17 Best Audition Songs From 80s Musicals You Need

The 1980s was a great decade for musical theater. The British pop opera invasion brought such juggernauts as Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables while Stephen Sondheim was busy producing his Pulitzer Prize-winning hit, Sunday in the Park With George. If you are fortunate enough to have an audition coming up and need 80s audition songs, there are plenty to choose from.

What You Need in Your Book

The songs in your audition book should be chosen to represent a variety of singing styles. Every book ought to include an up-tempo, a ballad, a pop/rock, and something in a more traditional Broadway-style that hearkens to the Golden Age. It’s always good to include a Sondheim song as well since his musical style is unique.

In addition to different styles, you want to showcase the range of your voice. You need to have a belt number and one that is more legit to show off your head voice. If you have comedic acting shops, a funny song is a good idea, too.

As much as possible, condense all these requirements into just four or five songs, tops. Make one song perform double duty. For example, your ballad can be your belt number. Your up-tempo could be your legit. Have marked and ready 16-bar and 32-bar cuts of each song in addition to the full piece.

When To Sing an 80s Broadway Song

Knowing when to sing which audition song is a learning process that you will develop over time. The basic rule of thumb is unless the audition call sheet specifies otherwise, don’t sing a song from the show for which you are auditioning. Sing something similar in style. Look for songs by the same composer or from the same period.

So clearly, if you are auditioning for 80s musicals, that’s a good time to sing an 80s song. However, there is so much variety in genre and style from the 80s, you can sing songs from that decade for just about any type of audition. For example, if you’d like to audition for Six: The Musical, a cut from Carrie or Fame would work very well.

Take a look at the auditions you’d like to do and compare the shows to the following options. There’s truly something for every occasion.

Stephen Sondheim

Let’s take care of the big guy first. If you are auditioning for a Sondheim show, you should probably sing a Sondheim song. He makes special demands of his singers in terms of pitch, rhythm, and interpretive skills. There’s no other composer like him. The 1980s gives us three of his best scores for audition cuts. Consider these choices:

• “Not a Day Goes By” from Merrily We Roll Along. This is a belt or mix-belt slow ballad for a mezzo voice with good high notes.
• “Sunday in the Park With George” from Sunday in the Park With George for mezzos with a strong belt. This can be slow or up-tempo depending upon your cut.
• “Finishing the Hat” from Sunday in the Park With George, a ballad for tenors who can float their high notes.
• “Now You Know” from Merrily We Roll Along. This up-tempo number is good for lower voices in a belt or mix.

Ballads

Ballads are the heart of a singer’s book. Everyone should have one that they can hit out of the ballpark, every single time. The 1980s gave us amazing ballads that are not only lovely to sing, they demand strong acting choices as well. The best 80s ballads for auditions include:

• “Unusual Way” from Nine is for a mezzo with a warm tone.
• “Somewhere That’s Green” from Little Shop of Horrors. This quirky, gentle song for the lower mix/belt is good for character roles.
• “Anthem” from Chess is a classic Broadway bari/tenor ballad.
• “Good Thing Going” from Merrily We Roll Along. Yes, this is Sondheim. And it’s an excellent ballad for mid-to-high legit voices.

Up-Tempo Numbers

Fast and fun are the general rules for an up-tempo audition cut. They don’t have to be outright comedic, but there’s nothing wrong with it if they are. Revealing a gentle, wry sense of humor is always a good idea. Take a look at these songs:

• “Get Out and Stay Out” from 9 to 5 – The Musical. This is a power belt number with some high mix.
• “I Just Wanna Be a Star” from Nunsense. This fun song is good for low belters who can move a bit.
• “The Phone Call” from Lucky Stiff for bari/tenors requires good comedic timing.
• “Franklin Shepherd, Inc.” from Merrily We Roll Along. A fast patter song for bari/tenor that packs plenty of emotional punch.

Pop/Rock Songs

There is a definite trend toward pop/rock musicals on Broadway right now. This is true of jukebox musicals in addition to newly composed shows. There are some strong audition cuts from the 80s that you can use to audition for contemporary shows, such as:

• “Carrie” from Carrie. Make your audience pity poor Carrie White when you belt this dramatic opening number for mezzos.
• “The Games I Play” from March of the Falsettos for tenor. This is an easy-going contemporary ballad loaded with subtext.
• “Fame” from Fame. You can’t go wrong with this iconic title song for lower voices.

Noteworthy Extras

Every decade has songs that have unjustifiably slipped into obscurity and the 80s is no exception. Here are a few audition songs that are simply superb and a little under the radar at the same time.

• “With Every Breath I Take” from City of Angels is a gorgeous jazz-inspired number for contralto. Feel free to transpose it up.
• “The Story Goes On” from Baby. This is a heart-wrenching power ballad for big voices.
• “Hello, Little Girl” from Into the Woods for baritone is a sly, comedic number.

That’s a Wrap!

As you put together your audition book, step back and look at the bigger picture. Is it balanced in genre and style? Does it show your whole range? Can you make good acting choices? If any answer is “no,” then tweak a few things. Adding an 80s musical song or two may be the perfect touch. Now go break a leg!

Published on January 09, 2023