For many of us, it's time for our departments' 2016-2017 season auditions, and if you're like me, you're trying to find some shiny new material for your book. The musical theatre canon gives us so many great selections to choose from, but somehow people end up picking the same tired songs every year. The auditors are sick of adjudicating them and your peers are sick of hearing them through the door. Here are five songs you need to take out of your book today.

1. "On My Own" from "Les Miserables"

We know, we know, it sits so nicely in your belt, it's easy to act, "Les Mis" is your favorite show. It doesn't matter. Aside from being one of the easiest songs in the show, it's the most overdone song in the show. Really every song is the most overdone song in the show. "Les Mis" is great but it should be retired from your book.

Alternate idea: "If He Really Knew Me" from "They're Playing Our Song;" "In A Very Unusual Way" from "Nine" (proceed with caution, this song is also very well known)

2. "Taylor the Latte Boy" by Kristin Chenoweth

This song is far too well know to be funny anymore, and it's well known in Kristin Chenoweth's voice. Either you'll sing it exactly like her and the auditors will wonder why you're mimicking her instead of singing it in your own voice, or you'll sing it nothing like her, and no matter how good you are, they'll be busy thinking about how your voice differs from hers. Same goes for "The Girl in 14G." You can be the best singer on the planet and they'll still be thinking about Chenoweth. Just save this one for the recitals and cabarets if you absolutely must sing it.

Alternate idea: "I Could Be Jewish For You" by Nikko Benson; "Don't Wanna Be Here" from "Ordinary Days"

3. "Defying Gravity" from "Wicked"

Really guys? Really? I shouldn't even have to say this. I don't care if you love Indina; I don't care how many times you've seen it; I don't care if Stephen Schwartz is a childhood friend of yours. Get it out of your book.

Alternate idea: "Look At Me Now" from "The Wild Party;" "It Won't Be Long Now" from "In The Heights"

4. "Summertime" from "Porgy and Bess"

There are a few criteria you have to meet to be allowed to use this song. First, sing it in the original key. If you have to kick it down four keys to fit it in your voice, you shouldn't be singing it anyway because "Porgy And Bess" is operetta, and as such the keys of the songs can't be changed without transposing the whole production. Don't waste time on a song you'll never sing again. Second, you need to be auditioning for something musically similar, an operetta or something mostly sung through, another Gershwin show or a musical asking for a classical sound. Third and last, you need to bring something new to the song -- new acting choices, new runs, something that distinguishes you from the thousands of other women singing "Summertime." If you don't meet all these criteria, cut it.

Alternate idea: "Meadowlark" from "The Baker's Wife"

5. "In My Own Little Corner" from "Cinderella"

This song is simple, overdone and overrated. It's cute in the context of the show but really I shouldn't have to tell you it's not appropriate audition material for anyone over the age of 12.

Alternate idea: "Ring of Keys" from Fun Home