructor:
Debbie Collins
Details:
Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 12-4 pm
(4 hours)
Out-of-class preparation is required.
For ages 16 and up.
Maximum 12 participants.
Location:
Town Hall, Cookstown
Cost: FREE
(Register by October 1, 2025 – Registration instructions below)
About the Workshop:
My name is Debbie Collins, and I will be coaching this musical audition workshop. I have been in musical theatre for my career of 40-plus years and am eager to share my experience and stories (both good and disastrous!) with those wishing to participate.
Participants are asked to prepare or begin working on two contrasting pieces. Examples of contrasting pieces would be a ballad and an up-tempo, or classic musical theatre and pop music, or different periods of music eg. 50’s and current, or classical/opera and anything else!
The participants will be asked to then present their work-in-progress pieces in a very non-judgmental and safe space. We are all learning here and learning from watching each other. The participants should have their own musical accompaniment, as an accompanist will not be provided. Tracks are available online for just about any song imaginable. We will have a Bluetooth speaker to connect to for amplification. After presenting their pieces, the instructor will give feedback and have a dialogue with the participant about their piece. Suggestions may be given at this time, and the participant will have time to think about and process these suggestions. The process will be repeated for the second musical choice. After feedback and suggestions, the participant will be asked to present their pieces again.
This is intended to be an informative workshop environment, and perfectly polished pieces are not expected. We are all learning here, and I always walk away from these workshops learning more than the students! So, thank you! My intention is to have fun and enjoy learning from each other. You will find that I am a very supportive audience, and I already love what you have to showcase! We have like-minded interests, so let’s celebrate music and musical theatre!
To Register:
For more information, and to register your interest, please contact Leslie
at Education@TheSouthSimcoeTheatre.com. Please indicate your intent to register, and include your name and phone number.
Meet Debbie Collins
What an honour to be asked to do a musical theatre audition workshop for The South Simcoe Theatre! I am so looking forward to watching and being entertained by the talented future stars. I would like all the performers to know that I already love what they are doing, we are like-minded, and singing, dancing and acting are the things I love best. My hope is that I can give you some tips, or guidance from the experience I have been lucky enough to obtain over the years.
I started performing as a dancer in show bands. Dance is where I got most of my formal training. I studied piano and played trombone throughout junior high and high school and was involved in all things musical and theatrical in school. I have always loved to sing. When I landed a role in “A Chorus Line” at the Limelight Dinner Theatre in Toronto, I was thrilled that I had the opportunity to sing and dance and act all at the same time! I decided that Musical Theatre would be my life.
I have done many musicals in my career, 42nd Street, Gypsy, The Producers, Sound of Music, Oliver, Jolson, Nunsense, Annie, Man of LaMancha, Lucky Stiff, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kiss Me Kate, Menopositive, Midlife-The Crisis Musical, The Judy Garland Story, How to Succeed in Show-Biz Without Really Trying, Mixed Doubles, The World Goes ‘Round, Church Basement Ladies, Saturday Night Fever US and Canadian tour, Canadian Armed Forces tours to Germany, Holland, Israel, Cyprus, Alert, Yellowknife, Inuvik and The Queen Charlotte Islands and 20+ Christmas Panto musical productions. . . to name a few. . .
Presently, I am transitioning to performing in more plays. Norm Foster, Kristin DaSilva, and Michelle Riml are Canadian playwrights whose works I have had the privilege of doing. I am also getting into writing myself and co-wrote and performed in Myrtle Mysteries last summer for the Stirling Festival Theatre. I also co-wrote the Panto Cinderella. . .If the Shoe Fits, Sleeping Beauty. . . A Fairy’s Tale, for Theatre Orangeville, and am working on Rapunzel. . . A Braid New World for this coming Christmas season.
Oh yes, I have also directed several musicals, and choreographed as well. . .
But I think you get the picture; I’ve been around a long time and have had wonderful experiences performing and being involved in theatre. My hope is that I can help future performers in any way I can. I am looking forward to working with fellow music lovers! Until then!
Sincerely,
Debbie Collins
