The Best Audition Songs for Bright Star – By Character
When considering audition songs for Bright Star, it’s fitting to choose a country 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.
Because Bright Star premiered in 2014, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1990s and 2020s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed to ensure it matches the show’s style.
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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 upbeat, 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 Bright Star.
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 Bright Star
✨Need more options? The list below gives you a great starting point! The Theatre Trip Repertoire Studio gives you access to thousands of songs, hundreds of monologues, and tools to help you find your casting lane! Explore the Repertoire Studio →
Alice Murphy
“Everything Changes” – Waitress
“Hero” – Ghost Quartet
“Lay Down Your Head” – Violet
“Maybe Love” – Shucked
Billy Cane
“Disappear” – The Burnt Part Boys
“Gold” – Once
“Stronger” – Hands on a Hardbody
“The Wheel” – Tuck Everlasting
Daddy Cane
“Fight the Dragons” – Big Fish
“Something From a Dream” – The Bridges of Madison County
“That’s What I Could Do” – Violet
“Time” – Tuck Everlasting
Jimmy Ray Dobbs
“How Glory Goes” – Floyd Collins
“Last Time I Came to Memphis” – Violet
“Temporarily Lost” – The Bridges of Madison County
“When the Booth Goes Bright” – Amélie
Lucy Grant
“Backwoods Barbie” – 9 to 5
“Change It” – 9 to 5
“Every Day of the Week is a Saturday” – Nunsense Jamboree
“I Could’ve Gone to Nashville” – Nunsense
Margo Crawford
“Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad” – Bonnie & Clyde
“How Bout a Dance?” – Bonnie & Clyde
“She Used to Be Mine” – Waitress
“What Baking Can Do” – Waitress
Mayor Dobbs
“Build a Wall” – Shrek
“Guv’ment” – Big River
“Here for You” – 9 to 5
“My Problem Right There” – Hands on a Hardbody
🎭 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)
“Annie’s Party” – Fugitive Songs
“Before It’s Over” – Dogfight
“Pretty Funny” – Dogfight
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Seeing You” – Groundhog Day
“Tell My Father” – The Civil War
“Wondering” – The Bridges of Madison County
Ensemble (Basses)
“Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy” – Once
“Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Sleeping” – Once
Ensemble (Contras)
“Dusty Plays the Saw” – The Burnt Part Boys
“That’s What You Call a Dream” – Bonnie & Clyde
“The Hill” – Once
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“I Just Might” – 9 to 5
“Oklahoma?” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
“Remember Me” – Little Fish
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Breeze Off the River” – The Full Monty
“God Answered My Prayers” – Hands on a Hardbody
“Man I Never Knew” – The Burnt Part Boys
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Bright Star:
• “A Landscape This Big” from Lewiston/Clarkston
• “Crackling Balls” from Lewiston/Clarkston
• “Johnny B.” from The Spitfire Grill
• “Just People” from Lewiston/Clarkston
• “The Country” from George Washington Slept Here
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→
Bright Star Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Bright Star, 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 1:
“If You Knew My Story” – Alice
“She’s Gone” – Daddy Cane, Billy
“Bright Star” – Billy, Ensemble
“Way Back in the Day” – Alice, Ensemble
“Whoa, Mama” – Jimmy, Alice
“Firmer Hand” / “Do Right” – Daddy Murphy, Mama Murphy, Alice, Ensemble
“A Man’s Gotta Do” – Mayor Dobbs, Jimmy
“Asheville” – Margo, Ensemble
“What Could Be Better” – Jimmy, Alice, Ensemble
“I Can’t Wait” – Alice, Jimmy, Ensemble
“Please, Don’t Take Him” – Mayor Dobbs, Alice, Daddy Murphy, Mama Murphy, Ensemble
“A Man’s Gotta Do (Reprise)” – Mayor Dobbs, Ensemble
Act 2:
“Sun Is Gonna Shine” – Alice, Mama Murphy, Margo, Daddy Cane, Ensemble
“Heartbreaker” – Jimmy
“Another Round” – Lucy, Daryl, Billy, Ensemble
“I Had a Vision” – Alice, Jimmy
“Always Will” – Billy, Margo, Ensemble
“So Familiar” – Alice, Ensemble
“At Long Last” – Alice, Ensemble
“Finale” – Ensemble
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.
