The Best Audition Songs for 42nd Street – By Character

If you’re looking for audition songs for 42nd Street, it’s best to choose an upbeat song in the style of jazz age musical theatre that matches the show’s tone and suits your vocal type. Be sure to check your audition notice for any specific song guidelines.

Because 42nd Street is a 1980 musical based on a 1933 film, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals that are set in the 1920s–1930s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed by a musical theatre professional to ensure fit and audition readiness.

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Step 1: Review Audition Info

Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something upbeat, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.

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Step 2: Study the Show

Before auditioning, you should get familiar with the show, and listening to the cast album is a great way to do that. Here’s where you can learn more about 42nd Street.

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Step 3: Pick an Audition Song

Next, based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether you’d like to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Just keep in mind that if you audition for a specific character, you still might not be chosen for that particular role.

There’s usually a spot on the audition form asking if you are open to being in the ensemble or accepting a different role. I would suggest ticking that box and taking whatever you are offered. Every role is important, and you will earn valuable experience in a show.

And on that same note, even if you audition for the ensemble (rather than a specific character), there’s always a chance of being cast in a leading or supporting role!

To summarize, keep an open mind and try not to take the process too seriously. And when you’re ready, choose the song that you feel most comfortable with from the list below.

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Billy Lawlor

“All I Need Is the Girl” – Gypsy

“Broadway Baby” – Dames at Sea

“Little Jazz Bird” – Lady, Be Good!

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” – Nice Work If You Can Get It

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Dorothy Brock

“All Falls Down” – Chaplin

“Lost and Found” – City of Angels

“No Man Left for Me” – The Will Rogers Follies

“Only in New York” – Thoroughly Modern Millie

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Julian Marsh

“A Kiss for Cinderella” – Of Thee I Sing

“I Happen to Like New York” – The New Yorkers

“Second Chance” – Steel Pier

“Stay With Me” – City of Angels

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Peggy Sawyer

“Anything Goes” – Anything Goes

“Blow, Gabriel, Blow” – Anything Goes

“I Get a Kick Out of You” – Anything Goes

“Johnny One-Note” – Babes in Arms

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Ensemble (Altos)

“My Funny Valentine” – Babes in Arms

“Once You Lose Your Heart” – Me and My Girl

“That Mister Man of Mine” – Dames at Sea

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Ensemble (Baritones)

“Beautiful Girl” – Singin’ in the Rain

“Leaning on a Lamp Post” – Me and My Girl

“Why Should I Wake Up?” – Cabaret

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Ensemble (Basses)

“Easy to Love” – Anything Goes

“Oh, Lady Be Good!” – Lady, Be Good!

“You Were Meant for Me” – Singin’ in the Rain

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Ensemble (Contras)

“Boy! What Love Has Done to Me” – Girl Crazy

“The Sailor of My Dreams” – Dames at Sea

“Willing to Ride” – Steel Pier

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Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!

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Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)

“Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye” – Anything Goes

“Star Tar” – Dames at Sea

“What Good Is Love?” – Pins and Needles

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Ensemble (Sopranos)

“Falling in Love With Love” – The Boys from Syracuse

“Glad to Be Unhappy” – On Your Toes

“Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love” – The New Yorkers

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Ensemble (Tenors)

“Starting at the Bottom” – Fine and Dandy

“That’s the Way It Happens” – Me and Juliet

“There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame” – South Pacific

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Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for 42nd Street:

• “Green Pepper➝” from Cocktails at Pam’s  (Estelle)

• “I Don’t Know➝” from Sun Dried➝  (Mary Louise)

• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝  (Flub)

• “Wholeheartedly in Love” from Overruled➝

• “You Won’t Misunderstand Me” from The Goal➝  (Sir Stephen)

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Final Step: Audition Prep

Once you’ve chosen your song, it’s time to start preparing! Grab your FREE Audition Prep Checklist and Stamp Cards to stay organized and motivated for your upcoming auditions!

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42nd Street Song List

Here’s a list of the musical numbers in 42nd Street along with which characters sing in each of them. Unless you have been asked to, do not choose from the below songs for your audition! The following is more intended to be used for character research purposes.

* That said, if you’ve specifically been asked to sing a song from the show, you can find the sheet music for the best possible audition songs below.

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Act I:

“Young and Healthy” – Billy, Peggy

“Shadow Waltz” – Maggie, Dorothy, Ensemble

“Go into Your Dance” – Maggie, Peggy, Annie, Phyllis, Lorraine, Andy

“You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me” – Dorothy

“Getting Out of Town” – Maggie, Bert, Ensemble

“Dames” – Billy, Ensemble

“I Know Now” – Dorothy, Billy, Ensemble

“We’re in the Money” – Annie, Phyllis, Lorraine, Peggy, Billy, Ensemble

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Dorothy

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Act 2:

“Sunny Side to Every Situation” – Annie, Ensemble

“Lullaby of Broadway” – Julian, Company

“About a Quarter to Nine” – Dorothy, Peggy

“Shuffle Off to Buffalo” – Bert, Maggie, Annie, Ensemble

“Forty-Second Street” – Peggy, Ensemble

“Finale” / “Forty-Second Street” – Julian

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Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!

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Which of these audition songs for 42nd Street did you choose?

And what role are you auditioning for? We would love to hear all about it in the comments! And in the meantime, you can check out our database of best audition songs for other musicals.

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