The Best Audition Songs for A Little Night Music – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for A Little Night Music? Well unless you have specifically been asked to sing a song from the show that you’re auditioning for, it’s generally best not to. That said, you should still show off similar vocals and personality. So here’s our list of audition songs for A Little Night Music, by character.
Since A Little Night Music came out in the late 1970s, most of the songs below are also from pre-contemporary musicals (1970s-1990s). In addition, all of the Sondheim songs have been marked below for your convenience.
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Step 1: Read your audition details
Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something Sondheim, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your casting call.
Step 2: Get to know the show
In casting calls, they often ask for you to be “familiar with the show”. And even if it’s not requested, it’s generally assumed. One way to do this is to read through the synopsis or libretto for A Little Night Music➝ while listening to the A Little Night Music cast album➝.
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.
Anne Egerman
“All For You” – Saturday Night [Sondheim]
“Simple” – Nine
“That’ll Show Him” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Sondheim]
“The Earth and Other Minor Things” – Gigi
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm
“Bring Me My Bride” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Sondheim]
“Funny” – City of Angels
“Me” – Beauty and the Beast
“Stay” – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Sondheim lyrics]
Countess Charlotte Malcolm
“Children Will Listen” – Into the Woods [Sondheim]
“Tell Me on a Sunday” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“Time Heals Everything” – Mack & Mabel
“Unexpected Song” – Tell Me on a Sunday
Desiree Armfeldt
“Could I Leave You?” – Follies [Sondheim]
“I’m Still Here” – Follies [Sondheim]
“Losing My Mind” – Follies [Sondheim]
“Where Is the Warmth?” – The Baker’s Wife
Fredrik Egerman
“Guido’s Song” – Nine
“I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack & Mabel
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion [Sondheim]
“Only With You” – Nine
Henrik Egerman
“Finishing the Hat” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“Johanna” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Lesson #8” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
Madame Armfeldt
“Chanson” – The Baker’s Wife
“I Don’t Want to Know” – Dear World
“The Ladies Who Lunch” – Company [Sondheim]
“What Would You Do?” – Cabaret
Petra
“And I Was Beautiful” – Dear World
“Do I Hear a Waltz?” – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Sondheim lyrics]
“Like It Was” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“Loving You” – Passion [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Altos)
“Children and Art” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“In Buddy’s Eyes” – Follies [Sondheim]
“We Can Make It” – The Rink
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Good Thing Going” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“Marianne” – The Grand Tour
“Multitudes of Amys” – Company [Sondheim/cut]
Ensemble (Basses)
“I Waltz Alone” – Grand Hotel
“I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore” – Gigi
“The Road You Didn’t Take” – Follies [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Contras)
“Before I Kiss the World Goodbye” – Jennie
“The Story of Lucy and Jessie” – Follies [Sondheim]
“What You Need” – Grand Hotel
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“I Belong Here” – The Grand Tour
“Isn’t He Something!” – Road Show [Sondheim]
“Take Me to the World” – Evening Primrose [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“I Never Do Anything Twice” – Side by Side by Sondheim [Sondheim]
“Not a Day Goes By” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“That Dirty Old Man” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Ladies in Their Sensitivities” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Proud Lady” – The Baker’s Wife
“Take the Moment” – Do I Hear a Waltz? [Sondheim lyrics]
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for A Little Night Music:
• “Bernhardt/Hamlet (#1)” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Blue Stockings” in Contemporary Monologues for Teenagers: Female➝
• “Fifty-Two From Sixty-Four➝” from The Forced Marriage ➝
• “How Can You Say That?➝” from Wild Honey (Anna)
• “The Man I Could Bind Myself To➝” from A Doll’s House➝ (Nora)
Final Step: Prepare for your audition
After collecting your materials and getting familiar with the show, it’s time to move forward with the actual preparation. If you’re in need of some guidance on this step, you can always go through this FREE audition prep checklist!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
A Little Night Music Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in A Little Night Music 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.
Act 1:
“Overture” / “Night Waltz” – Company
“Now” – Fredrik
“Later” – Henrik
“Soon” – Anne
“The Glamorous Life” – Fredrika, Desiree, Madam Armfeldt, Ensemble
“Remember?” – Ensemble
“You Must Meet My Wife” – Desiree, Fredrik
“Liaisons” – Madame Armfeldt
“In Praise of Women” – Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm
“Every Day a Little Death” – Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Anne
“A Weekend in the Country” – Company
Act 2:
“The Sun Won’t Set (Night Waltz I)” – Ensemble
“The Sun Sits Low (Night Waltz II)” – Ensemble
“It Would Have Been Wonderful” – Fredrik, Carl-Magnus
“Perpetual Anticipation (Night Waltz III)” – Ensemble
“Send In the Clowns” – Desiree
“The Miller’s Son” – Petra
“Finale” – Company
Which of these audition songs for A Little Night Music 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.
Need extra help? Just go through this free audition prep checklist!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.