The Best Audition Songs for Cry-Baby – By Character
When considering audition songs for Cry-Baby, it’s fitting to choose a pop/rock song from musical theatre or non-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 Cry-Baby is set in the 1950s, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals that are set around that same era. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed to ensure it matches the show’s style.
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 uptempo, 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 Cry-Baby.
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 Cry-Baby
🎶 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→
Allison Vernon-Williams
“All I Need Is an Angel” – Grease Live!
“Fools Fall in Love” – All Shook Up
“Hopelessly Devoted to You” – Grease
“Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise)” – Grease
Baldwin Blandish
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” – Jersey Boys
“Fallen Angel” – Jersey Boys
“Mooning” – Grease
“Rhythm of the Rain” – The Cascades (Non-Theatre)
Dupree W. Dupree
“Greased Lightnin’” – Grease
“Jailhouse Rock” – All Shook Up
“Pills” – Bo Diddley (Non-Theatre)
“Serve Yourself” – Pump Boys and Dinettes
Lenora Frigid
“Easy to Say” – Zombie Prom
“Freddy My Love” – Grease
“It’s Raining on Prom Night” – Grease
“One Night With You” – All Shook Up
Mrs. Cordelia Vernon-Williams
“I Wrote the Book” – Woman of the Year
“It’s a Business” – Curtains
“Rookie in the Ring” – My Favorite Year
“Teaching Third Grade” – Ruthless!
Wade ‘Cry-Baby’ Walker
“Alone at the Drive-In Movie” – Grease
“How Can I Say Goodbye?” – Zombie Prom
“Maybe (Baby)” – Grease Live!
“Sandy” – Grease
🎭 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)
“Be Anything” – Connie Francis (Non-Theatre)
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do” – Grease
“There’s Always Me” – All Shook Up
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Little Sister” – Elvis Presley (Non-Theatre)
“Magic Moments” – Perry Como (Non-Theatre)
“You’re the Devil in Disguise” – Elvis (Non-Theatre)
Ensemble (Basses)
“Don’t Be Cruel” – All Shook Up
“Heartbeat” – Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
“True Love Ways” – Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
Ensemble (Contras)
“Judy’s Turn to Cry” – Lesley Gore (Non-Theatre)
“Radio” – Memphis
“Those Magic Changes” – Grease
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“Ain’t Nothin’ But a Kiss” – Memphis
“I’m Ready for Love” – Martha and the Vandellas (Non-Theatre)
“Someday” – Memphis
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Beauty School Dropout” – Grease
“I Don’t Want To” – All Shook Up
“I’m a Man” – Bo Diddley (Non-Theatre)
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Cry-Baby:
• “Dancing Shoes” from Grease
• “Harvey and I” from Harvey
• “On Stage” from A Life in the Theatre
• “Paper Route” from Born Yesterday
• “Pineapple Chunks” from The Real Thing
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→
Cry-Baby Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Cry-Baby, 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.
Act 1:
“The Anti-Polio Picnic” – Cordelia, Allison, Baldwin, Ensemble
“Watch Your Ass” – Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Dupree, Cry-Baby, Ensemble
“I’m Infected” – Allison, Cry-Baby, Ensemble
“Squeaky Clean” – Baldwin, Allison, Ensemble
“Nobody Gets Me” – Cry-Baby, Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Ensemble
“Nobody Gets Me (Reprise)” – Allison
“Jukebox Jamboree” – Dupree
“A Whole Lot Worse” – Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face
“Screw Loose” – Lenora
“Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby (Baby Baby)” – Cry-Baby, Allison, Ensemble
“Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?” – Cry-Baby, Allison, Ensemble
“I’m Infected (Reprise)” – Allison
“You Can’t Beat the System” – Company
Act 2:
“Misery, Agony, Helplessness…” – Allison, Cry-Baby, Dupree, Pepper, Wanda, Hatchet-Face, Ensemble
“Misery, Agony, Helplessness… (Reprise)” – Cordelia
“All in My Head” – Baldwin, Lenora, Ensemble
“Jailyard Jubilee” – Dupree, Ensemble
“A Little Upset” – Cry-Baby, Dupree, Ensemble
“I Did Something Wrong, Once” – Cordelia
“Thanks for the Nifty Country” – Baldwin, Ensemble
“This Amazing Offer” – Baldwin, Ensemble
“Do That Again” – Cry-Baby
“Nothing Bad’s Ever Gonna Happen Again” – Company
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.
