The Best Audition Songs for Back to the Future – By Character
When considering audition songs for Back to the Future, it’s fitting to choose a song from 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.
Back to the Future premiered in 2020, but its story jumps between 1985 and 1955. The audition songs below fit that mix: some come from contemporary musicals (2000s–2020s), and others are classic songs that match its 1950s and 1980s sound.
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 comedic, 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 Back to the Future.
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 Back to the Future
🎶 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→
Biff Tannen
“Do Something” – Honeymoon in Vegas
“Jeff Sums It Up” – Tootsie
“Man” – The Full Monty
“Single” – The Wedding Singer
“You Will Still Be Mine” – Waitress
Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown
“Amazing Journey” – The Who’s Tommy
“How It Ends” – Big Fish
“I Am My Own Invention” – Wonderland
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” – The Who’s Tommy
“Whaddya Do” – Tootsie
George McFly
“I Think I Like Her” – Summer of ’42
“It Just Wasn’t Meant to Happen” – Calvin Berger
“Kick Me” – Now. Here. This.
“Soul of a Man” – Kinky Boots
“Will That Ever Happen to Me?” – Summer of ’42
Goldie Wilson
“Big Love” – Memphis
“Love Thy Neighbor” – The Prom
“Prayer of the Comfort Counselor” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“Run, Freedom, Run!” – Urinetown
“The Way You Do The Things You Do” – Ain’t Too Proud
Jennifer Parker
“Magic in the Man” – Big Fish
“Maybe It Starts With Me” – Mr. Saturday Night
“There Was John” – Tootsie
“This Is My Life” – Pretty Woman
“With All of Your Heart” – Schmigadoon!
Lorraine Baines
“All I Need Is an Angel” – Grease Live!
“Be Anything” – Connie Francis (Non-Theatre)
“Fools Fall in Love” – All Shook Up
“Freddy My Love” – Grease
“One Night With You” – All Shook Up
Marty McFly
“Good Kid” – The Lightning Thief
“High School Confidential” – Jerry Lee Lewis (Non-Theatre)
“Jailhouse Rock” – All Shook Up
“Start Me Up” – The Rolling Stones (Non-Theatre)
“Step One” – Kinky Boots
Marvin Berry
“Can I Close the Door” – Motown: The Musical
“Cry for Me” – Jersey Boys
“I Wish It Would Rain” – Ain’t Too Proud
“Just My Imagination” – Ain’t Too Proud
“My Girl” – Ain’t Too Proud
🎭 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)
“Fly Into the Future” – Vanities
“One Day” – Groundhog Day
“Right in Front of Your Eyes” – The Wedding Singer
Ensemble (Baritones/Basses)
“Michael’s Reprise” – Tootsie
“Seeing You” – Groundhog Day
“Something About Her” – Pretty Woman
Ensemble (Contras)
“Famous” – On Your Feet!
“Gone, Gone, Gone” – Tootsie
“Radio” – Memphis
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Anywhere But Here” – Pretty Woman
“I Can’t Go Back” – Pretty Woman
“I’m Alive” – Tootsie
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Cooties” – Hairspray
“Ain’t Nothin’ But a Kiss” – Memphis
“Someday” – Memphis
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Freedom” – Pretty Woman
“Goodbye” – Catch Me If You Can
“Rock This Town” – Stray Cats (Non-Theatre)
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Back to the Future:
• “Between Things” from Middletown
• “Cricket Bats” from The Real Thing
• “Dancing Shoes” from Grease
• “Dinosaur Talking” from Red
• “Looking Back” from Footloose
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→
Back to the Future Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Back to the Future 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.
* 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 I:
“It’s Only a Matter of Time” – Marty, Goldie, Ensemble
“Audition/Got No Future” – Marty
“Wherever We’re Going” – Jennifer Parker, Marty
“Hello – Is Anybody Home?” – Marty, George, Dave, Linda, Lorraine
“It Works” – Doc, Ensemble
“Cake” – Ensemble
“Got No Future (Reprise)” – Marty
“Good At Being Bad” – Biff Tannen
“Gotta Start Somewhere” – Goldie, Ensemble
“My Myopia” – George
“Pretty Baby” – Lorraine, Ensemble
“Future Boy” – Marty, Doc, Ensemble
“Hill Valley High School Fight Song” – Ensemble
“Something About That Boy” – Lorraine, Biff, 3D, Slick, Ensemble
Act II:
“21st Century” – Doc, Ensemble
“Something About That Boy (Reprise)” – Lorraine
“Put Your Mind to It” – Marty, George
“For the Dreamers” – Doc
“Teach Him a Lesson” – Biff, 3D, Slick
“The Letter/It’s Only a Matter of Time (Reprise)” – Marty, Jennifer
“Deep Divin'” – Marvin Berry, Ensemble
“Pretty Baby (Reprise)” – Lorraine
“Earth Angel” – Marvin, George, Lorraine, Ensemble
“Johnny B. Goode” – Marty, Ensemble
“The Clocktower/For the Dreamers (Reprise)” – Doc
“The Power of Love” – Marty, Jennifer, Goldie, Company
“Doc Returns/Finale” – Company
“Back in Time” – Marty, Doc, Company
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip and the author of The Thespian’s Bucket List. She is also the creator of The Cast Album List. Her background includes a BA in Theatre, a TESOL Drama certificate, and professional experience in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
