How to Choose an Audition Song for a Musical

Choosing an audition song is both an art and a science. You need to showcase your singing and acting ability, while evoking the style and tone of the show you’re auditioning for — without singing a song from that show! (Usually.) And once you find a song that’s a perfect fit, you then have to find the perfect cut.

A good musical theatre audition song shows the casting team what you can do. It suits your voice, gives you something to act, and helps the team envision you in their show. Here’s how to narrow your options and choose a piece you can confidently perform when your name is called.

1. Match the show or the song’s musical style

Listen to several songs from the musical, especially the music for any roles that interest you. Pay attention to how the characters sing: sustained melodic phrases, conversational pop, quick wordplay, rock vocals, or a more classical sound. That gives you a starting point for finding similar material.

Other shows by the same composer are worth exploring. You may find familiar phrasing, rhythms, or ways of telling a story through song.

The era can help find a good match, too. Auditioning for a Golden Age musical? Select from another Golden Age musical! Same for musicals from the 80s and 90s, and those written in the last 20 years. But listen before deciding. Two shows written in the same decade, or by the same composer, can sound quite different.

2. Match the character you want to play

Consider your target role’s age, gender, personality, and what they want. Then explore songs sung by similar characters. Is the character a hopeful teenager? A protective parent? A cynical boss? Find another show that features the same character type and see if any of their songs are a good fit.

You don’t need an exact match on every detail. If you’re interested in Elle in Legally Blonde, for instance, a song that lets you show determination, warmth, or comic confidence could be useful. It doesn’t need to mention college, fashion, or a breakup.

Once a song interests you, read the lyrics and learn its original context. Whenever one of my kids or students previews an audition song with me, I immediately ask the following:

Who is singing? Who are they speaking to? What do they want? What happened just before this song? To perform the song well and stand out at an audition, you need to know these things!

3. Find the right fit for your voice

Try singing the song you’ve picked out. Can you sing the low notes clearly? Do the high notes sound natural? Can you get through the phrases without running out of breath? 

Voice labels such as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass can help you search, but they don’t guarantee that every song in that category will suit you. Test out a few options, and listen for what sounds especially good in your voice. Try recording yourself and playing it back, or sing for a friend and get their opinion. If you love to belt, start with our audition songs for belters.

If you know what you’re doing or have someone to help, you can transpose your chosen song into a higher or lower key for a more comfortable fit. Make sure your sheet music or track is in the right key for you, and rehearse with it. Don’t arrive expecting the pianist to change the key on the spot.

More tips for choosing your audition song

Follow any instructions in the audition notice

The theatre may have already done some of the choosing for you, so read the audition notice carefully for any instructions. Some casting teams do actually want to hear a song from the show, and they may ask you to sing a specific cut of the song. They might request different songs, depending on the part you are auditioning for.

Audition notices will often specify how long your song should be and whether you should bring sheet music or a backing track. For community theatre auditions, you’ll usually prepare a cut that is 60-90 seconds.

Choose a song with a strong audition cut

An audition cut is the section of a song you prepare and sing at your audition. Before you commit to a certain song, make sure you can isolate a section that works on its own.

Shoot for a strong opening, enough material to establish the situation, and an ending that feels intentional. Avoid spending much of your allotted time on a piano introduction or repeating the same melody, like two verses.

A common formula would be to sing a verse, into a chorus, and then a strong ending, which could include the bridge of the song, a second chorus, or the very end of the song. Listen to different options and go with what sounds the smoothest and shows off your voice the best.

Sometimes you can cut out the middle of a song, but be aware of key changes. If a song changes key partway through, you will usually need to sing a section before the key change OR after the key change, OR you’ll need to include the key change in your cut.

Make sure to clearly mark your sheet music with your start, stop, and any cuts you’ve made. If you’re using a track, find a version marked as “instrumental,” “accompaniment,” or “karaoke,” which doesn’t include the lead vocals.

Don’t count out “overdone” songs

You’ll find plenty of lists of songs you should never sing at an audition because they are overdone. A theatre’s own restrictions matter, but an internet list can’t tell you what every local casting team wants.

If you sound amazing on a familiar song, sing it. A more obscure song may be harder to find music for, less effective as a short cut, or simply less suited to you. If you’re choosing between two equally strong options, uniqueness can be a useful deciding factor. Don’t feel like you need to find a song nobody’s ever heard before.

Build your audition book

As you attend more auditions and prepare different pieces, keep the songs that worked well for you in your audition binder. Gradually add contrasting choices to fill out your repertoire — a traditional musical theatre piece, a contemporary selection, something comedic, something dramatic, a pop or rock song, a country song, a patter song, something legit, something belty, etc. Build a small collection you know well, and you’ll always be prepared for auditions!

Need ideas? Audition songs are our specialty! Browse Audition Angel’s Song Finder and get audition song recommendations based on the show and role you are auditioning for, or based on your own personal attributes. Use the suggestions to discover new material and see if it works for your voice and the audition requirements.

What’s your go-to audition song and why? Share your faves in the comments!