The Best Audition Songs for Cry-Baby – By Character
If you’re looking for audition songs for Cry-Baby, it’s best to choose a pop/rock song either from musical theatre or non-theatre repertoire that matches the show’s tone and suits your vocal type. Be sure to check your audition notice for any specific song 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 by a musical theatre professional to ensure fit and audition readiness.
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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 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
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.
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 [1960s/non-theatre]
Dupree W. Dupree
“Greased Lightnin’” – Grease
“Jailhouse Rock” – All Shook Up
“Pills” – Bo Diddley [1950s/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
Ensemble (Altos)
“Be Anything” – Connie Francis [1950s/non-theatre]
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do” – Grease
“There’s Always Me” – All Shook Up
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Little Sister” – Elvis Presley [1960s/non-theatre]
“Magic Moments” – Perry Como [1950s/non-theatre]
“You’re the Devil in Disguise” – Elvis [1960s/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 [1960s/non-theatre]
“Radio” – Memphis
“Those Magic Changes” – Grease
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos/Sopranos)
“Ain’t Nothin’ But a Kiss” – Memphis
“I’m Ready for Love” – Martha and the Vandellas [1960s/non-theatre]
“Someday” – Memphis
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Beauty School Dropout” – Grease
“I Don’t Want To” – All Shook Up
“I’m a Man” – Bo Diddley [1950s/non-theatre]
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Cry-Baby:
• “Album” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Green Pepper➝” from Cocktails at Pam’s (Estelle)
• “Harvey and I➝” from Harvey➝ (Elwood)
• “Johnny Talks Kids➝” from Frankie and Johnny… (Johnny)
• “Well Done, Junior Disaster Committee!➝” from Cry-Baby (Baldwin)
Final Step: Audition Prep
Once you’ve chosen your song, it’s time to start preparing! Grab your FREE Audition Prep Checklist and Stamp Cards to stay organized and motivated for your upcoming auditions!
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! The following 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
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these audition songs for Cry-Baby 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.
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.
