Every time an audition comes around, baritones have a unique problem — finding the perfect song. Sounds strange, right? After all, baritones are pretty darn well-represented in musicals.
The thing is, baritone is a tricky voice part to define. Some men have a strong upper range (hello, bari-tenors), while others fall into a bass-baritone part. That means that a baritone musical theater song that works for one singer might be all wrong for another.
Looking for a specific type of baritone audition song? Jump to:
- Popular Baritone Musical Theater Songs
- Contemporary Baritone Musical Theater Songs
- Traditional Baritone Audition Songs
- Funny Baritone Audition Songs
- Rock Musical Theater Songs for Baritones
- Easy Baritone Musical Theater Songs
- Upbeat Baritone Musical Theater Songs
Popular Baritone Musical Theater Songs
1. “Gold Can Turn to Sand” from Kristina
2. “Make Them Hear You” from Ragtime
3. “I Don Quixote” from Man of La Mancha
4. “Where Is The Life That Late I Led” from Kiss Me Kate
5. “Me” from Beauty and the Beast
6. “Stars” from Les Miserables
7. “Soliloquy” from Carousel
8. This Nearly Was Mine from South Pacific
9. “Home” from The Wiz
Contemporary Baritone Musical Theater Songs
10. “It All Fades Away” from The Bridges of Madison County
If you’re auditioning for a country or folk musical, “It All Fades Away” makes an exceptional baritone audition song. It’s from The Bridges of Madison County, so it’s not a commonly done piece…but since it’s written by Jason Robert Brown, the music sounds vaguely familiar from the start. If you happen to be a baritone belter, listen to the section starting at 3:12!
11. “Sailing” from A New Brain
12. “Forest For The Trees” The Spitfire Grill
13. “You Walk with Me” The Full Monty
14. “You Should Be Loved” from Sideshow
15. “Purpose” from Avenue Q
16. “This is the Moment” from Jekyll & Hyde
17. “Love who you love” from A Man of No Importance
18. Falcon in the Dive from Scarlet Pimpernel
Traditional Baritone Audition Songs
19. “Joey, Joey, Joey” from The Most Happy Fella
20. “Thousands Of Miles” from Lost in the Stars
Lost in the Stars is a rarely produced musical by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson — it’s a gold mine of underrated baritone musical theater songs. “Thousands of Miles” is written for a bass-baritone; you might use it to audition for Ragtime or South Pacific. Here is another version.
21. “It’s a Fish” from The Diary of Adam and Eve (or The Apple Tree)
Looking for upbeat musical theatre songs? This one fits the bill! The accompaniment is so bouncy that the director won’t be able to help but smile.
22. “Foolish to Think” from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Do you need songs for a lightweight baritone bass voice? This song shows it off nicely; nothing too dramatic or big, but it moves nicely. It’s from the musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder — we like it as an audition song for Freddy in My Fair Lady. (The vibe is very much “On the Street Where You Live.”)
23. “Funny” from City of Angels
This song has a bit of a Frank Sinatra sensibility with a hint of Golden Age charm — it could be the perfect audition song for a musical like Guys and Dolls or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The music has a nice mix of uptempo lines and sustained notes; you’ll also get the chance to show off your resonant top range.
24. “If I Can’t Love Her” from Beauty and the Beast
25. “A Fellow Needs A Girl” from Allegro
It can be challenging to find Rodgers and Hammerstein baritone songs that aren’t overdone. This piece is from the musical Allegro, which is rarely produced. That’s great news — it means that literally no one else will be singing this song. This one would be a great audition song for Oklahoma or Camelot.
26. “Put on a Happy Face” from Bye Bye Birdie
When you’re auditioning for a musical like How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying or Damn Yankees, you need musical theater songs with a vintage vibe? This light, playful song is a nice alternative to a ballad — bust out all of your charm, maybe work on a wink, and embrace that smooth 50s style!
Funny Baritone Audition Songs
In musical theater, baritones are so often cast in the leading-man role. But! If you’re lucky enough to find an audition for a musical with a funny role, try one of these songs.
27. “Last One Picked” from Whoop-Dee-Doo
If you’re a bari-tenor, “Last One Picked” is a fantastic funny baritone audition song. The lyrics are all about getting picked last in gym class and moving past it in adulthood. It’s easy to learn, and you’ll get to sing lines like, “rejected by the rabble.”
28. “The Brain” from Young Frankenstein
29. “I Am Adolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone
Rock Musical Theater Songs for Baritones
Rock musicals tend to be tenor-heavy, so it can be challenging to find a good baritone song for a rock audition. We’ve combed through the best rock musical theater songs and found the lowest-pitched options.
30. “Children of Rock” from School of Rock
“Children of Rock” comes from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical School of Rock. In the show, it’s a duet between a tenor and a baritone; the music will probably sit in the high end of a baritone range, but not uncomfortably so. Plus, the melody is incredibly easy to learn, so you’ll be able to put your own spin on it.
31. “Fight From The Heart” from Rocky
Despite the name, Rocky isn’t a rock musical. The lead character is a baritone — and there’s a great section in the middle of “Fight from the Heart” that makes a decent 16-bar audition cut for a rock musical. (0:56-1:36 in the video above)
32. “Awful People” from Jasper in Deadland
Jasper in Deadland is a fun little pop-rock musical that’s based on the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. “Awful People” is a song by Mr. Lethe, a character in the underworld. It has a satisfying score and lyrics that are a blast to sing. This musical premiered in 2014 — interestingly, with a book by Hunter Foster — so it’s a great fit for any contemporary rock musical.
Easy Baritone Musical Theater Songs
Sometimes, you just need an audition song that’s a breeze to sing. It’s good to keep a few easy baritone musical theater songs around for days when you’re sick or your voice just isn’t feeling its best.
33. “Camelot” from Camelot
“Camelot” is one of those classic Lerner and Loewe songs that’s beautiful in its simplicity. The best part? It doesn’t sound overly easy, so it’s a great song to sing when you don’t have much time to prepare for an audition. The notes sit solidly within a standard baritone range; there’s not a whole lot in the upper or lower parts of your voice. (Good news if you’re returning to singing after a hiatus!)
34. “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful” from Cinderella
Any time you need an easy baritone musical theater song, Rodgers and Hammerstein are your guys. Their musicals are packed with gorgeous pieces that are delightful to listen to and easy to sing. This song from Cinderella is no different; it’s charming, melodic, and you can get the tune down quickly. 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. In the video above, note how Santino Fontana (a classic bari-tenor) lightens up around 1:10.
35. “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks
“Try to Remember” is an easy baritone song — once you master those intervals, that is! Don’t worry: the melody will carry you along. We love this one not only because it’s lovely to listen to, but also because it gives you a chance to show off your low baritone notes and the big resonance in your mid-range.
Upbeat Baritone Musical Theater Songs
Ballads are a baritone’s bread and butter, but when you’re auditioning for a character role, an upbeat song is a must. These speedy songs show off your articulation and rhythm — they’re also a fun way to show something new to a familiar director.
36. “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” from The Pirates of Penzance
Upbeat baritone songs aren’t easy, and this one is no different. It’s infamous for its challenging lyrics — make sure to do a few articulation exercises before your audition! Ignore the choral parts; you can easily make an audition cut from one of the major-general’s verses.
37. “The Sadder but Wiser Girl” from The Music Man
The Music Man is infamous for its speak-singing leading man, Harold Hill. “The Sadder But Wiser Girl” has a decent blend of singing and speaking. If you can stay right in the center of the pitch, the jazzy ending is a good chance to showcase your voice.
38. “Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today” from Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown
Fun and unexpected, “Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today” is one of the easiest uptempo musical theater songs for baritones. It’s a breeze to learn; just make sure your accompanist can speed through the jaunty accompaniment! This song is from the rarely produced musical, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown. We can practically guarantee that no one else in your audition will be singing it.
39. “Luck Be a Lady” from Guys and Dolls
“Luck Be a Lady” is one of those rare uptempo baritone songs that doesn’t sacrifice melody for speed. The tune is legendary! It moves along quickly, but not so fast that it hides the quality of your voice. We like it for baritones with a solid lower range; you’ll need it for the deep notes on “luck, be a lady tonight.”
Baritones, what other contemporary musical theatre audition songs are you into these days? We’re dying to know the baritone musical theater songs that are making it into your book as you search for new repertoire. Let us know, and we’ll add your favorites to the list!