64 of the Best Audition Songs for Basses
Here is a curated selection of musical theatre audition songs for basses, featuring a range of styles and character types. Every song on this page was chosen because it is dramatically strong, vocally suitable for basses, and appropriate for use in an audition room.
Basses have a range of E2 to E4. Not sure if that’s you? Find out your vocal type here!
Golden Age Songs for Basses (1940-1959)
“Don’t Cry” – The Most Happy Fella
“Edelweiss” – The Sound of Music
“I Could Write a Book” – Pal Joey
“I Still See Elisa” – Paint Your Wagon
“I’m an Ordinary Man” – My Fair Lady
“I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” – My Fair Lady
“Lost in the Stars” – Lost in the Stars
“Thousands of Miles” – Lost in the Stars
Post-Golden Age Songs for Basses (1960s)
“Among My Yesterdays” – The Happy Time
“I Don’t Remember You” – The Happy Time
“Later Than Spring” – Sail Away
“Night Song” – Golden Boy
“Not Mine” – Hallelujah, Baby!
“Once Upon a Time” – All American
“Try to Remember” – The Fantasticks
“Who Can I Turn To” – The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd
1970s Songs for Basses
“Fallin’” – They’re Playing Our Song
“Fear No More” – The Frogs
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“I’ll Be Here Tomorrow” – The Grand Tour
“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds
“I Wanna Make the World Laugh” – Mack & Mabel
“She Is a Diamond” – Evita
“You’re a Lovable Lunatic” – Seesaw
1980s Songs for Basses
“Father to Son” – Falsettos
“Funny” – City of Angels
“I Am What I Am” – La Cage aux Folles
“Marry Me” – The Rink
“See You in the Funny Papers” – Woman of the Year
“Song on the Sand” – La Cage aux Folles
“The Colors of My Life” – Barnum
“There’s Always One You Can’t Forget” – Dance a Little Closer
1990s Songs for Basses
“As Good As You” – Jane Eyre
“Does the Moment Ever Come?” – Just So
“Heaven Help Me” – Footloose
“How Long Must This Go On?” – Beauty and the Beast
“If the World Were Like the Movies” – My Favorite Year
“I’ll Be Here” – The Wild Party
“Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
2000s Songs for Basses
“Aftershocks” – Next to Normal
“Coffee Shop Nights” – Curtains
“Deep Into the Ground” – Billy Elliot
“Like Zis / Like Zat” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
“Love Sneaks In” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
“Mrs. Remington” – The Story of My Life
“Welcome to the World” – A Man of No Importance
“Who’s the Man” – The Witches of Eastwick
2010s Songs for Basses
“Everything About You” – Groundhog Day
“In the Ring” – Rocky
“Night Will Come” – Groundhog Day
“Now Is Not the Time” – Mrs Henderson Presents
“The Great Comet of 1812” – The Great Comet
“This Is Not An Exit” – American Psycho
“We Look to You” – The Prom
“What Would You Do?” – If/Then
Character/Comedic Audition Songs for Basses
“Be Prepared” – The Lion King
“Daisy Hill” – Snoopy!!!
“I Wanna Be a Producer” – The Producers
“My Name” – Oliver!
“Please Send Me Someone” – Young Frankenstein
“Reindeers Are Better Than People” – Frozen
“So Long Mom” – Tomfoolery
“Suppertime” – Little Shop of Horrors
✦ To access the full master list of 215+ musical theatre songs for basses organized by era, including everything from 2020 onwards, join The Theatre Trip Archive on Patreon!
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.
