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Musical Theatre Songs: Songs To Add To Your Repertoire
16th November 2021
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16th November 2021
Are you on the lookout for musical theatre songs to add to your repertoire? Whether you want to wow casting directors at auditions or simply practice new songs, we’ve got you covered with a list of the best musical theatre songs for different voice types.
Alto – a low female (or boy’s) voice.
‘As Long as He Needs Me’ is one of the most well-known musical theatre songs for women with lower voices. Everyone in the audition will be familiar with it, so you need to go above and beyond to impress. You can either belt it or sing it more softly, the music will work both ways.
Do you need to portray emotional depth in an audition? ‘There Are Worse Things I Could Do’ is a heart-breaking piece that will do just that. Stockard Channing is easily the most famous Rizzo, but Jacquelyne Jones proves that you can really make the role your own.
If you’re a pop singer, a belter, or you have a more classical sound, ‘The Winner Takes It All’ is a perfect pop audition song for altos.
Soprano – female singers who sing in high range.
This song is perfect for a soprano with its high notes and storytelling. It’s not one of the most famous songs from Avenue Q, which can often work in your favour, meaning hopefully fewer people might sing it in an audition so you’ll stand out.
This soprano heartbreaker, with its sweeping melody, is sure to turn heads.
Although this is a renowned song, if done well it can really impress a casting director.
Baritone – a male singing voice of medium compass between bass and tenor.
Are you auditioning for a character who’s rebellious? Then, a Disney villain song is the perfect choice. ‘Me’ is a great option as it’s super easy to settle into the pleasant, lilting melody, but you’ll need brilliant acting skills to make it your own.
This baritone musical theatre song is often a little overdone, however, if you feel you can sing it well, it’s almost impossible to resist. Just make sure you can make those big notes soar!
Anytime you need an easy baritone musical theatre song, Rodgers and Hammerstein are your guys! Their musicals are packed with songs that are delightful to listen to and easy to sing, the dream combination. This song from Cinderella is no different; it’s charming, melodic, and you can get the tune down quickly. Top tip – make sure you have a seamless transition from the low to high end of your range — you’ll need it to make the higher notes feel effortless.
Mezzo Soprano – a female singer with a voice pitched between soprano and contralto.
Alan J. Lerner wrote this song, and the music is by Frederick Loewe. Julie Andrews performed and popularized this song on Broadway, perfect for a mezzo singer.
Doretta Morrow and Larry Douglas sang this song. Other artists like Julie Andrews, Doris Day, and Betty Johnson also recorded this song. It’s a brilliant audition piece.
Somewhere is a song from the 1957 musical West Side Story. Reri Grist sang this on Broadway and P.J Proby and the Supremes performed other renditions. Another amazing addition to your repertoire.
The Sound of Music is the title song of the same title play in 1959. Richard Rodgers composed the song with lyrics written by Oscar Hammerstein II. Pattie Page famously sang the song on Broadway and Julie Andrews sang the song in the film in 1965. This song is challenging but beautiful and will be impressive in an audition.
Tenor – the highest natural adult male singing voice.
This song perfectly compliments a tenor voice, with its passion and emotion flowing through.
Another strong choice to add to your repertoire as a tenor.
This song can create a really powerful performance, when done well.
Here are a few of the best contemporary musical theatre songs:
These are a few of the best musical theatre dance songs:
‘Step in Time’, is a classic high-energy dance number. With slow-motion movements and characters walking on the ceiling, the production won the best choreography award at the 2005 Olivier Awards.
Whilst it’s choreography may be simple, “Dancing Through Life” is a dazzling song in Wicked. The song is one of the longest in the production yet features the entire company and is led by Fiyero.
It’s almost impossible not to dance to this song! If you’re wanting the time of your life in the West End, then Mamma Mia! is definitely the place to go.
‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ is a spectacular dance number in Hairspray. The fast tempo makes you want to get up, dance and join in the fun!
If you’re looking for something comical to add to your musical theatre repertoire, try one of these:
‘My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada’ from Avenue Q (2003) by Lopez & Marx will have people laughing in no time. In fact, almost any song from Avenue Q will be a winner if you’re looking for a funny and entertaining musical theatre song. Listen to it here.
‘Miss Baltimore Crabs’ from Hairspray (2002) by Shaiman & Whittman is an excellent choice for a comedic song. Watch the scene from the film here.
‘Class’ from Chicago (2002) by Kander & Ebb is a great funny musical theatre suggestion.
That was our guide on musical theatre songs to add to your repertoire. No matter which voice type you have, there’s a song in there for everyone. So, get practicing and soon you’ll be stunning casting directors and landing your dream roles in musicals. Best of luck!
If you want to find out more about theatre, check out Physical Theatre: What Is Physical Theatre.
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