Audition Songs for Follies – By Character
When considering audition songs for Follies, it’s fitting to choose a song in the style of Sondheim 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 Follies premiered in 1971, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1970s and 1990s. 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 Follies.
Step 3: Pick an Audition Song
Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether you’d like to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Just know that if you audition for a specific character, you still might not be chosen for that particular role.
Be sure to indicate that you’re open to the ensemble or other roles. You’ll gain valuable experience no matter where you’re placed. And remember, even if you audition for the ensemble, you could still be cast in a leading or supporting role.
To summarize, keep an open mind and have fun with this! And when you’re ready, choose the song that you feel most comfortable with from the list below.
The Audition Songs
Benjamin Stone
“Fear No More” – The Frogs [Sondheim]
“Live Alone and Like It” – Putting It Together [Sondheim]
“Movies Were Movies” – Mack & Mabel
“Putting It Together” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
Buddy Plummer
“Good Thing Going” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack & Mabel
“Multitudes of Amys” – Company [Sondheim]
“Need to Know” – Weird Romance
Carlotta Campion
“I Wrote the Book” – Woman of the Year
“Say Yes” – 70, Girls, 70
“The Ladies Who Lunch” – Company [Sondheim]
“We Can Make It” – The Rink
Hattie Walker
“Cabaret” – Cabaret
“Everybody Wants to Do a Musical” – Nick & Nora
“Nobody Does It Like Me” – Seesaw
“Rookie in the Ring” – My Favorite Year
Heidi Schiller
“A Little Bit of Good” – Chicago
“Love Makes Such Fools of Us All” – Barnum
“Melodie de Paris” – Phantom
“Nelson” – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Phyllis Rogers Stone
“Every Day a Little Death” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Like It Was” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“Send in the Clowns” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“Where Is the Warmth?” – The Baker’s Wife
Roscoe
“All I Care About” – Chicago
“Hundreds of Girls” – Mack & Mabel
“Razzle Dazzle” – Chicago
“Wonderful“ – Wicked
Sally Durant Plummer
“Children and Art” – Sunday in the Park with George [Sondheim]
“Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“Tell Me on a Sunday” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“Time Heals Everything” – Mack & Mabel
Solange La Fitte
“Bonjour Amour” – Grand Hotel
“Chanson” – The Baker’s Wife
“Storybook” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“What You Need” – Grand Hotel
Ensemble (Altos)
“Liaisons” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
“My Big Mistake” – The Will Rogers Follies
“The Music and the Mirror” – A Chorus Line
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Promise You a Happy Ending” – Mack & Mabel
“It Wasn’t Meant to Happen” – Marry Me a Little [Sondheim]
“Our Time” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Basses)
“I Waltz Alone” – Grand Hotel
“Old Friends” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
“Marry Me” – The Rink
Ensemble (Contras)
“I Don’t Want to Know” – Dear World
“Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria
“Meadowlark” – The Baker’s Wife
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Autumn” – Starting Here, Starting Now
“Colored Lights” – The Rink
“I Belong Here” –The Grand Tour
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“A Call From the Vatican” – Nine
“Happiness” – Passion [Sondheim/solo version]
“Soon” – A Little Night Music [Sondheim]
Ensemble (Tenors)
“At the Grand Hotel” – Grand Hotel
“Larger Than Life” – My Favorite Year
“Not a Day Goes By” – Merrily We Roll Along [Sondheim]
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Follies:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “Don’t Look at Me #1” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “It’s Best” from Elsewhere
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
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!
Follies Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Follies, 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.
“Beautiful Girls” – Roscoe, Company
“Don’t Look at Me” – Sally, Ben
“Waiting for the Girls Upstairs” – Young Buddy/Buddy, Young Ben/Ben, Young Sally/Sally, Young Phyllis/Phyllis
“Rain on the Roof” – Emily, Theodore
“Ah, Paris!” – Solange
“Broadway Baby” – Hattie
“The Road You Didn’t Take” – Ben
“In Buddy’s Eyes” – Sally
“Who’s That Woman?” – Stella, Company
“I’m Still Here” – Carlotta
“Too Many Mornings” – Ben, Sally
“The Right Girl” – Buddy
“One More Kiss” – Heidi, Young Heidi
“Could I Leave You?” – Phyllis
“Loveland” – Company
“You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow” / “Love Will See Us Through” – Young Ben, Young Phyllis, Young Buddy, Young Sally
“Buddy’s Blues” – Buddy
“Losing My Mind” – Sally
“The Story of Lucy and Jessie” – Phyllis
“Live, Laugh, Love” – Ben, Ensemble
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
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.
