Over 70 Actors Share Their Audition Songs | Playbill

Related Articles
Special Features Over 70 Actors Share Their Audition Songs From “Meadowlark” to “Single Ladies,” “The Music That Makes Me Dance” and “Good Thing Going,” these are some of New York City actors’ go-to audition songs.

Broadway stars share the songs they put at the front of their rep books. (The following responses were culled from Playbill’s Cue and A series.)

Also check out: We Asked Over 70 Actors to Name Their Favorite Show Tune of All Time

Ellyn Marsh
"Think" by Arethea Franklin

Krystal Joy Brown
"My Funny Valentine"

Michaela Bradshaw
"Meadowlark" The Baker's Wife

Benjamin Fankhauser
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered"

Graham Alexander
"Piece of My Heart" – Janis Joplin version

Sarah Chase
"I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music as Judy Garland, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Elaine Stritch and Julie Andrews – each alternating lines

Justin Sargent

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/68bbd4796e63d4df8b4bcaf305233894-bonniepartyjm8.jpg
Justin Matthew Sargent Joseph Marzullo/WENN

"Bohemian Rhapsody"

Alton White
"Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime and "Rain" from Once on This Island

Jessica Grové
"Is It Really Me?" from 110 in the Shade

Nicholas Rouleau
"Monticello" from Edges

Annaleigh Ashford
"I Remember" from Evening Primrose

Bryan Clark
James Sampliner's arrangement of "No One Is Alone"

Teal Wicks
"Up to the Mountain" or "I Never Has Seen Snow"

Lesli Margherita

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/5a9b08920fa8e81def3273e32e97e158-hr-lesli-margherita.jpg
Lesli Margherita

"Gorgeous" from The Apple Tree

Jay Armstrong Johnson
A bluesy version of "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson

Gerard Canonico
"Honesty" by Billy Joel

Daniel Jenkins
An old Sondheim tune on the ukulele. Fun to play, but I'm not sure what it's like to listen to…

Andrew Durand
"Jessie's Girl"

Betsy Wolfe

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/8848921757af2ddb0f303eeb39ad0974-mon-9801.jpg
Betsy Wolfe Monica Simoes

"Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Music that Makes Me Dance" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"

Jenni Barber
Rarely am I ever asked to prepare my own stuff anymore, but when I do I have a rotating list of charm songs dripping in double entendre.

Brynn O'Malley
"A Cock-Eyed Optimist"

Andrew Samonsky
"She's got a Way" by Billy Joel

Andrew Varela
"Over the Wall" from Kiss of the Spider Woman

Taylor Louderman
"I'll Show Him" from Plain and Fancy

Erin Mackey
I use any excuse to sing "The Light in the Piazza"

Christine Lakin
"I Wanna Be That Girl" from Sneaux

Graham Rowat
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You" by Ben Folds

Ashley Spencer
"Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific

Howard McGillin
"Home" from The Wiz. Seriously? I can never think of a song to audition with

Ivan Hernandez
"Marta" from Kiss of the Spider Woman or "With or Without You" by U2

Bryce Pinkham

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/7f026c9f950703e48736ef0ed3a130c0-dsc-1213.jpg
Bryce Pinkham Monica Simoes

"My Heart Will Go On." Next question.

Kevin Dwight Daniels Jr.
"Look Ma, I Made It" from Nunsense 2

Nikki Renee Daniels
Whatever they give me!

Molly Ranson
"Since I Fell for You"

Emma Hunton
I try to pick songs that are appropriate to the audition I'm going on. I've used everything from Simon and Garfunkle to Stephen Schwartz to Stevie Nicks.

Van Hughes
When I met Dolly Parton at the 9 to 5 audition, I sang "Something" and played along with my ukulele. She said, "I bet you threw that yodel in just for me!"

Kerry O'Malley
"What Did I Have That I Don't Have" from On A Clear Day

Matt Shingledecker
"All I Need Is the Girl" from Gypsy

Jason Tam
"Sometimes A Day Goes By"

Alice Ripley

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/b44a49c7ac71e6eb51bd724ad77df146-hr-alice-ripley.jpg
Alice Ripley

Like I'm gonna give that away!

Jenn Harris
I have nice, somber "Bui-Doi," Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," and "Glitter in the Air" with props, but I have to allow clean up time.

Gabriel Ebert
"Good Thing Going" from Merrily We Roll Along

Gavin Lee
If I'm stuck for an appropriate song I always fall back on my standard "I Got Rhythm," sung in whatever accent is required.

Terri White
"Who Can I Turn To?"

Randy Graff
"Come Summer" by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh

Bryce Ryness
It's a stickey wicket, but I normally sing something of my own.

Jennifer Damiano

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/c7e037141a217ccb4afc68be9228cef0-bsg-macys-hr-2799.jpg
Jennifer Damiano Monica Simoes

"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia

Corbin Bleu
"What Is It About Her?" from The Wild Party

Caren Lyn Manuel
"Acid Queen"

Michael Esper
"Boxcar" by Jawbreaker

Stephen Kunken
"I Feel Pretty" or "Rose's Turn." Depends on the day.

Noah Robbins
The opening scene of "8 Mile"

Rachel de Benedet
"How Can I Quit Now?" cut from The Last Smoker in America

Alan Campbell
Cole Porter's "Girls" and an old Platters song.

Maxwell Caulfield
"Sunset Boulevard"

Matt Cavenaugh
Oh jeez. Whatever song they send me to learn. Truthfully, my audition book is pretty bad.

Sarah Stiles

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/d881ed5d4f9b234fe5e48bed460b40ba-hr-sarah-stiles.jpeg
Sarah Stiles

"What More Do I Need?"

Gregg Edeman
Audition? WHERE?!

Michele Pawk
"Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long" and "Once Upon a Time"

Jackie Hoffman
"The Border Song" by Doug Cohen

Jay Klaitz
Beyonce's "Single Ladies" Andy Karl
Haven't had one since the last time Jay Binder made fun of me singing "This Is the Moment" years ago.

Hugh Panaro
"I Love You As Much As I Am Able" from Little Me

Joshua Henry

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/d056468090cc97529e5664ad05d62573-1.%20Joshua%20Henry.jpg
Joshua Henry

"I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw

Emily Skinner
"I've Got What You Want" from The Apple Tree. Seemed wise to be blatant right away… ahem.

Natalie Cortez
Could I just sing from the score, please?

Carolee Carmello
"Golden Rainbow"

Sierra Boggess
"If I Loved You" from Carousel

Stark Sands
"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin

Celia Keenan-Bolger
"Is It Really Me?" from 110 in the Shade

Michael Arden

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/2f46a3f2cf0874e7bf11deed7059bc1e-tonyportraits-2016-1801.jpg
Michael Arden
Monica Simoes

"Desperado" John O'Hurley
"Mr. Clown"

Bianca Marroquin
"I'm Way Ahead" from Seesaw

Ruben Santiago-Hudson
"Family" from Dreamgirls

Beth Leavel
"I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me"

 
RELATED:
Recommended Reading:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!