Don’t write off this classic: Finian’s Rainbow is actually one of the more subversive slices of American musical theatre. Finian moves to the “Missitucky” from Ireland with his daughters to bury a stolen pot of gold. Inevitably, they are followed by a leprechaun. Hijinks ensue, and of course the daughters find love. However, one of the most intriguing subplots concerns the racist Southern senator who is “too busy defendin’ the Constitution to read it,” who, through a bit of Celtic magic, is turned into a black man so that he can experience the prejudice in his district. Overall, the musical is charming, maybe a little hokey, but full of still-relevant commentary on our culture.
It’s rarely done.
In case you do get the chance to audition for it, here are some suggestions for you! Finian’s Rainbow premiered in 1947 with music by Burton Lane, who also wrote On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and lyrics by E. Y. “Yip” Harburg, who wrote, among other things, the lyrics for Wizard of Oz.
1. “Lady’s Maid” from Titanic. (There are men’s audition cuts in this as well.)
2. “Change” from A New Brain
3. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from Wizard of Oz
4. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from Showboat
5. “Hey There” from Pajama Game
6. “On the S.S. Bernard Cohn” from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (one of my faves!)
7. “Two Men in My Life” from Big Fish
8. “Love, Look Away” from Flower Drum Song
9. “People Will Say We’re in Love” from Oklahoma
10. “Orange Colored Sky” (by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein)
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Scenery Chewer 
I started this blog as an artistic outlet, as a place to write down the wisdom I’ve accumulated over a lifetime of auditioning in New York City. But these days my time is divided between teaching, performing, and spending quality time with my family.