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Musical Theatre Audition Songs – Choices for Mezzo Soprano

Musical Theatre Audition Songs - Choices for Mezzo Soprano_550
Photo Credit: Matt Scott via cc
When choosing an audition song to sing at a musical theatre audition it is vital that you not only choose a song from your range but you also seriously consider your own acting range and the type of character you are auditioning for. So often I hear tales of someone auditioning to play something like Maria from the Sound of Music with a sexy sassy song from Rent (well thats an extreme example but you get my drift!)
This list of songs are all very character and story driven so choose wisely.
It is vital that when auditioning for a part in a musical you are showing off your acting ability just as much as your singing. Directors love working with actors, with actor-singers, if they just wanted a cast of singers then they would go with classically trained singers who have dedicated years to perfecting a classical sound which will be faithful to the notes on the staves and bring no character to the song.
You can bring your character and acting to your singing – don’t leave it at home!
Mezzo-Soprano Songs for Auditions
I always recommend you approach any audition song as a monologue first. Try learning it as a speech and acting it without music first. Get inside the character and situation which is driving the song before you approach the singing of it. I really believe this method gives you a tremendous head start when you begin putting the words to music.

We would love to know what your favourite mezzo-soprano song for auditioning is, let us know via Twitter @actorhub.

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  • What it Means to Be A Friend (click to view video)
    13 the Musical
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    13 is a musical about a 12 (well a 12½!) year old boy named Evan Goldman and about his struggle to be with the “in-crowd”, turning 13 and becoming a man.
    A gorgeous song about the beauty of real friendship as a child. Remember this song is sung by a 13 year old girl, so if you are performing it then tap into those emotions of how real it feels to find a best friend as a child. Hang on the truth, don’t play any of it for laughs, play it for the truth of the character and the truth of her feelings and you will be onto a winner.
  • Still Hurting (click to view video)
    The Last Five Years
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    The Last Five Years is one of my favourite musicals. It is beautiful, intelligent and simple.
    The story explores a five-year relationship between Jamie and Cathy. The show uses a form of storytelling in which Cathy’s story is told in reverse order (beginning the show at the end of the marriage), and Jamie’s is told in order (starting just after the couple have first met). The characters do not directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle as their timelines intersect.
    This song is the opening number of the show and is Cathy lamenting the end of the marriage. I will say it again but I truly believe this song needs no tricks and no big show off belty moments, play it for its simplicity and for the emotion. Also take note of the opening words “Jamie is over and Jamie has gone”, she knows it is over, there is no fight left just a sad realisation of life’s finality.
  • Sooner Or Later (click to view video)
    Dick Tracy
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    Sooner or Later comes from the movie Dick Tracy and is one of the songs which Sondheim wrote for Madonna’s character Breathless Mahoney, a seductive and sultry singer from Club Ritz.
    The song oozes sex appeal as Breathless is desperately trying to seduce Dick throughout the movie, however the double meaning of the song refers to Dick Tracy and how he ‘always gets his man’ ie: he always captures the bad guy.
    Reveal your inner vamp and sexy side and play with the double entendre’s and enjoy it!
    “And no one I’ve kissed, babe, ever fights me again. If you’re on my list, it’s just a question of when.”
  • Not A Day Goes By – Female (click to view video)
    Merrily We Roll Along
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    One of Sondheim’s few flops ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ has recently been revived to great acclaim thanks to the wonderful Menier Chocolate Factory.
    The song appears in the show twice. Sung once by a man and once by a woman – this means it should be easy for you to find the song in both male and female keys.
    This also lets you choose which way you want to sing this song – once it is sung at the beginning of a romance, full of the initial glow and thrill of love, it is also sung full of hurt and pain as it is looking at a relationship which just won’t heal.
    The version in this video is the female version full of hurt. Beth tells Frank she is leaving him as she can’t be with him after he has been unfaithful to her, she still loves him but can’t be with him anymore.
  • Till There Was You (click to view video)
    The Music Man
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    The 1957 musical The Music Man is all about a con man who poses as a band organiser and sells instruments to the townsfolk of a small town promising to train them up as a band, he has no intention of doing this and plans to skip town with their money. A prim piano teacher Marian sees through him, but falls in love with him.
    Till There Was You is sung by librarian and piano teacher Marian Paroo to con man Harold Hill in Act Two when she confesses her love and tells him of the differences he has made in her life.
    The song was perhaps the first ‘hit single’ from a musical and was made famous in the sixties by the young Nana Mouskouri closely followed by The Beatles!
  • Waiting For Life (click to view video)
    Once On This Island
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    Flaherty and Ahrens took inspiration from the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy and also sprinkled in some elements from Romeo and Juliet.
    The story concerns a peasant girl on a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, who uses the power of love to bring together people of different social classes.
    Waiting For Life is sung by the lead character Ti Moune. She is a peasant girl and in this song (early on in the show) she prays to the Gods to let her know her purpose in life and to let her be like the ‘grandes homme’ (people from the city) she has encountered racing past in their white cars.
    A song full of innocence but bursting with desire to be something better than you are today – perfect for a casting.
    ” Even the fish in the sea – Must be longing to fly – Catching a glimpse of a stranger – In white racing by.”
  • Goodbye Until Tomorrow (click to view video)
    The Last Five Years
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    The last song in The Last Five Years, and in context is a real heartbreaker as it is sung when Cathy has first met Jamie (but in the back to front show, it actually happens on stage after we have witnessed Jamie telling his lover that he is leaving Cathy. In this song Cathy is ecstatic after her first date with Jamie. She sings goodbye. She proclaims that she has been waiting for Jamie her whole life.
    This should be sung full of excitement and energy and a real zest for life. Full of the butterflies you feel and adrenaline rush when you realise you have just met ‘the one’, the one you are going to spend your life with.
  • Forgiveness (click to view video)
    Jane Eyre
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    Jane Eyre the musical, based on the Bronte novel, premiered on Broadway in 2000, it has music and lyrics by Paul Gordon and a book by John Caird.
    The story of Jane Eyre is a typical Bronte romance full of twists and turns, there are numerous film adaptations or I strongly recommend you read the novel, as it is a classic and I don’t want to give away the wonderful story!
    The song Forgiveness comes early on in the show and is sung by the young Jane Eyre who is an orphan being ill treated by her aunt and cousin. It really sums up Jane’s character, full of love and warmth and ‘forgiveness’.
    Its a perfect, simple, audition song which can really show off a clear and unfussy singing voice.
  • Not For the Life of Me (click to view video)
    Thoroughly Modern Millie
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    Not For The Life of Me is from the 2000 stage musical Thoroughly Modern Millie based on the 1967 movie. The story is set in 1922 and tells of a small town girl Millie Dillmount who has come to New York to marry for money instead of love – a thorougly modern approach! She falls in love with the flapper lifetsyle and gets caught up with a white slavery ring in China! The show is very tongue in cheek and a complete pastiche.
    This number opens the show and is sung by Millie as she arrives at NYC train station from Kansas and tears up her return ticket!
    It is a classic ‘I wish’ song and is very popular for auditions for that reason.
  • Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak (click to view video)
    Urban Cowboy
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    Mr Hopalong Heartbreak is taken from the Jason Robert Brown musical Urban Cowboy. “It’s the story of Bud, a new breed of cowboy who’s turnin’ heads and lookin’ for love in the biggest honkeytonk in the world. But can he raise the roof, get the girl and ride the bull, all before last call?”
    The song is sung by Sissy when she has decided to get out of her small town life and her small town relationship. Its a lovely survivor’s song, and you can also showcase some humour in it.
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