The Best Unique Broadway Songs to Audition With

Break a leg! People wish you luck in their own unique ways, but it’s more than luck when you have a vocal audition. You have to choose the right song to showcase your sound while giving those in charge of casting a song they haven’t already heard a dozen times. The songs you choose are going to vary based on your pitch as well as whether you’re auditioning for a musical or a theatre production, too.

We have a few unique Broadway audition songs for you to consider.

Audition Songs for Sopranos

Sopranos are usually the ones with the most competition in auditions, so you have to be sure that you stand out with a song that not only shows your range but also your knowledge of musical theatre so that you don’t bore the judges with another rendition of a song they’ve heard a dozen times already.

• “Quando men vo” from La Boheme is an impressive song in French that shows off your range while also proving that you have the skills to not only sing in an operatic way but also learn a piece in a different language.
• “Helpless” is another song to consider as it is from Hamilton. It is one of the songs that was sung by the character Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. It allows you to show off your span. Depending on the part that you’re auditioning for, you can also dance while you sing in order to show off more of your skills at once.
• “Happy Working Song” from Enchanted. It’s a powerful Disney movie musical song that allows you to show a comedic side along with your ability to act.
• “Pulled” is a song that was sung by Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family. It’s fun and shows that you can offer something different.

Audition Songs for Belters and Mezzos

Also known as Mezzo Belters, you have to consider seeking out songs that showcase your skills while being a bit brazen with your selection. There are countless theatre productions that you can borrow from that will have the directors raising an eyebrow with the song that you have chosen.

• “Woman” from The Pirate Queen can be a great option when you’re auditioning for a pop-opera.
• “Bring On the Men” from Jekyll and Hyde will show off your ability to play a convincing femme fatale.
• “It’s a Woman’s World” from The Full Monty allows you to get the high keys and show off your chops with an empowering song.
• “The Story Goes On” from Baby shows off some of the mix that you’re capable of achieving with your voice.

Audition Songs for Tenors

When you’re a tenor, you will have your pick of theatre songs to choose from. However, the vocal repertoire out there can be complicated. It comes down to looking at the technique you want to show off within your audition song.

If you want slower songs and ballads, you might want to consider:

• “Hans of the Southern Isles” from Frozen
• “Hold Me in Your Heart” from Kinky Boots

If you want to be more comedic during your audition, you might want to go with a bolder option, such as:

• “Positoovity” from The Little Mermaid
• “Thank God She’s Blind” from The Toxic Avenger

If you want an up-tempo song to show that you’re capable of keeping up with the faster songs while still enunciating your way through the music, consider:

• “Goodbye” from Catch Me If You Can
• “Grow for Me” from Little Shop of Horrors

Audition Songs for Baritones & Basses

When you’re a baritone or bass, you need to make sure that your sound is truly showcased in a way that allows the casting directors to hear what you’re capable of. Choose a Broadway selection that people are familiar with but that isn’t overdone.

While there are plenty of options out there, a few will allow you to really stand out:

• “Shall We Dance” is a classic from George and Ira Gershwin from Crazy For You
• “I’ll Be Here” is a romantic song from The Wild Party
• “Some Enchanted Evening” from South Pacific provides a balance between being robust and delicate
• “Her Face” from Carnival
• “Passegiata” from The Light in the Piazza (a great option for a younger baritone)

The Right Song for You

When it comes to auditioning for a musical, casting directors want to hear you sing a song that you are passionate about. They want to hear your love for music within the song. It’s not about finding the most obscure song that you can possibly find.

You need to choose a song to sing that makes sense for the piece that you are auditioning for. If you are auditioning for a pop-opera or a comedic Broadway play, you need to take those into consideration with the piece that you ultimately choose. Additionally, you want to make sure that you showcase the full potential of your talents to the casting director because you only have one chance. Singing, dancing, and acting are all possibilities based on the song that you choose, and when you perform the song properly, it may give the casting director more confidence to place you into one role versus another.

Be sure that you choose songs that show off the span of your voice while avoiding some of the most-sung Broadway songs. If you’re thinking of singing a song from Wicket or Les Miserables, you might want to avoid it because it’s not going to help you stand out. Instead, stand out with a song that they haven’t heard yet that day during auditions.

Once you have selected the song you want to perform, be sure that you are capable of singing it properly. Grace Music School offers voice lessons on Long island for children and adults alike. Let us help you prepare your skills so that you’re ready to belt out a Broadway audition song like no one else! Contact us for more information.