The Best Audition Songs for Assassins – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Assassins? 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 Assassins, by character.
Since Assassins is a pre-contemporary musical, most of the following songs are from pre-contemporary musicals as well (1970s-1990s). In addition, many of these songs are dark and/or musically intricate in order to match the style of the show. And for your convenience, the Sondheim songs have been marked below.
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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 listen to the Assassins cast album➝ while reading through the synopsis.
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 (and not a specific character), there’s always a chance you might get chosen for a leading/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.
Charles Guiteau
“Rest and Recreation” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“Sarah” – The Civil War
“The Man I Used to Be” – The Count of Monte Cristo
“Use What You Got” – The Life
Giuseppe Zangara
“Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.” – Ragtime
“If You Want to Die in Bed” – Miss Saigon
“The American Dream” – Miss Saigon
“The Contest” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
John Hinckley
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“Johanna” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Later” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Why” – Tick, Tick…BOOM!
John Wilkes Booth
“Confrontation” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Hellfire” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“How Long Must This Go On?” – Beauty and the Beast
“Is This What You Call Love?” – Passion [Sondheim]
Leon Czologosz
“Bolero de Amor” – Copacabana
“Fear No More” – The Frogs [Sondheim]
“Grand Parade” – Grand Hotel
“Stars” – Les Misérables
Sara Jane Moore
“By the Sea” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Every Day a Little Death” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Sunday in the Park with George” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“Wait” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
The Balladeer
“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies [Sondheim]
“Pretty Music” – Parade
“Steal With Style” – The Robber Bridegroom
“The Delta Queen” – Nunsense III
The Proprietor
“Beautiful Girls” – Follies [Sondheim]
“Hello, Little Girl” – Into the Woods [Sondheim]
“Movies Were Movies” – Mack & Mabel
“The Road You Didn’t Take” – Follies [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Altos)
“Children and Art” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“Liaisons” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Losing My Mind” – Follies [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Baritones)
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion [Sondheim]
“Talent” – Road Show [Sondheim]
“Where I Want to Be” – Chess
Ensemble (Basses)
“Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“My Friends” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Now” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Contras)
“Flying Home” – Songs for a New World
“Goodbye, My Love” – Ragtime
“Last Midnight” – Into the Woods [Sondheim]
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“I Wish I Could Forget You” – Passion [Sondheim]
“Loving You” – Passion [Sondheim]
“Take Me to the World” – Evening Primrose [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“I Never Do Anything Twice” – Side by Side by Sondheim [Sondheim]
“Soon” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Stay With Me” – Into the Woods [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Finishing the Hat” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“Ladies in Their Sensitivities” – Sweeney Todd [Sondheim]
“Made of Stone” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Assassins:
• “Church & State” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Dreaming of a White House” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝
• “Little Victories” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Something Like This” from Call of the Revolution➝
• “We the People” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
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!
Assassins Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Assassins 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.
“Everybody’s Got The Right” – Proprietor, Ensemble
“The Ballad of Booth” – Balladeer, Booth
“How I Saved Roosevelt” – Zangara, Ensemble
“The G*n Song” – Czolgosz, Booth, Guiteau, Moore
“The Ballad of Czolgosz” – Balladeer, Ensemble
“Unworthy of Your Love” – Hinckley, Fromme
“The Ballad of Guiteau” – Guiteau, Balladeer
“Another National Anthem” – Balladeer, Assassins
“Something Just Broke” – Ensemble
“Everybody’s Got The Right (Reprise)” – Assassins
Which of these audition songs for Assassins 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.