The Best Audition Songs for Avenue Q – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Avenue Q? 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 Avenue Q, broken down by character.
Since Avenue Q is a contemporary musical, the following songs are from contemporary musicals as well. In addition, there are lots of comedic and character 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 (something comedic, contemporary, 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 or libretto for Avenue Q➝ while listening to the Avenue Q 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.
Brian
“A Day for the Cat In the Hat” – Seussical
“How Lucky You Are” – Seussical
“Run, Freedom, Run!” – Urinetown
“The Pants Song” – Be More Chill
Christmas Eve
“Fly, Fly Away” – Catch Me If You Can
“Never Fall in Love (With an Elf)” – Elf
“Periwinkle” – Dear Edwina
“What’s Gonna Happen” – Tootsie
Gary Coleman
“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“Brand New You” – 13
“Fabulous, Baby!” – Sister Act
“I Didn’t Plan It” – Waitress
Kate Monster
“Lost in the Brass” – Band Geeks
“Sing Your Own Song” – Dear Edwina
“Up on the Fridge” – Dear Edwina
“What’s Wrong With Me?” – Mean Girls
Lucy
“All Falls Down” – Chaplin
“Friki-Friki” – Honeymoon in Vegas
“Listen to Your Heart” – Young Frankenstein
“What You Got” – Freaky Friday
Nicky
“A Christmas Song” – Elf
“Reindeers are Better Than People” – Frozen
“Warts and All” – Honk!
“You Can’t Trust a Man” – Tuck Everlasting
Princeton
“I’m Allergic to Cats” – The Theory of Relativity
“Just Like Him” – Elf
“Look at the Sky” – Urinetown
“Man About Town” – Young Frankenstein
Rod
“Human Stuff” – The Little Mermaid
“Loser Geek Whatever” – Be More Chill
“Sheldon Potts’ Halftime Show” – Junie B. Jones
“World’s Greatest Dad” – Elf
Ensemble (Altos)
“I Love Play Rehearsal” – Be More Chill
“Notice Me, Horton” – Seussical
“Right Hand Man” – Something Rotten!
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Alone in the Universe” – Seussical
“Gotta Get Out” – The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes
“The Genius on Cleveland Street” – A Christmas Story
Ensemble (Basses)
“Happy/Sad” – The Addams Family
“Love Sneaks In” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
“Please Send Me Someone” – Young Frankenstein
Ensemble (Contras)
“Just Around the Corner” – The Addams Family
“Nice” – It Shoulda Been You
“Thank God She’s Blind” – The Toxic Avenger
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“I Speak Six Languages” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“My Big French Boyfriend” – The Toxic Avenger
“The Lamest Place in the World” – 13
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“A Note From Grandma” – The Wedding Singer
“Allison’s Theme #1” – First Date
“What Only Love Can See” – Chaplin
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Different” – Honk!
“Man Up” – The Book of Mormon
“Positoovity” – The Little Mermaid
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Avenue Q:
• “Mic” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Playing With Fired” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Trolling 101” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “TV in My Bones” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “You Know What➝” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Patty)
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!
Avenue Q Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Avenue Q 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:
“The Avenue Q Theme” – Company
“What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?” – Princeton
“It Sucks to Be Me” – Kate, Brian, Rod, Nicky, Christmas Eve, Princeton, Gary Coleman
“If You Were Gay” – Nicky, Rod
“Purpose” – Princeton, Ensemble
“Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” – Princeton, Kate, Gary, Brian, Christmas Eve
“The Internet Is for Porn” – Kate, Trekkie, Brian, Rod, Gary, Princeton
“Mix Tape” – Kate, Princeton
“I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today” – Brian
“Special” – Lucy
“You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want” – Bad Idea Bears, Kate, Princeton, Gary, Christmas Eve, Brian
“Fantasies Come True” – Rod, Nicky, Princeton, Kate
“My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada” – Rod
“There’s a Fine, Fine Line” – Kate
Act 2:
“There Is Life Outside Your Apartment” – Brian, Princeton, Christmas Eve, Nicky, Gary, Trekkie, Lucy
“The More You Ruv Someone” – Christmas Eve, Kate
“Schadenfreude” – Gary, Nicky
“I Wish I Could Go Back to College” – Kate, Nicky, Princeton
“The Money Song” – Nicky, Princeton, Gary, Brian, Christmas Eve
“School for Monsters” / “The Money Song (Reprise)” – Trekkie, Nicky, Princeton, Brian, Christmas Eve
“There’s a Fine, Fine Line (Reprise)”/ “What Do You Do With a B.A. in English (Reprise)” – Princeton, Kate, Newcomer
“For Now” – Company
Which of these audition songs for Avenue Q 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.
* The featured image is from Uark Theatre.
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.