Musical Song Lists

64 of the Best Audition Songs for Contras

Are you getting ready for an important audition? Well, first you should check out our giant database of audition songs for specific musicals. But if your show hasn’t yet been covered by us, or if you’re just looking to expand your repertoire, you can go through this list of audition songs for contras (contraltos / countertenors / contra tenors).

* There is no difference between a “contralto” and a “contra tenor” in terms of vocal range. That’s why I’m proposing that we together coin a new gender-inclusive term of “contras”.

By the way, if your vocal range lies between E3-E5, you are a contra! If you haven’t gone through the steps to find your vocal type yet, I would definitely recommend doing so!


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First Step: Read your audition details

Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify what types of solos they’d like to hear (a ballad, something uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.

And here’s Theatre Trip’s matching “Audition Songs for Contras” Spotify Playlist!


Quick Tip: For easy access to each song’s sheet music, backing tracks, music, time period, and vocal type info, just follow any of the links below!


Golden Age Songs for Contras (1940-1959)

Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home” – St. Louis Woman

I Never Know When” – Goldilocks

Lazy Afternoon” – The Golden Apple

Nobody’s Heart” – By Jupiter

Small World” – Gypsy

Some People” – Gypsy

Tender Shepherd” – Peter Pan

The Gentleman Is a Dope” – Allegro


Post-Golden Age Songs for Contras (1960s)

A Parade in Town” – Anyone Can Whistle

Before the Parade Passes By” – Hello, Dolly!

Cabaret” – Cabaret

I Don’t Want to Know” – Dear World

So What?” – Cabaret

The Sailor of My Dreams” – Dames at Sea

Where Am I Going?” – Sweet Charity

Why Do The Wrong People Travel?” – Sail Away


1970s Songs for Contras

He’s Good For Me” – Seesaw

I Still Believe in Love” – They’re Playing Our Song

I’m Still Here” – Follies

Magic to Do” – Pippin

Meadowlark” – The Baker’s Wife

Millwork” – Working

Nothing” – A Chorus Line

Those Magic Changes” – Grease


1980s Songs for Contras

Like It Was” – Merrily We Roll Along

Heaven Help My Heart” – Chess

I Want to Go to Hollywood” – Grand Hotel

Maybe” – Miss Saigon

No Man Is Worth It” – Dance a Little Closer

Someone Else’s Story” – Chess

Tell Me It’s Not True” – Blood Brothers

What You Need” – Grand Hotel


1990s Songs for Contras

A Change in Me” – Beauty and the Beast

Back to Before” – Ragtime

Every Tear a Mother Cries” – Honk!

King of the World” – Songs for a New World

Let It Sing” – Violet

Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria

The Music Still Plays On” – A New Brain

Without You” – Rent


2000s Songs for Contras

Big Love” – Memphis

Come Down Now” – Passing Strange

Here Within These Walls” – Sister Act

Just Like That” – A Christmas Story

I Dreamed a Dance” – Next to Normal

Love and Love Alone” – The Visit

My Body Wasn’t Why” – The Glorious Ones

Out of Sight, Out of Mind” – A Tale of Two Cities


2010s Songs for Contras

All I Need Is an Angel” – Grease Live!

Brave Thing” – Fangirls

Home Calls” – Next Thing You Know

Live in Living Color” – Catch Me If You Can

Playing Nancy” – Groundhog Day

There Was John” – Tootsie

Time Stood Still” – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Whatever Time I Have” – Mrs Henderson Presents


Character/Comedic Songs for Contras

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

Jeanette’s Showbiz Number” – The Full Monty

Just Around the Corner” – The Addams Family

Land of Yesterday” – Anastasia

Nice” – It Shoulda Been You

Sensitivity” – Once Upon a Mattress

Sweet Child” – The Little Mermaid

Whatever Lola Wants” – Damn Yankees


By the way… If you like this post, you might also like:

DIY Rep Book for Contras Ad.


Know of any other great audition songs for contras?

And what role are you auditioning for next? We would love to hear all about it in the comments! In the meantime, you can check out our database of best audition songs for other musicals.


Stacy Karyn, Author of Pop Songs for Contras.
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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.


 

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