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50 Best Age-Appropriate Theater Audition Songs for Teens

November 15, 2021

50 Best Age-Appropriate Theater Audition Songs for Teens

MO - 50 Best Age-Appropriate Theater Audition Songs for Teens

As a teen, it’s important to choose an audition song that not only shows off your voice, but is also age-appropriate. Here, voice teacher Molly R. shares a few tips for selecting your song, plus 50 top picks for the best theater audition songs for teen girls and boys.

It’s wonderful to be a teen musical theater performer! There are so many great opportunities at this age – high school productions, community theater, and even professional theater for a lucky few.

But it’s not always easy to choose the perfect musical theater audition song. In this post, you’ll find top recommendations for audition songs for boys and girls, but you’ll also want to keep a couple of things in mind…

What Are Good Songs to Audition With?

If you’re looking for good theater audition songs for teens, you’ve come to the right place! Here are some of the best tunes to belt at your next audition.

Best Musical Theater Audition Songs (Female):

  • 1. “Frank Mills” — Hair
  • 2. “I’m Not At All In Love” — The Pajama Game
  • 3. “Think of Me” — Phantom of the Opera
  • 4. “Beautiful Candy” — Carnival
  • 5. “Mama Who Bore Me” — Spring Awakening
  • 6. “Once Upon a Dream” — Jekyll and Hyde
  • 7. “How Can I Wait?” — Paint Your Wagon
  • 8. “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” — My Fair Lady
  • 9. “Don’t Rain On My Parade” — Funny Girl
  • 10. “Tryouts” — Bring It On: The Musical

Best Musical Theater Audition Songs (Male):

  • 1. “Ten Minutes Ago” — Cinderella
  • 2. “This is the Moment” — Jekyll and Hyde
  • 3. “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” — Les Misérables
  • 4. “I Believe” — The Book of Mormon
  • 5. “One Song Glory” — Rent
  • 6. “Where Do I Go?” — Hair
  • 7. “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” — Guys and Dolls
  • 8. “I, Huckleberry, Me” — Big River
  • 9. “Proud of Your Boy” — Aladdin
  • 10. “Her Face” — Carnival

Still not satisfied – and looking for more of the best theater audition songs for teens? Keep reading to discover more!

How Do You Pick a Musical Theatre Audition Song?

When you’re trying to find the best musical theater audition songs to nail your performance, ask yourself the following questions.

What is the production staff looking for?

If they say “don’t sing from the show,” then don’t! However, you DO want to find something as close as possible to the show in question.

For example, is the company doing an edgier show like “Rent”? If so, you may want to sing an audition song from a show like “Spring Awakening” or even “Hair”. If they’re doing an older classic like “Carousel”, consider something else by Rodgers and Hammerstein, like “South Pacific”, or something from the same era, like “My Fair Lady”.

What is your vocal range?

If you’re an alto, then choosing audition songs for mezzo-soprano musical theater aren’t going to help you much. 

You need to choose theater audition songs that will let you express the very best features of your singing voice – and you’re not going to be able to do that if you’re trying to sing too high or too low for your natural range. 

Even if you can hit the notes in a song, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best fit for your voice. The best musical theater audition songs will be ones that you can sing relatively easily – as well as those that really showcase your voice’s unique attributes and range. 

What theater audition songs suit YOU?

What is your type? Are you more of the leading man? The sweet ingenue? Maybe you’re a sassy belter, or a character actor.

The good news is that there is a huge variety of songs that are appropriate (and fun) for teen musical theater performers. This list includes songs for all types of voices and personalities, with several different styles and time periods. While many of these songs and tried-and-true classics, many are lesser-known and will delight your audition panel.

If you really aren’t sure how to choose the best musical theater audition songs, even after looking at our list, that’s okay! Scroll through your Spotify playlist and take a look at your most-listened-to theater tunes. 

Which ones stand out? Which ones do you find yourself singing along to, belting out the lyrics as you drive to school every day? While you will need to find theater audition songs that match your range and vocal style, you should also try to find one that you really love so you don’t mind practicing it all the time!

What kind of role are you auditioning for?

Although the best musical theater audition songs will be those that showcase your voice and range, it can be helpful to choose a song that matches the role or genre you are auditioning for.

Be sure to check the audition guidelines. Sometimes, you have to choose from a list of pre-approved songs or you might have to prepare multiple song choices. 

Whatever the case may be, don’t choose a popular song that you think the audition panel will want to hear if you struggle to sound good while you’re singing it. Choose one that’s right for your abilities! 

50 Best Theater Audition Songs for Teens

No matter what kind of production you’re trying to get a role in, these theater audition songs for teens and kids will help you land the role each and every time. 

25 Best Musical Theater Audition Songs for Teen Girls

These are some of the best musical theater audition songs for teen girls to consider. 

1. “Frank Mills” — Hair

2. “I’m Not At All In Love” — The Pajama Game
3. “Think of Me” — Phantom of the Opera
4. “Beautiful Candy” — Carnival
5. “Mama Who Bore Me” — Spring Awakening

6. “Once Upon a Dream” — Jekyll and Hyde

7. “How Can I Wait?” — Paint Your Wagon
8. “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?” — My Fair Lady
9. “Don’t Rain On My Parade” — Funny Girl
10. “Tryouts” — Bring It On: The Musical
11. “My Big French Boyfriend” — The Toxic Avenger
12. “Love Makes Such Fools of Us All” — Barnum
13. “A Wonderful Guy” — South Pacific
14. “Sing Happy” — Flora the Red Menace

15. “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” — Camelot
16. “Astonishing” — Little Women
17. “Live Out Loud” — A Little Princess
18. “So In Love” — Kiss Me Kate
19. “Heaven Help My Heart” — Chess
20. “Out of My Dreams” — Oklahoma!
21. “Still Hurting” — The Last Five Years
22. “The Finer Things” — Jane Eyre: The Musical

23. “Once Upon a Time” — Brooklyn: The Musical
24. “Once You Lose Your Heart” — Me and My Girl
25. “Waitin’ for My Dearie” — Brigadoon

25 Best Musical Theater Audition Songs for Teen Boys

If you’re a guy, it can be tough to find the musical theater audition song that matches your voice and range. Here are some potential picks.

1. “Ten Minutes Ago” — Cinderella

2. “This is the Moment” — Jekyll and Hyde
3. “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” — Les Misérables
4. “I Believe” — The Book of Mormon
5. “One Song Glory” — Rent
6. “Where Do I Go?” — Hair
7. “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” — Guys and Dolls
8. “I, Huckleberry, Me” — Big River
9. “Proud of Your Boy” — Aladdin

10. “Her Face” — Carnival
11. “It’s All Right With Me” — Can-Can
12. “Fallin’” — They’re Playing Our Song
13. “On the Street Where You Live” — My Fair Lady
14. “Sarah” — The Civil War
15. “I’m a Bad, Bad Man” — Annie Get Your Gun
16. “Real Live Girl” — Little Me

Video Courtesy of MasterWorks Broadway

17. “Anthem” — Chess
18. “Love, I Hear” — A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
19. “Momma, Look Sharp” — 1776
20. “Love Changes Everything” — Aspects of Love
21. “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” — Oklahoma!

22. “Me” — Beauty and the Beast
23. “Passeggiata” — The Light in the Piazza
24. “Make Them Hear You” — Ragtime
25. “Santa Fe” — Newsies”

Final Tips for Finding the Right Theater Audition Songs

One last audition tip -I recommend being prepared with a few solid songs, as you never know if they’ll ask for more! Your repertoire book should have a variety of audition songs that include old and new shows, a song from a pop/rock musical, and at least one Disney song that suits you. And of course, make sure that you’ve had adequate time to practice and prepare before the audition.

If you’re confused about what to select or how to sing it, consult a voice teacher near you, or find one online. A professional vocal coach will ensure that your voice is prepped and ready for your next audition. Have fun exploring the world of musical theater, and break a leg!

mollyrPost Author: Molly R.
Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013. Learn more about Molly here!

Photo by TED Conference

author
Molly R. teaches online and in-person singing lessons in Hayward, CA. Her specialties include teaching beginner vocalists, shy singers, children, teens, lapsed singers, and older beginners. She joined TakeLessons in November 2013.

Molly R.