Revitalising your repertoire - more music theatre audition songs for teens
We are so thrilled that so many people have read our blog on Music Theatre Audition Songs for Teenagers, that we thought we’d add a few more songs to the list! There are countless songs that are great for auditions, but remember to make sure you’ve chosen one that sits comfortably in your range, is in a style close to the show you’re going for and about a topic you ‘get’. Of course it also helps if you enjoy singing it! One of the songs below may hit the mark for you, or start you on a journey to finding another perfect song. And don't forget to warm up thoroughly with Warm Me Up before launching into a practice session.
“There Is A Sucker Born Every Minute” from Barnum
This fun song has a great tune and a brash, confident tempo. As with all songs, make sure every word is understandable! Any of the Warm Me Up exercises from the Mouth Workout category will be really useful in your preparation. Try it with a cheeky smile, because even though the lyric is a little dry, you really want to play against that, and let the bounce in the music carry the subtext. Don’t forget, the audience need to love Barnum, a bit like a likeable used car salesman!
“Shy” from Once Upon A Mattress
Did you know Sarah Jessica Parker was a child actor on Broadway? She even played “Annie” for a year in the original production. And just prior to her success in Sex And The City, she appeared in this Broadway revival of Once Upon A Mattress (1996). This signature song from that show is really for belters, can easily be cut or halved, and gets to the point pretty quickly, making it very suitable for auditions. We’ve got SJP below, and then rare footage of Carol Burnett performing the number on a TV special.
“My New Philosophy” from You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
This is one for the comediennes- it’s a great song, it’s funny, it can be edited for length, and it gives the singer a chance to show their vocal chops and comedic skills. As you can see from the video, the song is sung to another character, so prepare carefully when you’re doing it alone. Maybe if you’re in doubt try it before a friend first, to check that what you’re doing is clear. Also see how Kristen Chenoweth carefully chooses different registers for different sections- making these choices in preparation will also help.
“Extra-ordinary” from Pippin
A Broadway revival of Pippin opened just days ago, so it’s a good time to remember its fabulous score by Stephen Schwartz. This song has a really lovely mid-tempo feel, and the melody and lyric has a comfortable charm. Check out this version from the original cast in 1981. The song starts around 1.20 in the clip, but what happens beforehand helps in understanding its context.
"My House" from Matilda
This stunning song by Tim Minchin is destined to become a modern classic. In the show it's a woman's song but here the composer does it beautifully showing how it can be sung equally well by guys or girls (obviously, you might need to do a tricky transposition). If you really think about the text and the lyric you're singing, you'll find the dynamics and phrasing fall naturally into place. Also, it's worth looking at the rest of the Matilda soundtrack as there are a few great options for younger singers that you may well want to include in repertoire.