Audition Songs
By Steven Brown, Founder/Artistic Director of Chrysalis Youth Theatre
Are you looking for the perfect song for your next theatre audition? Have you been frustrated by contradictory advice and mountains of information? Don't worry, you've come to the right place! Here you will find all the information you need to make your next audition a success!
Admittedly, there are few things as frustrating and nerve-wracking as choosing an audition song. You spend hours researching, listening to songs, reading lists, and ultimately the only songs you like are the ones that everybody tells you not to do. Rather than make you go through that pain every time, we have done most of the work for you! Below, you will find a list of songs ranging from ones that are great for your audition to those that you should probably stay away from. This is not a hard and fast set of rules, it is simply meant to be used as a helpful reference as you are choosing your audition piece(s).
Now, to answer that pesky question about why you shouldn't sing that song from the hot new musical on Broadway, or the one you grew up listening to. There are really just two reasons:
1. Chances are, everybody else loves that song too. There is nothing more frustrating than preparing for your audition, getting totally into the zone, and then right before you go up to sing, somebody else gets up and sings the exact same song...and they do it really, really well. If you sing a classic song, or one from a hot new show, this is extremely likely to happen. You can avoid this problem by singing something less well known, or something less obvious. For example, when it comes to Disney, EVERYBODY thinks of songs like Reflection, Part Of Your World, and Colors of the Wind. But how many people think of Home (Beauty and the Beast), or Candle On The Water (Pete's Dragon)? Similarly, EVERYBODY knows the songs from shows like Sound of Music, West Side Story, Oklahoma, and Les Miserables. But how many know people know even one song from Good News, The In-Between, Jane Eyre, or A Tale of Two Cities?
2. When the director thinks of that song, he probably thinks of the version done by one of the best performers on Broadway. He has that rendition burned into his brain. Right from the time you announce what you will be singing, he will be comparing you with that professional performer. That puts you in a very difficult position. You may be very good, but you probably aren't THAT good...at least not yet. Now, a lot of this depends upon the situation. If you are auditioning for a small children's theatre program, the director will probably be overjoyed just that you can carry a tune and sing without getting overwhelmed by stage fright. But if you really have your sights set on a big role, or if you really want to impress, then you should think long and hard before attempting one of these songs. Only attempt it if you are sure that your rendition is so good, or so different, that it will overcome the extra scrutiny from the director. Even then, is it worth the risk? Think of it this way: if you do it really well, or in a really awesome, unique way, you'll score big points with the director. But if your performance is anything less than fantastic, you may be lucky to get anything more than a chorus role. As unfair as this is, directors just naturally hold performers to a higher standard when they sing these kinds of songs.
The advantage of singing a less well-known, or less obvious song, is that the director is more likely to be on your side right from the beginning. He is probably tense, worried that he will have to endure yet another loud, screechy, off-key version of Tomorrow (Annie). So when he hears you announce something totally unexpected, he is likely to relax, sit forward in his chair, and sit there excitedly hoping this will be good. He probably won't notice any little mistakes you make, because he is either not very familiar with the song, or he is just really relieved that it was something totally different.
Ultimately, if you choose a song that really shows off your singing and acting abilities and if you prepare it well, you should have a successful audition.
With that in mind, here is a list of audition songs for girls, and one for guys. They are listed in order from "Rarely done", to "Done A Lot", to "Overdone". If you're just getting started or are still fairly young, you can really pick something from any of these categories. But if you're in high school or above, or in a very competitive program, you might think about trying to find a song you enjoy that isn't done very often. That will give you a leg up on the competition.
Admittedly, there are few things as frustrating and nerve-wracking as choosing an audition song. You spend hours researching, listening to songs, reading lists, and ultimately the only songs you like are the ones that everybody tells you not to do. Rather than make you go through that pain every time, we have done most of the work for you! Below, you will find a list of songs ranging from ones that are great for your audition to those that you should probably stay away from. This is not a hard and fast set of rules, it is simply meant to be used as a helpful reference as you are choosing your audition piece(s).
Now, to answer that pesky question about why you shouldn't sing that song from the hot new musical on Broadway, or the one you grew up listening to. There are really just two reasons:
1. Chances are, everybody else loves that song too. There is nothing more frustrating than preparing for your audition, getting totally into the zone, and then right before you go up to sing, somebody else gets up and sings the exact same song...and they do it really, really well. If you sing a classic song, or one from a hot new show, this is extremely likely to happen. You can avoid this problem by singing something less well known, or something less obvious. For example, when it comes to Disney, EVERYBODY thinks of songs like Reflection, Part Of Your World, and Colors of the Wind. But how many people think of Home (Beauty and the Beast), or Candle On The Water (Pete's Dragon)? Similarly, EVERYBODY knows the songs from shows like Sound of Music, West Side Story, Oklahoma, and Les Miserables. But how many know people know even one song from Good News, The In-Between, Jane Eyre, or A Tale of Two Cities?
2. When the director thinks of that song, he probably thinks of the version done by one of the best performers on Broadway. He has that rendition burned into his brain. Right from the time you announce what you will be singing, he will be comparing you with that professional performer. That puts you in a very difficult position. You may be very good, but you probably aren't THAT good...at least not yet. Now, a lot of this depends upon the situation. If you are auditioning for a small children's theatre program, the director will probably be overjoyed just that you can carry a tune and sing without getting overwhelmed by stage fright. But if you really have your sights set on a big role, or if you really want to impress, then you should think long and hard before attempting one of these songs. Only attempt it if you are sure that your rendition is so good, or so different, that it will overcome the extra scrutiny from the director. Even then, is it worth the risk? Think of it this way: if you do it really well, or in a really awesome, unique way, you'll score big points with the director. But if your performance is anything less than fantastic, you may be lucky to get anything more than a chorus role. As unfair as this is, directors just naturally hold performers to a higher standard when they sing these kinds of songs.
The advantage of singing a less well-known, or less obvious song, is that the director is more likely to be on your side right from the beginning. He is probably tense, worried that he will have to endure yet another loud, screechy, off-key version of Tomorrow (Annie). So when he hears you announce something totally unexpected, he is likely to relax, sit forward in his chair, and sit there excitedly hoping this will be good. He probably won't notice any little mistakes you make, because he is either not very familiar with the song, or he is just really relieved that it was something totally different.
Ultimately, if you choose a song that really shows off your singing and acting abilities and if you prepare it well, you should have a successful audition.
With that in mind, here is a list of audition songs for girls, and one for guys. They are listed in order from "Rarely done", to "Done A Lot", to "Overdone". If you're just getting started or are still fairly young, you can really pick something from any of these categories. But if you're in high school or above, or in a very competitive program, you might think about trying to find a song you enjoy that isn't done very often. That will give you a leg up on the competition.
HINT: Click on the colored titles below to go to an example on Youtube!
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✔ Great For Auditions, Rarely Done...
Girls Uptempo I've Gotta Crow.....................................................................Peter Pan A Lovely Night......................................................................Cinderella Another World............................................................A Little Princess The Step-Sisters' Lament......................................................Cinderella Sweet Liberty........................................................................Jane Eyre Almost There......................................................Princess and the Frog The Spark Of Creation..............................................Children of Eden A Change In The Wind...........................................Caddie Woodlawn The Best Things In Life Are Free.......................................Good News So Long Dearie....................................................................Hello Dolly Ballad Home...................................................................Beauty and the Beast Soldier On....................................................................A Little Princess Far From The Home I Love...............................Fiddler On The Roof By My Side...............................................................................Godspell Just Imagine.......................................................................Good News Once Upon A Dream..................................................Jekyll and Hyde Come Out Of The Dumpster...............................The Wedding Singer Candle On The Water.....................................................Pete's Dragon Someone You'd Be Proud Of.....................................The In-Between When I Look At You.........................................The Scarlet Pimpernel Will He Like Me...............................................................She Loves Me Out of Sight, Out of Mind....................................A Tale of Two Cities Goodbye My Love...................................................................Ragtime Back To Before........................................................................Ragtime Hold On...................................................................The Secret Garden How Could I Ever Know........................................The Secret Garden Villain Lucky...........................................................................A Little Princess <-> Good For Auditions, But Done A Lot... Girls Uptempo Shy....................................................................Once Upon a Mattress The Wizard and I......................................................................Wicked Wouldn't It Be Loverly...................................................My Fair Lady Live Out Loud.............................................................A Little Princess I Have Confidence.......................................................Sound of Music Ballad The Girl I Mean To Be...................................................Secret Garden Notice Me Horton...................................................................Seussical I'm Not That Girl......................................................................Wicked God Help The Outcasts.............................Hunchback of Notre Dame A Change In Me.................................................Beauty and the Beast Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again......Phantom of the Opera As Long As He Needs Me............................................................Oliver More To The Story..................................................Shrek The Musical Villain Little Girls.....................................................................................Annie X OK For Auditions, But Way Overdone... Girls Uptempo Do You Want To Build A Snowman.........................................Frozen When Will My Life Begin.........................................................Tangled Popular......................................................................................Wicked I Can't Say No......................................................................Oklahoma I Could Have Danced All Night......................................My Fair Lady Not For The Life Of Me.............................Thoroughly Modern Millie Good Morning Baltimore.....................................................Hairspray My Favorite Things.....................................................Sound of Music I Feel Pretty.................................................................West Side Story Ballad Tomorrow....................................................................................Annie Part Of Your World......................................................Little Mermaid Over The Rainbow...................................................The Wizard of Oz Let It Go......................................................................................Frozen For The First Time In Forever..................................................Frozen Colors of The Wind.............................................................Pocahontas Defying Gravity.........................................................................Wicked Reflection.....................................................................................Mulan Someone Like You......................................................Jekyll and Hyde On My Own...................................................................Les Miserables I Dreamed A Dream......................................................Les Miserables Memory..........................................................................................Cats Think Of Me......................................................Phantom of the Opera Adelaide's Lament.........................................................Guys and Dolls |
✔ Great For Auditions, Rarely Done...
Boys Uptempo Gary Indiana...............................................................The Music Man I'm Coming Out Of My Shell.................A Year With Frog And Toad One More Angel In Heaven......................................................Joseph All I Ever Wanted.......................................................Prince Of Egpyt Me........................................................................Beauty and the Beast She Loves Me...................................................................She Loves Me Any Day Now......................................................Fiddler On The Roof The Fall.....................................................................................Xanadu Farewell Good Angel.............................................................Jane Eyre The Testimony.............................................................Amazing Grace Beyond The Door........................................................The In-Between Miracle of Miracles................................................Fiddler on the Roof Last One Picked........................................................Whoop-Dee-Doo! Ballad Happiness....................................You're A Good Man Charlie Brown Not While I'm Around...................................................Sweeney Todd Beautiful City...........................................................................Godspell Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful............................Cinderella Prima Donna....................................................Phantom of the Opera A Bit Of Earth................................................................Secret Garden Lost In The Darkness..................................................Jekyll and Hyde Your Work And Nothing More..................................Jekyll and Hyde Pilate's Dream...................................................Jesus Christ Superstar Coalhouse's Soliloquy..............................................................Ragtime Gliding......................................................................................Ragtime Where's The Girl (Reprise)...............................The Scarlet Pimpernel When I Look At You (Reprise).........................The Scarlet Pimpernel A Sentimental Man....................................................................Wicked Drink With Me...............................................................Les Miserables Javert's Suicide..............................................................Les Miserables Empty Chairs at Empty Tables....................................Les Miserables <-> Good For Auditions, But Done A Lot... Boys Uptempo Wick.........................................................................The Secret Garden Giants In The Sky.......................................................Into The Woods Take A Chance On Me....................................................Little Women Don't Let Me Go......................................................Shrek The Musical Ballad It Only Takes A Moment....................................................Hello Dolly Out There...........................................The Hunchback of Notre Dame Who I'd Be...............................................................Shrek The Musical X OK For Auditions, But Way Overdone... Boys Uptempo Consider Yourself...........................................Oliver Get Me To The Church On Time....................................My Fair Lady Luck Be A Lady............................................................Guys and Dolls The Impossible Dream..........................................Man of La Mancha Be A Man.....................................................................................Mulan If I Were A Rich Man.........................................Fiddler On The Roof Dancing Through Life...............................................................Wicked Ballad Where Is Love.............................................................................Oliver This Is The Moment....................................................Jekyll and Hyde Santa Fe....................................................................................Newsies Close Every Door.......................................................................Joseph On The Street Where You Live......................................My Fair Lady Oh What A Beautiful Mornin'.............................................Oklahoma Lonely Room........................................................................Oklahoma This Nearly Was Mine.....................................................South Pacific Music of the Night............................................Phantom Of The Opera |