The Best Audition Songs for American Idiot – By Character

When considering audition songs for American Idiot, it’s fitting to choose a rock song from musical theatre or non-musical theatre repertoire that aligns with the tone of the show and suits your vocal type. Always refer to the audition notice for specific guidelines.

Because American Idiot premiered in 2009, the audition songs below are from between the 1990s and 2020s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed to ensure it matches the show’s style.

---

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 uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.

---

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 American Idiot.

---

Step 3: Pick an Audition Song

Before choosing a song, find your voice type and range using the Vocal Guide.

Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Whatever you choose, try to stay open to other casting possibilities.

When you’re ready, choose a song from below that best fits your voice and style.

---

Audition Songs for American Idiot

---

🎶 Need more audition song ideas? Build your audition book with a DIY Rep Book for your voice type: 200+ songs with ranges, tempos, and listening links. Or explore thousands of songs, monologues, and the Character Studio in the Theatre Trip Repertoire Studio→

---

Heather

“Head Above Water” – Avril Lavigne (Non-Theatre)

“I Can’t Go Back” – Pretty Woman

“This Is My Life” – Pretty Woman

“The Break” – Next to Normal

---

Johnny

“I’m Not That Guy” – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

“Public Life” – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

“The Saddest Song” – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

“Under the Westway” – Blur (Non-Theatre)

---

St. Jimmy

“Adam’s Song” – blink-182 (Non-Theatre)

“All the Small Things” – blink-182 (Non-Theatre)

“I’m Too Hot for You” – School of Rock

“When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock” – School of Rock

---

Tunny

“Boy Falls From The Sky” – Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

“Jumper” – Third Eye Blind (Non-Theatre)

“New Divide” – Linkin Park (Non-Theatre)

“Rise Above 1” – Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

---

Whatsername

“A Note From Linda” – The Wedding Singer

“Come to Your Senses” – Tick, Tick…BOOM!

“Predator” – Jagged Little Pill

“Saturday Night In The City” – The Wedding Singer

---

Will

“30/90” – Tick, Tick…Boom!

“Jet Pack Blues” – Fall Out Boy (Non-Theatre)

“Real Life” – Tick, Tick…Boom!

“The Kids Aren’t Alright” – Fall Out Boy (Non-Theatre)

---

🎭 Are you never quite sure which roles to audition for? Take our free Casting Archetype Quiz to see if you’re a villain, ingénue, hero, romantic, or a type that’s even more unique!

---

Ensemble (Altos)

“Mary Jane” – Alanis Morissette (Non-Theatre)

“On Monday” – 35mm: A Musical Exhibition

“Smiling” – Jagged Little Pill

---

Ensemble (Baritones)

“Explorers” – Muse (Non-Theatre)

“Second Nature” – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

“Your Eyes” – Rent

---

Ensemble (Basses)

“Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” – Crash Test Dummies (Non-Theatre)

“Something About Her” – Pretty Woman

“Wicked Little Town” – Hedwig and the Angry Inch

---

Ensemble (Contras)

“Apocalypse Please” – Muse (Non-Theatre)

“Bouncing Off the Walls” – Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

“Step One” – Kinky Boots

---

Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)

“Dead Mom” – Beetlejuice

“I’m Outta Here” – Ghost

“Over” – Lindsay Lohan (Non-Theatre)

---

Ensemble (Sopranos)

“Between Two Lungs” – Florence + the Machine (Non-Theatre)

“Eyes Open” – Taylor Swift (Non-Theatre)

“Uninvited” – Jagged Little Pill

---

Ensemble (Tenors)

“Closing Time” – Semisonic (Non-Theatre)

“Karma Police” – Radiohead (Non-Theatre)

“The Seraph” – 35mm: A Musical Exhibition

---

Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for American Idiot:

• “Antimatter” from Punk Rock

• “Less Air to Breathe” from Almost, Maine

• “Save the World” from A Piece of My Heart

• “Standing Somewhere” from The Real Thing

• “Too Abstract” from Sylvia

---

Step 5: Get Your Free Audition Prep Tools

Choosing the right song is just the beginning! Strong preparation helps you walk into the room with confidence and ready to show what you can do.

Get Theatre Trip’s free audition prep resources, including:

☑ Your Audition Prep Checklist
☑ Printable Audition Stamp Cards
☑ Updates when new audition tools are added

Grab your free resources on Patreon→

---

American Idiot Song List

Here’s a list of the musical numbers in American Idiot, 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! This is more intended to be used for character research purposes.

---

“American Idiot” – Company

“Jesus of Suburbia” – Johnny, Will, Tunny, Heather, Company

“Holiday” – Johnny, Tunny, Theo, Ensemble

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Johnny, Whatsername, Tunny, Ensemble

“Favorite Son” – Favorite Son, Ensemble

“Are We the Waiting” – Tunny, Favorite Son, Ensemble

“St. Jimmy” – Johnny, Declan, Theo, St. Jimmy, Ensemble

“Give Me Novacaine” – Will, Tunny, Ensemble

“Last of the American Girls / She’s a Rebel” – Johnny, Whatsername, St. Jimmy, Ensemble

“Last Night On Earth” – St. Jimmy, Whatsername, Heather, Ensemble

“Too Much Too Soon” – Theo, Alysha, Will, Heather

“Before the Lobotomy” – Tunny, Joshua, Ben, Chase

“Extraordinary Girl” – Extraordinary Girl, Tunny, Ensemble

“Before the Lobotomy (Reprise)” – Tunny, Joshua, Ben, Chase

“When It’s Time” – Johnny

“Know Your Enemy” – St. Jimmy, Will, Johnny, Ensemble

“21 Guns” – Whatsername, Extraordinary Girl, Heather, Tunny, Johnny, Will, Ensemble

“Letterbomb” – Whatsername, Ensemble

“Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Johnny, Will, Tunny, Ensemble

“Homecoming” – Company

“Whatsername” – Johnny, Company

“Good Riddance” – Company

---