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40 MORE Audition Songs for the Stage

March 4, 2014 · 20 Comments

Need a musical piece for your school or college tryout?  Searching for a number suited to the part you’re looking to land? Musicnotes is back to help with 40 MORE songs to prepare for musical theater auditions. Following up on our popular “40+ Songs for Stage and Show Auditions” post,  we’ve again consulted with multiple auditioners who’ve worked on professional  productions of all sizes to bring you this extensive list of 40 great (think: not overused) audition pieces for the stage. What’s more, we’ve selected these works from 40 different shows, meaning even if one doesn’t seem like quite the right fit, you can explore a bit further to find the song that will get you the part!

Some of the suggestions below are lesser-known audition numbers from well-known shows, while others are gems from more obscure productions. We’ve also tried to compile an assortment of ranges and moods, ensuring you’ll find the perfect audition piece to fit your tryout. Additionally, many of the following sheet music arrangements offer key transposition after purchase. Look for a scoring of Piano/Vocal/Chords Singer Pro, and find our more about of Singer Pro sheet music here.

The most important task, other than finding a great audition song, is to be prepared for your audition. Be sure it’s a song you love that highlights your fantastic talents, and the rest will fall into place. So, presenting to you without further ado, 40 songs for stage auditions.

15 Audition Songs for Female Lead Vocalists

For contralto to soprano vocalists, we’ve gathered songs from a wide variety of shows. Simply click the song title to see the sheet music! We’ve also included a link to a video of the song being performed. Consider the following for your next audition:

Uptempo songs:

  • Not for the Life of Me from ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (see video)
  • Applause from ‘Applause’ (see video)
  • Green Finch and Linnet Bird from ‘Sweeny Todd’ (see video)
  • A Trip to the Library from ‘She Loves Me’ (see video)
  • Some People from ‘Gypsy’ (see video)
  • I Hate Men from ‘Kiss Me Kate’ (see video)
  • Don’t Wanna Be Here from ‘Ordinary Days’ (see video)
  • Screw Loose from ‘Cry Baby’ (see video)

Ballads:

  • Follow Your Heart from ‘Urinetown’ (see video)
  • Glitter and Be Gay from ‘Candide’ (see video)
  • Say the Word from ‘The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown’ (see video)
  • Astonishing from ‘Little Women’ (see video)
  • Falling in Love With Love from ‘The Boys from Syracuse’ (see video)
  • Patterns from ‘Baby’ (see video)
  • Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man from ‘Show Boat’ (see video)

15 Audition Songs for Male Lead Vocalists

Explore this outstanding variety of sheet music from 15 different shows that make great audition pieces for tenor, baritone and bass voices. Again, the song title links to the sheet music and the we’ve added a video link (when available) for your convenience.

Uptempo Songs:

  • Suppertime from ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (see video)
  • Stupid Things I Won’t Do from ‘The Royal Family of Broadway’ (see video)
  • You’ve Got That Thing from ‘Fifty Million Frenchmen’ (hear recording)
  • Moving Too Fast from ‘The Last Five Years’ (see video)
  • Grand Knowing You from ‘She Loves Me’ (see video)
  • Falcon In the Dive from ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ (see video)
  • If You Can Find Me, I’m Here from ‘Evening Primrose’ (see video)

Ballads:

  • I’ll Be Here from ‘The Wild Party’ (see video)
  • I’d Rather be Sailing from ‘A New Brain’ (see video)
  • Two Strangers from ‘Tales from the Bad Years’ (see video)
  • They Call the Wind Maria from ‘Paint Your Wagon’ (see video)
  • I Want to Make Magic from ‘Fame’ (see video)
  • I’d Give It All for You from ‘Songs for a New World’ (see video)
  • The Impossible Dream from ‘Man of La Mancha’ (see video)
  • Roll of a Lifetime from ‘Bare: A Pop Opera’ (see video)

10 Audition Songs for Kids and Teens

Need great audition songs for younger performers? This list is appropriate for all ages, and includes auditions for girls and boys. Take a look at the video link for inspiration, and click the song title to download the sheet music instantly.

  • The Spark of Creation from ‘Children of Eden’ (see video)
  • Once Upon a Dream from ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ (see video)
  • ‘Till There Was You from ‘The Music Man’ (see video)
  • Show Me from ‘My Fair Lady’ (see video)
  • Home from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (see video)
  • Oh, the Thinks You Can Think from ‘Seussical the Musical’ (see video)
  • If I Were a Rich Man from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ (see video)
  • One More Angel in Heaven from ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ (see video)
  • Happiness from ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ (see video)
  • I Am a Pirate King from ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ (see video)

Are you looking for a particular song not on this list? Chances are the sheet music is available at Musicnotes.com. You’ll find the absolute largest selection of officially licensed, downloadable audition sheet music, including pieces from off-broadway shows, brand-new shows and all the classics you’ll enjoy singing again and again. Shop our Broadway Sheet Music Store, to find your next showstopper today!

We’d Love to Hear from You

Do you have a ‘lucky’ audition piece that you especially enjoy using? Is there another lesser-known show that contains numbers well-suited to auditioning? Please share your expertise with fellow readers in the comments below!

Filed Under: Audition Tips, Broadway Hits, Popular Music & Artists Tagged With: audition music, broadway sheet music, singer pro, songs for auditions, songs for kids auditions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bill Aicher says

    March 6, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    What an awesome song list. Some great suggestions here.

    Reply
  2. Tim says

    March 7, 2014 at 7:38 am

    I love the song choice but coming from a teenager… most of these songs aren’t “new” to the audition world. Many of them are overdone audition songs. Although some of them a GREAT songs and would make for a wonderful audition piece, you might want to re-look the title “40 New Audition Songs for the Stage” or just look for more modern/undiscovered songs.

    Reply
    • Ali says

      March 7, 2014 at 11:17 am

      Thank you for the feedback, Tim, we agree with your suggestion and will update the title. And be sure to keep an eye out for future audition suggestions from new-er/modern shows. Thanks again!

      Reply
    • lele says

      April 18, 2015 at 9:07 am

      You’re right, I have no idea what songs these are

      Reply
  3. April Nickells says

    July 14, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    I am trying to find a song that is easy to sing no matter what the vocalist is. if you know one in both English and Korean i would love it if you could add some like that i would be most thankful.

    Reply
  4. Laina enghland says

    January 10, 2015 at 1:12 am

    Thanks for the songs I would add the song I won’t give up though it is my lucky auditioning piece and it’s not that tricky to learn

    Reply
    • KiSea says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:12 pm

      From what?

      Reply
  5. Abigail says

    January 29, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    As a musical theater geek, I know that more obscure songs are better for auditions because chances are they’ve heard the song from one girl or another.

    Another Hundred People from Company is great for belters,
    Pulled from Addams Family is also a quirky, fun song for belters,
    Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy is great for shows like Funny Girl for belters
    The Worst Pies in London from Sweeney Todd is good, too.

    Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music is a classic yet not overused, so it’s good for auditions
    Tell Me On A Sunday from Song and Dance is good for sopranos.
    I love Everybody Loves Louis from Sunday in the Park with George :)
    And Don’t Cry for me Argentina from Evita is great for belters and sopranos (and my personal fav)
    Good luck!

    Reply
    • Jazmyn says

      June 13, 2015 at 6:11 pm

      Can you name not overused alto songs that show humor and are pretty funny?? Thanks

      Reply
  6. Alex B. says

    April 1, 2015 at 5:17 pm

    A Change in the Wind from Caddie Woodlawn. I’ve outgrown it because its for a pretty young girl, but it’s dynamite and very under used.

    Reply
  7. Sophie Wolf says

    July 1, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    Some of these songs are great for audition rep, like Screw Loose, which is a phenomenal comedic song but a lot of these are way overdone. Not for the Life of Me, Astonishing, and The Impossible Dream are songs that shouldn’t be in anyone’s repertoire. There are also a few others on this list that could be axed too like Some People, Till There Was You, and even Happiness. They’re all overdone. Overall, there is a good handful of songs on here.

    Reply
  8. WaterMELon says

    August 12, 2015 at 2:58 pm

    My new philosophy charlie brown. I really did not know much about the show,and I thought Sally (the one who sings my new philosophy) was the star (even though it is lucy) for the girl lead. They saw I could remember a song and preform it well and I got lucy! I am now so happy. I’m glad I did not get sally. I’m not saying sally is not a good part. I’m just saying lucy is better.

    Reply
  9. Josh says

    November 9, 2015 at 8:22 am

    I’m auditioning for our school choir tomorrow with “Holding out for a hero” in F#m. I’ve also auditioned with “Chandelier” before, that audition went very well.

    Reply
  10. Emma says

    April 19, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    Still hurting from the last 5 years is a good one

    Reply
  11. Liam Wragg says

    March 22, 2017 at 3:30 pm

    Either the lamest place in the world or what it means to be a friend from 13, breathe from in the heights or my personal favourite that is good because it’s not particularly well known lifeboat from heathers

    Reply
  12. Dani says

    January 19, 2018 at 8:36 am

    I would suggest Professional Pirate from The Muppets: Treasure Island. It’s short, easy, and (most important) fun!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Find Your Perfect Vocal Audition Piece Today! says:
    January 23, 2015 at 11:37 am

    […] vocal leads below. If you don’t find the right piece in the list, please also see our “40 NEW Audition Songs for the Stage” article as well as our popular “40+ Songs for Stage and Show Auditions” blog […]

    Reply
  2. Stage Audition Tips | Tips Insurance says:
    March 19, 2016 at 3:36 am

    […] 40 NEW Audition Songs for Stage Productions – In need of sheet music for an audition? Musicnotes is back to help with 40 MORE great audition songs for shows! Suggestions for women, men, teens and kids. […]

    Reply
  3. Auditioning- Part II – A Young Actor's Guide to the Universe says:
    December 8, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    […] MusicNotes.com   Has a decent listing, plus you can download the sheet music (for a small fee) in the correct key for you. It’s definitely cheaper than buying a whole book to get the one song you want, and then having to get it transposed for you. […]

    Reply
  4. 7 Ways NOT to Choose Your Vocal Audition Piece says:
    November 15, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    […] 40 More Audition Songs for the Stage […]

    Reply

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