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Repertoire for Musical Theatre
Repertoire Book Categories
Build a Powerful Musical Theatre Audition Book
(That Actually Books You)
Your audition book is more than a binder of songs—it’s your portable brand. Casting teams need to see range, taste, and storytelling in minutes, so curating smart selections for each repertoire category below is essential. A well‑built book lets you pivot instantly, showcase your best vocal colors, and prove you understand style, character, and the realities of the audition room.
Why organize by category?
- Coverage: Different shows demand different sounds—Golden Age legit, Contemporary belt/mix, Pop/Rock, Disney/Animation, Comedy/Character, Ballad, Uptempo, Patter, and more. Filling each category ensures you’re ready for anything.
- Casting alignment: Specific breakdowns often ask for a style + tempo. When your book is mapped to categories, matching that ask takes seconds—not stress.
- Story first: Categories help you choose material that acts well. Every song should reveal a clear want, obstacle, and shift—no “vocal wallpaper.”
- Efficiency: Clear sections + labeled cuts keep you calm, fast, and considerate of time in the room.
How to use the categories on this page
- Pick one “signature” song per category that fits your age, type, and current strengths. Then add a contrast (different tempo/texture) for flexibility.
- Create clean 16–32 bar cuts for each selection. Mark tempo, cues, and breaths. Bring a full version in case they ask.
- Balance familiarity with freshness: Include one or two known titles per category (for context) and anchor the rest with less‑overdone choices.
- Mind the keys: Choose keys that sit comfortably on your best vowels and story beats; avoid living at your ceiling.
- Keep everything audition‑ready: Printed, hole‑punched, double‑sided, taped, and clearly tabbed by category. Pianist‑friendly formatting is part of your professionalism.
Quick quality checklist for every song
- Type-appropriate: Age, energy, and character match who you can book today.
- Actable arc: Clear objective and shift within the cut.
- Stylistically accurate: Rhythm/feel, diction, and ornamentation match the era/genre.
- Healthy & reliable: Sits in your money range; sustainable under nerves and early‑morning calls.
- Licensed & ethical: Use purchased scores and legit tracks; support writers.
Sheet Music
- Check out our page on getting sheet music. Sheet Music
- NewMusicalTheatre.com
- SheetMusicDirect.com
- MusicNotes.com
Pro Tip
Think of your audition book like a theatre’s season: a mix of styles that shows range without whiplash. For each category below, choose material that complements the rest—so any two songs back‑to‑back make sense and tell a bigger story about you.
Ready to fill your tabs? Explore the categories below and plug in songs that highlight your storytelling, technique, and unique point of view. Keep it lean, organized, and refreshed every few months—and let your book do the silent pitching for you.
Contemporary Uptempo
Fast-paced songs from modern musicals (1980–present) with fresh, contemporary harmonies and rhythms. They often feature conversational phrasing, pop-influenced grooves, or musical theatre belt/mix styles. Great for showing energy, presence, and the ability to tell a story while keeping a driving beat.
Contemporary Ballad
Slower, emotionally rich pieces from recent musicals (1980–present) that highlight nuance, sustained tone, and vulnerability. Contemporary ballads often blend legit and mix/belt sounds with modern harmonies. Choose one that lets you connect deeply to the lyric and demonstrate dynamic control.
Golden Age Uptempo
Quick-moving numbers from roughly the 1940s–1960s, often from composers like Rodgers & Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Jerry Herman. These songs usually feature clear melodies, crisp diction, and bright legit tone. They show off period style, buoyant energy, and storytelling through precise rhythm.
Golden Age Ballad
Classic, slow-paced songs from the mid-20th century musical theatre canon. Known for lush melodies, legato phrasing, and elegant lyricism, they suit singers with strong breath control and clear resonance. Choose material that feels honest rather than overly formal, so it connects in today’s audition room.
Pop / Rock
Songs written in popular or rock styles for the stage (or adapted from mainstream charts) that feature strong rhythmic drive and modern vocal production. This category covers everything from jukebox musicals to pop-rock scores like Rent, Jagged Little Pill, or Six. It’s perfect for showing stylistic flexibility and mic-friendly authenticity.
Character / Comedy
Upbeat, personality-driven songs that rely on humor, quick delivery, and a strong point of view. They may be broad and playful or sly and satirical, but they always require a clear acting choice. Great for demonstrating comedic timing, physicality, and charm.
Sondheim
Complex, text-driven songs by Stephen Sondheim that demand precise rhythm, rich subtext, and masterful diction. His work blends intricate melodies with conversational phrasing, requiring both musicianship and deep acting chops. A strong Sondheim choice shows intellectual engagement and storytelling skill.
Legit (Classical)
Songs with a classical vocal approach—often pre-1940 musical theatre or operetta—that emphasize head-dominant tone, sustained phrasing, and formal style. Ideal for showing range, resonance, and traditional technique. This category suits roles that demand elegance and vocal purity.
Disney
Songs from Disney stage musicals, animated films, or Disney Channel productions that have become audition staples. They often feature heartfelt ballads, playful uptempos, and family-friendly themes, with styles ranging from legit princess roles to contemporary pop-inspired hero songs. Ideal for showcasing warmth, optimism, and vocal clarity.
Singer / Songwriter (Indie)
Folk, indie, or acoustic-pop influenced songs that prioritize intimate storytelling and authenticity over big vocal display. Often guitar or piano-driven, they suit contemporary musicals with a more naturalistic style (Once, Hadestown, The Last Five Years). Perfect for showing vulnerability and a modern, grounded connection to the material.
Example Songs for these Categories
Expand these toggles to get ideas of songs for these categories.
Contemporary Uptempo
| Waving Through a Window | Dear Evan Hansen |
| All American Prophet | The Book of Mormon |
| My Shot | Hamilton |
| You and Me (But Mostly Me) | The Book of Mormon |
| I Love Betsy | Honeymoon in Vegas |
| Forget About the Boy | Thoroughly Modern Millie |
| Stupid With Love | Mean Girls |
| Stupid With Love | Mean Girls |
| Sexy | Mean Girls |
| It’s Hard to Be the Bard | Something Rotten! |
Contemporary Ballad
| She Used to Be Mine – Waitress | Waitress |
| With You | Ghost |
| If I Didn’t Believe in You | The Last Five Years |
| Words Fail | Dear Evan Hansen |
| Pretty Funny | Dogfight |
| Still Hurting | The Last Five Years |
| Watch What Happens | Newsies |
| Only Us | Dear Evan Hansen |
| I Miss the Mountains | Next to Normal |
| Quiet | Matilda |
Golden Age Uptempo
I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair – South Pacific Anything Goes – Anything Goes I Cain’t Say No – Oklahoma! All I Need Is the Girl – Gypsy The Surrey with the Fringe on Top – Oklahoma! Put On a Happy Face – Bye Bye Birdie June Is Bustin’ Out All Over – Carousel I Can Do Without You – Calamity Jane Gaston – Beauty and the Beast (Golden Age style) If I Loved You (cut for tempo) – Carousel
Golden Age Ballad
If I Loved You – Carousel
Till There Was You – The Music Man
Some Enchanted Evening – South Pacific
People Will Say We’re in Love – Oklahoma!
I Have Dreamed – The King and I
I Could Have Danced All Night – My Fair Lady
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Carousel
So in Love – Kiss Me, Kate
Climb Ev’ry Mountain – The Sound of Music
On the Street Where You Live – My Fair Lady
Pop / Rock
Creep – Radiohead
Valerie – Amy Winehouse
Ain’t It Fun – Paramore
Someone Like You – Adele
Rolling in the Deep – Adele
Drops of Jupiter – Train
Piece by Piece – Kelly Clarkson
Rise Up – Andra Day
Torn – Natalie Imbruglia
Everybody Wants to Rule the World – Tears for Fears
Character / Comedy
Adelaide’s Lament – Guys and Dolls
I Hate Men – Kiss Me, Kate
The Alto’s Lament – Zina Goldrich
Model Behavior – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
I’m Breaking Down – Falsettos
Shy – Once Upon a Mattress
Stepsister’s Lament – Cinderella
Popular – Wicked
My New Philosophy – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
He Vas My Boyfriend – Young Frankenstein
Sondheim
Giants in the Sky – Into the Woods
Being Alive – Company
Not While I’m Around – Sweeney Todd
No One Is Alone – Into the Woods
Finishing the Hat – Sunday in the Park with George
The Miller’s Son – A Little Night Music
Another Hundred People – Company
Children Will Listen – Into the Woods
Losing My Mind – Follies
Everybody Says Don’t – Anyone Can Whistle
Legit (Classical)
Art Is Calling for Me – The Enchantress
Glitter and Be Gay – Candide
If I Loved You – Carousel
I Could Have Danced All Night – My Fair Lady
My White Knight – The Music Man
Simple – Nine
Come Home – Allegro
Far from the Home I Love – Fiddler on the Roof
A Call from the Vatican – Nine
Warm All Over – The Most Happy Fella
Disney
Part of Your World – The Little Mermaid Out There – The Hunchback of Notre Dame Go the Distance – Hercules Let It Go – Frozen Into the Unknown – Frozen II Almost There – The Princess and the Frog How Far I’ll Go – Moana I See the Light – Tangled Proud of Your Boy – Aladdin When She Loved Me – Toy Story 2
Singer / Songwriter (Indie)
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman
The A Team – Ed Sheeran
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
Gravity – Sara Bareilles
Lost Boy – Ruth B.
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
Turning Tables – Adele
Samson – Regina Spektor
Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol
I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
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