The Best Audition Songs for Chess – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Chess? 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 Chess, broken down by character.
Since Chess is a pre-contemporary musical from the 1980s, most of the following songs are from pre-contemporary musicals as well (1970s-1990s). In addition, there are lots of dramatic, epic, and rock vibes included 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 (a ballad, something upbeat, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your 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 while listening to the Chess cast album➝. Or you can watch the live recording of Chess➝.
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.
Alexander/Ivan Molokov
“Bolero de Amor” – Copacabana
“Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.” – Ragtime
“Falcon in the Dive” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“The Contest” – Sweeney Todd
Anatoly Sergievsky
“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” – Les Misérables
“Gethsemane” – Jesus Christ Superstar
“Love Changes Everything” – Aspects of Love
“Sunset Boulevard” – Sunset Boulevard
Florence Vassy
“I Don’t Know How to Love Him” – Jesus Christ Superstar
“I Guess I’ll Miss the Man” – Pippin
“Now That I’ve Seen Her” – Miss Saigon
“Maybe” – Miss Saigon
Frederick Trumper (Freddie)
“Alas for You” – Godspell
“One Song Glory” – Rent
“Radames’ Letter” – Aida
“Your Eyes” – Rent
Svetlana Sergievsky
“A New Life” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Sunset Boulevard
“Someone Like You” – Jekyll & Hyde
The Arbiter
“If You Want to Die in Bed” – Miss Saigon
“I’m Martin Guerre” – Martin Guerre
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
“The American Dream” – Miss Saigon
Walter de Courcey
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion
“Pilate’s Dream” – Jesus Christ Superstar
“She Was There” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Stars” – Les Misérables
Ensemble (Altos)
“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” – Evita
“I Dreamed a Dream” – Les Misérables
“Take That Look Off Your Face” – Tell Me on a Sunday
Ensemble (Baritones)
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“The Greatest Star of All” – Sunset Boulevard
“Words He Doesn’t Say” – Romance/Romance
Ensemble (Basses)
“Funny” – City of Angels
“She Is a Diamond” – Evita
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ensemble (Contras)
“Gifts of Love” – The Baker’s Wife
“Tell Me It’s Not True” – Blood Brothers
“You Must Love Me” – Evita
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Another Suitcase in Another Hall” – Evita
“I’d Give My Life For You” – Miss Saigon
“When Will Someone Hear?” – Martin Guerre
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Simple” – Nine
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Heaven on Their Minds” – Jesus Christ Superstar
“On This Night of A Thousand Stars” – Evita
“Why God Why?” – Miss Saigon
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Chess:
• “I Can’t Trust Anything➝” from Watson Intelligence (Eliza)
• “It’s Best➝” from Elsewhere➝
• “It’s Never One Thing➝” from Shows for Days (Irene)
• “Some People Get Locked Up➝” from Pretty Theft➝ (Joe)
• “Wormhole➝” from Ohio (Zach)
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!
Chess Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Chess, 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 Story of Chess” – The Arbiter, Ensemble
“Merano” / “What a Scene! What a Joy!” – Mayor, Freddie, Florence, Ensemble
“Commie Newspapers” – Freddie, Florence
“Press Conference” – Freddie, Florence, Ensemble
“Molokov and Anatoly” – Anatoly, Molokov
“Where I Want to Be” – Anatoly
“Difficult and Dangerous Times” – Molokov, Florence, Ensemble
“The Arbiter” – The Arbiter, Ensemble
“Hymn to Chess” – The Arbiter, Ensemble
“The Merchandisers” – Ensemble
“The Arbiter (Reprise)” – The Arbiter, Ensemble
“Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)” – Molokov, Florence, The Arbiter, Anatoly
“Florence and Molokov” – Molokov, Florence
“1956 – Budapest is Rising” – Florence, Freddie, Ensemble
“Nobody’s Side” – Florence, Ensemble
“Mountain Duet” – Florence, Anatoly
“Florence Quits” – Freddie, Florence
“Pity the Child #1” – Freddie
“Embassy Lament” – Ensemble
“Heaven Help My Heart” – Florence
“Anatoly and the Press” – Anatoly, Walter, Ensemble
“Anthem” – Anatoly
Act 2:
“One Night in Bangkok” – Freddie, Ensemble
“One More Opponent” – Anatoly, Florence
“You and I” – Anatoly, Florence
“The Soviet Machine” – Molokov, Ensemble
“The Interview” – Walter, Freddie, Anatoly
“Someone Else’s Story” – Svetlana
“The Deal (No Deal)” – The Arbiter, Molokov, Svetlana, Walter, Florence, Freddie, Anatoly, Ensemble
“Pity the Child #2” – Freddie
“I Know Him So Well” – Florence, Svetlana
“Talking Chess” – Freddie, Anatoly
“Endgame #1” – The Arbiter, Frederick, Ensemble
“Endgame #2” – Molokov, Freddie, Florence, Ensemble
“Endgame #3” / “Chess Game #3” – Anatoly, Svetlana, Florence
“You and I (Reprise)” – Florence, Anatoly
“Walter and Florence” – Walter, Florence
“Anthem (Reprise)” / “Finale” – Walter, Florence, Anatoly, Svetlana, Company
Which of these audition songs for Chess 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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.