The Best Audition Songs for Cats – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Cats? 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 Cats, broken down by character.
Since Cats is a pre-contemporary musical, most of the songs below are from the 1970s-1990s as well. In addition, there are lots of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs included below in order to match the style of the show (marked with ALW 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 by Andrew Lloyd Webber, 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 Cats➝ while listening to the Cats 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 (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.
Asparagus
“Anthem” – Chess
“Never the Luck” – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
“The Colors of My Life” – Barnum
“Unsettled Scores” – Whistle Down the Wind [ALW]
Bustopher Jones
“Grand Parade” – Grand Hotel
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
“The Music of the Night” – The Phantom of the Opera [ALW]
“You Can Get Away With Anything” – The Woman in White [ALW]
Grizabella
“Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known” – Tell Me on a Sunday [ALW]
“Tell Me It’s Not True” – Blood Brothers
“Unexpected Song” – Song and Dance [ALW]
“With One Look” – Sunset Boulevard [ALW]
Jellylorum
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love [ALW]
“Take That Look Off Your Face” – Tell Me on a Sunday [ALW]
“The Last Man in My Life” – Tell Me on a Sunday [ALW]
“There Is More to Love” – Aspects of Love [ALW]
Munkustrap
“I’d Rather Be Sailing” – A New Brain
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“Love Changes Everything” – Aspects of Love [ALW]
“The Hardest Part of Love” – Children of Eden
Old Deuteronomy
“A Bit of Earth” – The Secret Garden
“A World Without You” – Children of Eden
“Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
“No Moon” – Titanic
Rum Tum Tugger
“And the Money Kept Rolling In” – Evita [ALW] [in your natural accent]
“Any Dream Will Do” – Joseph [ALW]
“King Herod’s Song” – Jesus Christ Superstar [ALW]
“We Beseech Thee” – Godspell
Ensemble (Altos)
“Make Up My Heart” – Starlight Express [ALW]
“Stranger to the Rain” – Children of Eden
“Tell Me on a Sunday” – Song and Dance [ALW]
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Only With You” – Nine
“Starlight Express” – Starlight Express [ALW]
“There’s Me” – Starlight Express [ALW]
Ensemble (Basses)
“Drink With Me” – Les Misérables
“Guido’s Song” – Nine
“The Greatest Star of All” – Sunset Boulevard [ALW]
Ensemble (Contras)
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Sunset Boulevard [ALW]
“Rolling Stock” – Starlight Express [ALW]
“You Must Love Me” – Evita [ALW]
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“Another Suitcase in Another Hall” – Evita [ALW]
“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” – Evita [ALW]
“Learn to Be Lonely” – A Doll’s Life
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Simple” – Nine
“Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” – The Phantom of the Opera [ALW]
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Lost in the Wilderness” – Children of Eden
“Pity the Child” – Chess
“Sunset Boulevard” – Sunset Boulevard [ALW]
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Cats:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “Mother Moon➝” from Fading Joy➝ (Joy)
• “My Opinion” from Paul Pry➝ (Oldbutton)
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
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!
Cats Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Cats, 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:
“Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats” – Company
“The Naming of Cats” – Company
“The Old Gumbie Cat” – Munkustrap, Demeter, Bombalurina, Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, Ensemble
“The Rum Tum Tugger” – Rum Tum Tugger, Mistoffolees, Bombalurina, Company
“Grizabella: The Glamour Cat” – Grizabella, Demeter, Bombalurina
“Bustopher Jones” – Bustopher, Jennyanydots, Bombalurina, Jellylorum, Ensemble
“Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer” – Mungojerrie, Rumpleteazer
“Old Deuteronomy” – Deuteronomy, Tugger, Munkustrap, Tantomile, Coricopat, Company
“The Jellicle Ball” – Company
“Grizabella: The Glamour Cat (Reprise)” – Grizabella
Act 2:
“The Moments of Happiness” – Deuteronomy, Jemima, Company
“Gus: The Theatre Cat” – Asparagus, Jellylorum
“The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles” – Munkustrap, Rumpleteazer, Mungojerrie, Deuteronomy, Company
“Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” – Deuteronomy, Rumpleteazer, Skimbleshanks, Jellylorum, Company
“Macavity: The Mystery Cat” – Demeter, Bombalurina, Ensemble
“Mr. Mistoffelees” – Rum Tum Tugger, Company
“Memory” – Grizabella, Jemima
“The Journey to the Heaviside Layer” – Company
“The Ad-Dressing of Cats / Finale” – Deuteronomy, Company
Which of these audition songs for Cats 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.