Top 20 Songs You Should NEVER Audition With

A word of advice, NEVER audition with these songs! For this list, we’ll be looking at all the tunes best avoided when you’re trying to make a starring first impression. Our countdown includes "Into the Woods," "Annie," "Dreamgirls," and more! Which song do YOU regret auditioning with? Let us know in the comments!

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#Songs #Music #Audition #Musical #Broadway

[Bdawg]

Basically, if Idina Menzel has sung it…don’t sing it.

[CrankyNovelist]

If it’s in Les Miserables or Hamilton, you probably should avoid it. Along with anything sung by Idina Menzel. Not to say you can’t sing. Idina is just one of a kind.

[kalli]

I just saw Rachel Berry and I started laughing. Rachel chooses the most obnoxious songs to sing on glee but she has a great voice.

[Miss_Yuriko]

Actual advise:
A) pick songs that fit the musical style of the show you are auditioning for while highlighting your own voice.

You want to show the casting directors that you have the technical skill to support your performances. And by picking songs that fit your natural timbre (regardless if it’s over-sung or not) is a more accurate representation of yourself.

B) During practice, experiment with the character you want to embody. Often times, directors cast the actor who best portrays a character in that role instead of the most technically advanced singer. In the professional world, everyone can play anyone. That’s the level we’re working with. But if you can convince others that you ARE the character and you are willing to play, then you’ve got it.

[theholyhorehay]

My go to audition song is “There are worse things I could do” from Grease. Hasn’t failed me yet!

[doriang]

Agreed, but see… every theater kid THINKS they can do these songs perfectly. Therein lies the issue that every casting call faces 😅

[covellin_]

There is only one reason to sing "Satisfied" in an audition: Your name is Renée and you sang this song daily for over a year on broadway (edit: of course everyone else who had this role in official hamilton would propably be good with this song too)

[zombietori]

When I auditioned for my high school’s show choir in 2010, there was maybe 15-20 girls who auditioned. We were currently singing Think of Me and Defying Gravity in concert choir, so they were the ones EVERYONE went for. Literally every other girl picked either Think Of Me or Defying Gravity. My vocal coach picked Bring Him Home for me, and my choir director told me that just the fact that I chose something entirely different and nailed it was the entire reason I got into show choir. 😅

[grahamellis]

Kurt threw the note from Defying Gravity. We saw him hit the note while rehearsing, and he even confessed to Rachel in Season 4 that he threw it.

[MissKimberlyo]

20. This is the moment (Jekyll& Hyde) 0:57
19. On the steps of the palace (Into the woods) 2:32
18. If I were a rich man (Fiddler on the roof) 3:45
17. Let it go (Frozen) 5:08
16. Anything goes (Anything goes) 6:27
15. I dreamed a dream (Les Misérables) 7:35
14. Seasons of love (Rent) 9:02
13. A song from the show you're auditioning for 10:29
12. Defying gravity (Wicked) 11:39
11. Think of me (The phantom of the opera) 13:04
10. Satisfied (Hamilton) 14:36
9. On my own (Les Misérables) 16:15
8. Bring him home (Les Misérables) 17:19
7. Waving through a window (Dear Evan Hansen) 18:46
6. Tomorrow (Annie) 20:20
5. Don't rain on my parade (Funny girl) 21:44
4. Being alive (Company) 23:14
3. And I am telling you I'm not going (Dreamgirls) 24:57
2. Any Jason Robert Brown song 26:32



Honorable mentions
She used to be mine (Waitress) 27:51
Mama who bore me (Spring awakening) 28:06
Dead girl walking (Heathers: the musical) 28:31
This is me (The greatest showman) 28:47
Maybe this time (Cabaret) 29:03



1. Memory (Cats) 29:36

[originaltommy]

I safely predicted your number one! As a career accompanist, I can say you've compiled a list I completely agree with but could easily add another 20 songs to it! CHEERS!!!

[wiggles]

My high school choir teacher said using "Whistle a happy tune" is a good audition song to use if your really nervous that way any visible nerves can look like an acting choice.

[jessemanchester]

Just by the sheer amount of Glee covers on this list tells you everything you need to know about how overhyped these selections are.

[ghostlykelp]

My go to is ‘when he sees me’ from waitress… it’s easy enough to sing and it shows a lot of character and acting ability while still sounding impressive.

[trinaq]

I was very impressed with Adam Driver's singing chops in "Marriage Story", having not known that he could sing that well. "Being Alive" really fit the character's mindset. 🥰

[athag]

I auditioned with 'Memory' and 'Send in the Clowns' and earned a music scholarship.

[theevilqueenreadstoo]

Gold star advice: Pick a song so unknown that nobody knows how it really sounds ;)

[Thespian]

True story. I once auditioned for a production of Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera"; hoping to snatch the role of Macheath (Alias "Mack the Knife"). Instead of sining a piece from the show itself, my parents insisted I sing Phantom's "Music of the Night", must to my resistance. To get them off my balls I did it (& I belted it). Afterwards, I did get cast, but as ensemble. Later on the director confessed to me that had I sung ANYTHING ELSE except "that fucking Webber tune", the role of Macheath would've been mine.

Lesson of the story: For all you theatre kids out there, NEVER USE WEBBER! I don't care how well you may be able top sing it, don't sing it. WEBBER SONG = AUDITION SUICIDE.

[Landis]

..."Seasons of Love" requires more than one voice to get the harmonies right anyway, it wouldn't be good in a solo audition setting.

[AliciaNyblade]

Theater major here, and I grew up doing children's community theater in the '90s-2000s. To this day, if I hear a girl under the age of 10 is going to sing "My Favorite Things" from "The Sound of Music", "Reflection" from "Mulan", or "Castle on a Cloud" from "Les Mis" because she wants to present herself as a preciously sweet/sad character, I scream inside and want to slice my ears off. Parents and guardians, please have your little daughers sing LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE.