The Best Audition Songs for Chicago – By Character

When considering audition songs for Chicago, it’s fitting to choose a song in the style of the Jazz Age 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 Chicago is set in the 1920s, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals set around that same era. 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 by Kander and Ebb, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your casting call.

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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 Chicago.

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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.

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Audition Songs for Chicago

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🎶 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→

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Amos Hart

“I Miss the Music” – Curtains

“I Waltz Alone” – Grand Hotel

“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife

“Joe” – Working

“Marry Me” – The Rink

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Billy Flynn

“Beautiful Girls” – Follies

“Grand Knowing You” – She Loves Me

“Second Chance” – Steel Pier

“You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” – Annie

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Mary Sunshine

“Nelson” – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine

“One More Kiss” – Follies

“Repent” – On the Twentieth Century

“The Tale of the Oyster” – Fifty Million Frenchmen

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Matron “Mama” Morton

“It’s a Business” – Curtains

“Only in New York” – Thoroughly Modern Millie

“That’s Rich” – Newsies

“They Don’t Know” – Thoroughly Modern Millie

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Roxie Hart

“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

“Don’t Tell Mama” – Cabaret

“Look What Happened to Mabel” – Mack & Mabel

“Maybe This Time” – Cabaret

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Velma Kelly

“Cabaret” – Cabaret

“City Lights” – The Act

“Nobody Does It Like Me” – Seesaw

“Wherever He Ain’t” – Mack & Mabel

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🎭 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!

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Ensemble (Altos)

“An Old-Fashioned Love Story” – The Wild Party

“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone

“Mein Herr” – Cabaret

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Ensemble (Baritones)

“If You Could See Her” – Cabaret

“She’s a Woman” – Kiss of the Spider Woman

“Why Should I Wake Up?” – Cabaret

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Ensemble (Basses)

“I Wanna Make the World Laugh” – Mack & Mabel

“Movies Were Movies” – Mack & Mabel

“See You in the Funny Papers” – Woman of the Year

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Ensemble (Contras)

“Broadway Baby” – Follies

“I Want to Go to Hollywood” – Grand Hotel

“What You Need” – Grand Hotel

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Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)

“Look At Me Now” – The Wild Party

“Shimmy Like They Do in Paree” – Death Takes a Holiday

“The Oldest Profession” – The Life

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Ensemble (Tenors)

“I Don’t Care Much” – Cabaret

“I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack & Mabel

“What Do I Need With Love?” – Thoroughly Modern Millie

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Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Chicago:

• “Cheater and a Drunk” from 4000 Miles

• “Give Me Twenty Years” from On Trial

• “Inferiority Complex” from The Glass Menagerie

• “The Illusion of Autonomy” from Race

• “You Drive Me Crazy” from Sweet Charity

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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→

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Chicago Song List

Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Chicago, 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.

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Act 1:

“All That Jazz” – Velma, Ensemble

“Funny Honey” – Roxie, Amos

“Cell Block Tango” – Velma, Ensemble

“When You’re Good to Mama” – Matron “Mama” Morton

“All I Care About” – Billy, Ensemble

“A Little Bit of Good” – Mary Sunshine

“We Both Reached for the Gun” – Billy, Mary, Roxie, Ensemble

“Roxie” – Roxie, Ensemble

“I Can’t Do It Alone” – Velma

“My Own Best Friend” – Roxie, Velma

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Act 2:

“I Know a Girl” – Velma, Roxie, Ensemble

“Me and My Baby” – Roxie, Billy, Mary Sunshine, Amos, Mama Morton, Ensemble

“Mister Cellophane” – Amos

“When Velma Takes the Stand” – Velma, Billy, Ensemble

“Razzle Dazzle” – Billy, Ensemble

“Class” – Velma, Mama Morton

“Nowadays” – Velma, Roxie

“Finale” / “All That Jazz (Reprise)” – Velma, Roxie, Company

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