The Best Audition Songs for A New Brain – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for A New Brain? 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 New Brain, broken down by character.
Since A New Brain is a 1990s musical, the following songs are from shows between 1980-2010. In addition, there are lots of piano-heavy vibes below in order to match the style of the show.
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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 uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific 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 while listening to the A New Brain 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, decide which character you’d like to audition for. And finally, choose a suitable song from the list below!
Gordon Michael Schwinn
“Favorite Places” – Ordinary Days
“The Kid Inside” – Is There Life After High School?
“What More Can I Say?” – Falsettos
“You Gotta Die Sometime” – Falsettos
Lisa
“A Lovely Day to Be Out of Jail” – The Life
“Infinite Joy” – Elegies: A Song Cycle
“Stars and the Moon” – Songs for a New World
“We Had a Dream” – The Life
Mimi Schwinn
“Anytime I Am There” – Elegies: A Song Cycle
“Colored Lights” – The Rink
“Dancing All the Time” – Big
“Never Get Married” – Honeymoon in Vegas
Roger Delli-Bovi
“People Carry On” – The Story of My Life
“Shouldn’t I Be Less in Love With You?” – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
“The Games I Play” – Falsettos
“What Would I Do?” – Falsettos
Ensemble (Altos)
“Holding to the Ground” – Falsettos
“Just Not Now” – I Love You Because
“Only One” – Elegies: A Song Cycle
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Like It Here” – The Story of My Life
“I Think I Like Her” – Summer of ’42
“Life Story (Reprise)” – Ordinary Days
Ensemble (Basses)
“If I Sing” – Closer Than Ever
“Mrs. Remington” – The Story of My Life
“What Would You Do?” – If/Then
Ensemble (Contras)
“Flying Home” – Songs for a New World
“King of the World” – Songs for a New World
“My Body Wasn’t Why” – The Glorious Ones
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“Hear My Song” – Songs for a New World
“I’m Breaking Down” – Falsettos
“I’m Not Afraid of Anything” – Songs for a New World
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Need to Know” – Weird Romance
“The Phone Call” – Lucky Stiff
“Write What You Know” – The Story of My Life
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for A New Brain:
• “Don’t Look at Me #1” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Don’t Look at Me #2” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Nobody’s Flood” in The Perfect Audition Monologue: First Edition➝
• “Some People Get Locked Up➝” from Pretty Theft➝ (Joe)
• “The Fainting Couch” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝
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 New Brain Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in A New Brain, 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:
“Frogs Have So Much Spring (The Spring Song)” – Gordon
“Calamari” – Gordon, Rhoda, Waitress
“911 Emergency” / “I Have So Many Songs” – Rhoda, Nancy, Doctor, Gordon, Ensemble
“Heart and Music” – Gordon, Minister, Ensemble
“Mother’s Gonna Make Things Fine” – Mimi, Gordon
“Trouble in His Brain” – Doctor, Mimi
“Be Polite to Everyone” – Mr. Bungee, Gordon, Mimi, Rhoda
“I’d Rather Be Sailing” Roger, Gordon
“Family History” – Nancy, Richard, Mimi
“Gordo’s Law of Genetics” – Doctor, Rhoda, Lisa, Ensemble
“And They’re Off” – Gordon, Company
“Roger Arrives” – Lisa, Roger, Gordon, Mimi, Rhoda
“Just Go” – Gordon, Roger
”MRI Tomorrow” – Gordon, Roger, Richard
“Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat” – Richard, Gordon, Mr. Bungee
”MRI Day” – Nancy, Gordon
“Sitting Becalmed in the Lee of Cuttyhunk” – Gordon, Richard, Doctor, Rhoda, Nancy, Ensemble
“Craniotomy” – Doctor, Gordon, Nancy, Minister, Mimi, Roger
“An Invitation to Sleep in My Arms” – Gordon, Rhoda, Mimi, Roger
“Change” – Lisa
“Yes” – Gordon, Mr. Bungee, Ensemble
“In the Middle of the Room (Part 1)” – Gordon, Mimi
“Throw It Out” – Mimi
”In the Middle of the Room (Part 2)” – Gordon
“A Really Lousy Day in the Universe” – Roger, Lisa
“Brain Dead” – Gordon, Roger, Ensemble
“Whenever I Dream” – Rhoda, Gordon
“Eating Myself Up Alive” – Richard, Nancy, Doctor, Minister, Lisa
“The Music Still Plays On” – Mimi
“Don’t Give In” – Mr. Bungee, Gordon, Roger, Rhoda, Mimi
”Craniotomy (Reprise)” – Doctor
“You Boys Are Gonna Get Me in Such Trouble” – Richard, Roger, Gordon
“The Homeless Lady’s Revenge” – Lisa, Gordon, Roger
“Time” – Gordon, Roger
“Time and Music” – Minister, Roger, Mimi, Gordon, Lisa, Mr. Bungee, Company
“I Feel So Much Spring” – Gordon, Lisa, Minister, Mimi, Rhoda, Company
Which of these audition songs for A New Brain 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.