Audition Song and Monologue Suggestions

Hi! I'm so excited you've found me. Please read the rules linked below before you write in. Send requests as Asks if possible. I'll accept DMs, but Asks are much easier to publish. Include what show and/or role you're auditioning for, your vocal range and other useful info such as how long your cut needs to be.

[cumdumpstiel]

so cool how advanced the algorithm has become, it literally only takes like a decade or more of spying on all my internet activity and then it can expertly curate a selection of 15-20 youtube videos that i don't really want to watch, and then keep showing me those videos over and over again for a week so i can scroll past them again. the future is now

[auditionsuggestions]

Show Breakdowns - Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812

Great Comet, my beloved! This show is still somehow so underrated. I'm constantly looking for productions of it to audition for. I maintain that it should've won for Best Score at the 2017 Tony Awards. It's such an innovative mash of genres and its sung-through and it lifts so much text straight from War and Peace. It's such a weird little thing, but I love when the characters narrate their own actions or other people's actions. It's such a lovely little theatre-y bit of theatre.

What I really love about this score is how much variation in timbre and vocal quality there is across the cast. In both the Off-Broadway Cast Recording and the Broadway Cast Recording you can tell who's singing immediately and you get so much information about who the character is from their voice and the actor's vocal choices.

The Dance/Movement requirements here are a guess, productions can vary greatly in what movement they have for the principals. Also, everyone's got nine different names, so I'm using as many as possible.

Natalia Ilyinichna "Natasha" Rostova

Playing Age: Late teens (19 in the book)

Leading Role

Range: G3-F#5 Soprano with a strong mix or a bright, light mezzo

Dance Requirement: Some Movement

"Natasha is young. She loves Andrey with all her heart." Natasha is a bit of a deconstruction of the stereotypical ingenue. She's beautiful, young, trusting, naive, and romantic. However, she's also easily led, impulsive, and a bit spoiled (mostly spoiled sweet, but she definitely has her moments of brattiness, as most teenagers do).

Suggested Songs: In My Dreams, Anastasia; My Fairy Story, The Light Princess; The Ballad of Jane Doe, Ride the Cyclone (Maybe hard to cut); Who Is This Man, Death Takes a Holiday; You're There, Doctor Zhivago; The Mist, Dracula

Pyotr Kirilovich "Pierre" Bezukhov

Playing Age: 28 (though referred to as "old man" by many as he looks older and more worn than his age)

Leading Role

Range: G2-B4, a rich baritone (note: the B4 only happens in one place: "So I shall be killed! What is it to you?" in The Duel and that's kinda half-shouted anyway. Otherwise it's a G4)

Dance Requirement: Maybe some movement

*Instrument: Typically, Pierre plays accordion and piano.*

"Our merry, feasting crank. Our most dear, most kind, most smart and eccentric, a warm-hearted Russian of the old-school. His purse is always empty Because it's open to all." Pierre is Count Bezukhov. Legitimized by his dying father, he was raised as a bastard and has not adjusted well to his sudden jump in rank. He was more or less seduced into marrying Helene Kuragina. Pierre is low self-esteem in human form. He hates himself and his entire situation, but still somehow remains kind. He's also weirdly obsessed with the idea that he's destined to kill Napoleon. Andrey is his best friend.

Suggested songs: I Thought that I Could Live, Death Takes a Holiday; Centuries, Death Takes a Holiday; The Neva Flows, Anastasia; If I Can't Love Her, Beauty and the Beast; Anthem, Chess; Funny, City of Angels; Ashes and Tears, Doctor Zhivago (the ending needs to be arranged for a solo--I might do this myself in the future); Yuri's Decision, Doctor Zhivago; Who is She, Doctor Zhivago; There Was a Barber and His Wife, Sweeney Todd

Sofya Alexandrovna "Sonya" Rostova

Playing age: Early 20s (22 in the novel)

Supporting Role

Range: F#3-E5, typically a darker, warmer mezzo, but could be played by a contralto

Dance Requirement: Some Movement

"Sonya is good. Natasha's cousin and closest friend." Taken in by her uncle, Count Rostov, after she was orphaned, Sonya is loyal to a fault. She has the type of quiet courage that holds families together. Sonya is much more sensible than her cousin. She feels everything very deeply, but never really allows it to show.

Suggested Songs: When the Music Played, Doctor Zhivago; Natalya, Preludes; I Read, Passion; Not Even You, Sense and Sensibility; Some Things Fall Away, Alice by Heart

Marya Dimitrievna Akhrosimova

Playing age: 40s-50s

Supporting Role

Range: F3-E5, mezzo or contralto, Grace McLean plays the role with a lot of grit in her voice on the OBCR

Dance Requirement: Likely little

"Marya is old-school. A grand dame of Moscow." Marya is Natasha's godmother and serves as her and Sonya's chaperone while they're in Moscow. She is formidable and strong, and perhaps a touch overbearing, though incredibly loving.

Suggested Songs: Land of Yesterday, Anastasia; Isn't it a Trial, Alice by Heart; Off With Their Heads, Wonderland

Anatoly Vasilevich "Anatole" Kuragin

Playing Age: 20s (younger than Pierre and Helene, but older than Natasha)

Supporting Role

Range: B2-C#5, tenor with a strong upper mix or falsetto

Dance Requirement: Some Movement

*Instrument Requirement: Anatole typically plays violin*

"Anatole is hot. He spends his money on women and wine." A noted playboy, womanizer, hedonist, and all-around cocky jerkass, Anatole gets by on his good looks and charm. He's not particularly intelligent, but he's conniving and manipulative enough to make up for it. Dolokhov is his best friend

Suggested Songs: Superstar, Jesus Christ Superstar; What’s the Buzz/Strange Thing Mystifying, Jesus Christ Superstar; I’m Alive, Next to Normal (Overdone); Pity the Child, Chess; Noel's Lament, Ride the Cyclone; It's a Godsend, Doctor Zhivago

Helena Vasilevna "Helene" Bezukhova (née Kuragina)

Playing Age: Mid-to-late 20s

Supporting Role

Range: G3-F5, mezzo or contralto, Amber Gray is another actor with a lot of unique texture to her voice

Dance Requirement: Some Movement

"Helene is a slut. Anatole's sister, married to Pierre." Helene is exactly as conniving and manipulative as her brother, but with fewer romantic sensibilities. She is a serial cheater (she mostly with Dolokhov, but she will generally just sleep with anyone she wants to) and has nothing but contempt for Pierre. Helene married Pierre for the money and rank he inherited upon his father's death and that remains her only use for him.

Suggested Songs: Living it Up on Top, Hadestown; A Call from the Vatican, Nine; I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You, Evita; Hey Big Spender, Sweet Charity (maybe. The choreo is almost too iconic here, but musically it's such a good fit); Isn't it a Trial, Alice by Heart; An Old Fashioned Love Story from Lippa’s Wild Party; Gussie’s part of Growing Up from Merrily We Roll Along; Bring on the Men, Jekyll & Hyde; Good 'n Evil, Jekyll & Hyde

Fyodor Ivanovich "Fedya" Dolokhov

(almost exclusively called by his surname in the show)

Playing Age: Early-to-mid 20s

Supporting Role

Range: A2-E4, technically a baritone but can be played by a tenor with a strong lower extension. Nick Choksi has a color to his voice that makes me think he's a tenor, but y'know timbre and voice type are different things. Also needs facility with patter for the song Preparations.

Dance Requirement: Some Movement

*Instrument Requirement: Dolokhov typically plays guitar*

"Dolokhov is fierce, but not too important. Anatole's friend a crazy good shot." And "Dolokhov was in the Caucasus and he killed the Shah's brother. Now all the Moscow ladies are mad about him. Dolokhov, The Assassin." Dolokhov normally has custody of the single braincell he and Anatole seem to share. He can be as mean and nasty as Helene and Anatole, but his singular saving grace is his overwhelming love for his mother and sister. Dolokhov is also Helene's regular affair partner.

Suggested Songs: In Praise of Women, A Little Night Music; Now, A Little Night Music; Proud Lady, The Baker's Wife; Franklin Shephard Inc, Merrily We Roll Along (only IF you have an accompanist you KNOW can play it); I Am Aldolpho, The Drowsy Chaperone (maybe a little too comedic); It's a Godsend, Doctor Zhivago; No Mercy at All, Doctor Zhivago

Marya Nikolaevna "Princess Mary" Bolkonskaya

(note: she's referred to as Mary Bolkonsky in the show, but Bolkonskaya is the correct Russian form of her surname--names are gendered in Russian)

Playing Age: Mid-to-late 20s

"Minor Character"

Range: G3-B5 (maybe C6, the music in the opera sequence is noted as an "operatic gliss; pitch approximate).

Dance Requirement: Likely little

"And Mary is plain." Andrey's very religious sister who is essentially trapped as the caregiver to their senile and cruel father. Mary tries her best to befriend Natasha as she's deeply lonely and is regularly verbally and emotionally abused by her father, but the personalities of the two are quintessentially at odds. Mary also plays the Opera Singer in the opera sequence in Act I and Maid Servant in The Abduction.

Suggested Songs: The Love You Feel, The Light in the Piazza; When the World was Mine, The Count of Monte Cristo; Why Do They Shut Me Out of Heaven by Aaron Copland (not musical theatre, but very in line with what Mary has to do musically in the show, it's an atonal piece, and with her character)

Old Prince Bolkonsky/Andrey Bolkonsky

Playing Age: Late 20s-Early 30s, age makeup is used for Old Prince Bolkonsky

Range: Ab3-F4, baritone. Actor needs facility with character voices to differentiate Old Prince Bolkonsky from Andrey (the actor's natural voice)

Dane Requirement: None

"Old Prince Bolkonsky is crazy." "And Andrey isn't here." Old Prince Bolkonsky is Andrey and Mary's abusive, senile father. He makes a sport of being as unkind as possible to as many people as have the misfortune to encounter him (aside from the sex workers he hires, partly for his own desires, but mainly to scandalize and terrorize Mary). Andrey is Natasha's fiance, Mary's brother, and Pierre's best friend. For 99% of the show, he's away fighting in the Napoleonic War. Widowed in his early 20s (Natasha would be his second wife) and beaten down by the trauma of war, Andrey is tired, more than anything else.

Suggested songs: Komarovsky's Lament, Doctor Zhivago; Temporarily Lost, Bridges of Madison County;

Balaga

Playing Age: Adult (Balaga is basically one of the fair folk in my mind).

Cameo Role (one scene/song wonder--a total show stealer)

Range: A2-E4, tenor or baritone, tends to be sung with a lot of grit and growl

Dance Requirement: Probably. Definitely needs to have a strong sense of physicality and movement.

"Balaga's just for fun." "The famous troika driver!" Anatole and Dolokhov hire him to drive their sleigh for all their wild adventures and he's happy to go along with it all. Also exists and an ensemble member.

Suggested Songs: Noel's Lament, Ride the Cyclone; It's a Godsend, Doctor Zhivago; Backstage Romance, Moulin Rouge (If you can cut it. Good luck. I will not be figuring out a solo cut of this); A Man Could Go Quite Mad, The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Both Sides of the Coin, The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Hook's Tarantella, Peter Pan (this is such a stupid song, but I love it and if you ham it up the way you should, it kinda feels perfect for Balaga).

[quasi-normalcy]

I’m not trying to turn your kids trans; that’s stupid. I’m trying to turn them into socialists.

[quasi-normalcy]

#for real tho! their gender is their business but class struggle is everyone’s business

[auditionsuggestions]

Guess who's back! (well, almost)

Hey everyone, I'm done with grad school. I just got one of my two expensive pieces of paper in the mail yesterday that even says so (the Advanced Certificate came, but I'm still waiting on the one that says "Master of Music"). I'll be opening up the ask box again hopefully soon, just gotta get into the right headspace again because sometimes my brain goes full Pingu. Y'know the thing:

In the mean time, I have some thoughts/an anecdote from filming a self tape the other day.

I did the material and thought I had takes that I liked, then I watched them back to pick the ones I would send (there were 3 different songs in the packet). I hated every single one. The acting choices were ok, but hindered by the vocals (the mid and lower range stuff was fine, but I was pulling wayyyy too much head voice into the mix and belt at the top, so it ended up sounding thin and way to musical theatre-y for the score, which requires a more pop/contemporary sound). I sat and pondered a bit and realized that I was trying to sound like what I thought the casting directors wanted (which I really can't know beyond thinking about who has played the role previously and even then, a lot of people have played this role). So, I scrapped everything and re-recorded the cuts. I was SO much happier with the new takes. They felt like me and the acting opened up because I wasn't focused on fitting myself into a box. Writing this now, I think back to what my voice teacher at a summer program I did a few years ago said. Paraphrased: your voice is your voice. Sing the song the way it fits for you.

One of the things I learned about myself while getting my MMus is that I don't have a small voice. In fact, it turns out I actually have a rather large one, especially for musical theatre (and also my size. I'm not even 5'3"--I'm just shy of 159cm for my metric folks--I just round up on my resume...). I was never gonna fit into trying to sing the material like the actor who originated the role I submitted for. And when I tried to, I ended up making choices that both feel inauthentic and didn't serve me from a technique standpoint. If anything, those choices made singing the higher notes in the right style SO much harder, also it sounded bad.

TL;DR: Don't try to make yourself into what you think the casting team is looking for.

(caveat: within reason, please don't go belting something like I Could Have Danced All Night; caveat to the caveat: every rule has a situation where it can be broken. Ex. if you're in a cabaret where you're deliberately experimenting with singing songs "wrong" GO FOR IT).

[auditionsuggestions]

An update:

Hi friends, I'll be working to answer the asks currently sitting in my inbox, but I just want to give a heads up that I am EXTREMELY busy with grad school right now and so will be closing the ask box for a little bit. Thanks for your understanding and I hope to get back to answering asks soon!

[auditionsuggestions]

Halloween-y Musicals

Tis the spooky season. Here are some musicals and movie musicals for you to explore for this Halloween season! Some of these you'll know, others you won't.

The ones you probably know:

Little Shop of Horrors

Sweeney Todd

Beetlejuice

Carrie

Addams Family

Jekyll & Hyde

Phantom of the Opera

The Rocky Horror Show

The ones you might not know:

Lizzie

Evil Dead

Zombie Prom

Toxic Avenger

Repo! The Genetic Opera, Devil's Carnival (and its sequel--even if Zdunich is a repugnant person, but that's another post entirely. Also definitely some trigger warnings for most things really for DC).

Nevermore

Jasper in Deadland

American Psycho

Lestat

Tanz Der Vampir (NOT THE BROADWAY VERSION)

Dracula (there is an English version, but my hatred of the actor who sings the title role makes me unable to link that version in good faith. It's one thing to be creepy and repugnant. It's another to be a literal criminal).

Phantom (the Yeston and Kopit version)

Nerdy Prudes Must Die (I don't think this album has dropped yet).

[auditionsuggestions]

hi, i’m auditioning for a high school-age production of urinetown really soon, do you have any 32-64 bar-friendly recommendations for penelope pennywise??

Sure thing! You could look at something like "All Falls Down" from Chaplin (a little done, but great if you can nail it) (this cut here is great). Since Urinetown is very Kurt Weill-y in places, you could try something like Barbara Song from Threepenny Opera (I'd say just sing it through once, no repeats and you'll have a decent cut). Or if you want to lean into something more contemporary sounding, take a look at Isn't it a Trial from Alice by Heart. Based off this recording here, take the first minute, but then cut to here and sing to the end.

Break a leg!

[auditionsuggestions]

(hi again, im the previous ask for monologue suggestions for the curious incident of the dog in the night time)

Though I'm still thinking about it, I'm mainly considering going for Mrs. Shears/Eileen Shears or Mrs. Alexander, if this is useful

"hi!! In a couple months I’m auditioning for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, and am looking for monologue to do. About a minute long, just to showcase my acting ability. Sorry if this has been asked before, but thanks!!"

Hi! Sorry for the delay (I'm in class from 8 to 5 most days and rehearsal 7 to 10 M-F, plus 8 hrs of reh on Saturday, so I'm a little shorter on time than usual).

Even though none of them are Christopher's mother, something more maternal may work well. Try some of these that I recommended here.

Break a leg!

[auditionsuggestions]

Hey there! I struggle at finding monolouges and could really use some help finding one. I need a monolouge by September 18th for a comedy role as narrator 2 in the play: The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon, for school. Sorry for the late notice but it would be greatly appreciated if you could perchance find one, if not don't worry about it. Thank you! ^^

I know it's not exactly the same type of narrator, but try these monologues that I suggested here (Narrator for Narrator?)

[auditionsuggestions]

Hi! My School's doing The Lightning Thief musical and I'm planning on auditioning for Annabeth. I have I'd Rather be me from mean girls picked out as my song but also need a one minute monologue from a different musical/play if anyone has any suggestions!

You could try Agnes's Monologue from She Kills Monsters for a dramatic take (heads up, this text does have a typo. It should be George Michael, not George Michaels). You could also look at Joy Ride's monologue.

Break a leg!!

[auditionsuggestions]

hiii! so im hearing a lot of rumors that the spring show at my company is gonna be legally blonde, and if it is i’d want to go for elle! just in case, do you have any song/monologue recommendations for her?

Hi there! The (comedic/ditzy) monologues here and here could work for Elle. For songs, look at Someday from The Wedding Singer, My Strongest Suit from Aida, or Here I Am from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Break a leg!

[auditionsuggestions]

So, I’ve searched the page and haven’t had luck finding anything for this show!

I need song and monologue ideas for Sherrie in Rock of Ages. I am a Belter/Soprano. I get 90 seconds for song and up to a 2 minute slot for monologue. Thank you!

Ah! Fun. Monologues, I'd say go for your strongest comedic contemporary monologue. If you don't have one off the top of your head though, take a look at Elise from Incendiary and She from Sweet and Twenty.

For songs, Pat Benetar ("Hit Me With Your Best Shot" or "Heartbreaker"), Blondie ("The Tide is High" or "Heart of Glass"), maybe even some Linda Ronstadt (Tracks of My Tears or You're No Good) would work well. You could also try "It Must've Been Love" by Roxette. Just take a verse and a chorus of the song and you should get pretty close to 90 seconds. If it's a little short, throw in the bridge between the verse and chorus.

Break a leg!!

(also thank you for checking the blog, I really do appreciate it).

[auditionsuggestions]

hi i’m starting drama school in September and i’m needing a dramatic monologue from a musical to use! wonder if you can be any please!

Oooh. From a musical specifically. That's fun. My favorite dramatic monologue from a musical is Louise's Monologue. It's got a lot of room to play and really high stakes, especially for not being a song. Maggie's monologue in the middle of At the Ballet ("I don't know what they were for or against, really.") would work (hers is the only fully spoken monologue in that song, iirc). You could also try Maria's monologue from Sound of Music where she's calling out the Captain on not actually knowing his children as people.

Break a leg!!

[auditionsuggestions]

haii i’m back and with a much more opportune timed question this time-

i’m thinking of auditioning for louisa in the sound of music in about a month and am in need of a song ! if it’s any help i’m a mezzo(?) with little to no vocal training so the less belting the better 👍

Yay! Luckily Liesl is a mezzo who doesn't really need to belt. "How Lovely to Be A Woman" from Bye Bye Birdie may work (might be a touch high for a mezzo, but give it a go and see how it feels). "The Earth and Other Minor Things" from Gigi could be a nice choice. Or you could look at "I Could Be Happy With You" from The Boyfriend (I'm pretty sure there are solo arrangements out there). Also, if you need to transpose anything down a half-step (selecting the key that says -1 next to it on musicnotes), I don't think it would be a problem. "A Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific may also be a nice choice.

Break a leg!

[auditionsuggestions]

Your tumblr has been such a huge help and encouragement. Do you know of other tumblrs or blogs you can recommend that are good to follow for recommendations for songs and monologues? Thanks

Thank you so much! I love to hear that. Idk how active they are anymore, but https://themoment-before.tumblr.com/ and https://mtsheetmusic.tumblr.com/ both have great song recs. Monologue recs are a bit rarer to find. Again, not sure if the blog is still active, but https://themonologuecollection.tumblr.com/ has a good collection of material.

[auditionsuggestions]

hi! i'm auditioning for my drama school's production of alice by heart for the character of alice. we've been told to choose a song in the style of the show. i know that a lot of people will do spring awakening, so i was wondering if you have any suggestions?

I get that. Spring Awakening is the obvious choice there. You'll want to take a look at some things that are a little more pop/rock leaning in terms of MT like All Grown Up from Bare or A Girl Before from American Psycho, If The World Should End from Spider-man, or The Girl Who Drove Away from The Mad Ones.

Break a leg!

[auditionsuggestions]

From @stargazingcrow:

hi!! I have an upcoming audition for hadestown on monday and I want to audition for Hermes but need a monologue, do you have any suggestions?? :)

The monologues I suggested here could work for a more motherly Hermes (ala Lillias White's take on the character). Additionally, Only from Glassheart could also work.

Break a leg!