The Best Audition Songs for How to Succeed in Business – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying? Well unless you have specifically been asked to sing a song from the show that you’re auditioning for, it’s generally best not to. That said, you should still show off similar vocals and personality. So here’s our list of audition songs for How to Succeed in Business, broken down by character.
Since How to Succeed in Business is a post-golden age musical, the following songs are from golden age/post-golden age musicals as well. In addition, there are lots of comedic vibes below in order to match the style of the show.
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Step 1: Read your audition details
Please read your audition details carefully, as they sometimes specify the type of song they’d like to hear (a ballad, something upbeat, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.
Step 2: Get to know the show
In casting calls, they often ask for you to be “familiar with the show”. And even if it’s not requested, it’s generally assumed. One way to do this is to listen to the How to Succeed in Business cast album➝ while reading through the synopsis.
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.
Bud Frump
“Grand Knowing You” – She Loves Me
“Half As Big As Life” – Promises, Promises
“Ilona” – She Loves Me
“Upstairs” – Promises, Promises
Hedy LaRue
“A Trip to the Library” – She Loves Me
“If My Friends Could See Me Now” – Sweet Charity
“On the Other Side of the Tracks” – Little Me
“One Hundred Easy Ways” – Wonderful Town
J.B. Biggley
“Days Gone By” – She Loves Me
“She Likes Basketball” – Promises, Promises
“This Is a Great Country” – Mr. President
“Wanting Things” – Promises Promises
J. Pierrepont Finch
“It Only Takes a Moment” – Hello, Dolly!
“Miracle of Miracles” – Fiddler on the Roof
“Singin’ in the Rain” – Singin’ in the Rain
“Try Me” – She Loves Me
Mr. Twimble
“Come Back to Me” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
“Heart” – Damn Yankees
“Sweet Charity” – Sweet Charity
“That Man Over There” – Miracle on 34th Street
Rosemary Pilkington
“If I Were a Bell” – Guys and Dolls
“Somebody, Somewhere” – The Most Happy Fella
“Warm All Over” – The Most Happy Fella
“Would You?” – Singin’ in the Rain
Smitty
“I’m a Brass Band” – Sweet Charity
“Sing Happy” – Flora, the Red Menace
“The Music That Makes Me Dance” – Funny Girl
“What Did I Have That I Don’t Have?” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Ensemble (Altos)
“A House Is Not a Home” – Promises, Promises
“Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
“I Resolve” – She Loves Me
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Broadway Baby” – Dames at Sea
“My Wish” – Miracle on 34th Street
“She Wasn’t You” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Ensemble (Basses)
“A Wonderful Day Like Today” – The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd
“If I Ruled the World” – Pickwick
“Not Mine” – Hallelujah, Baby!
Ensemble (Contras)
“An Occasional Flight of Fancy” – Skyscraper
“Miss Marmelstein” – I Can Get It for You Wholesale
“Why Do the Wrong People Travel?” – Sail Away
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“The Secret Service” – Mr. President
“Who Are You Now?” – Funny Girl
“You’ve Got Possibilities” – It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Dear Friend” – She Loves Me
“Will He Like Me?” – She Loves Me
“You Don’t Know” – Here’s Love
Ensemble (Tenors)
“She Loves Me” – She Loves Me
“Too Many Tomorrows” – Sweet Charity
“Wondrin’” – Anne of Green Gables
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for How to Succeed in Business:
• “Green Pepper➝” from Cocktails at Pam’s (Estelle)
• “It’s Never One Thing➝” from Shows for Days (Irene)
• “I’ve Fallen Behind➝” from The Worker➝ (Man)
• “Playing With Fired” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “What I’m Talking About➝” from 9 to 5 (Hart)
Final Step: Prepare for your audition
After collecting your materials and getting familiar with the show, it’s time to move forward with the actual preparation. If you’re in need of some guidance on this step, you can always go through this FREE audition prep checklist!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
How to Succeed in Business Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in How to Succeed in Business 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.
Act 1:
“Dear Reader” / “How to Succeed” – Finch, Narrator, Ensemble
“Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm” – Rosemary
“Coffee Break” – Bud, Smitty, Ensemble
“Company Way” – Twimble, Finch
“Company Way (Reprise)” – Bud, Twimble, Ensemble
“A Secretary is Not a Toy” – Bratt, Ensemble
“Been a Long Day” – Smitty, Finch, Rosemary
“Been a Long Day (Reprise)” – Biggley, Hedy, Bud
“Grand Old Ivy” – Biggley, Finch
“Paris Original” – Rosemary, Smitty, Krumholtz, Miss Jones, Ensemble
“Finch Is In Love” – Finch, Hedy
“Rosemary” – Finch, Rosemary
“Act I Finale” – Finch, Rosemary, Bud
Act 2:
“Cinderella, Darling” – Smitty, Ensemble
“Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise)” – Rosemary
“Love From a Heart of Gold” – Biggley, Hedy
“The Executive Washroom” / “I Believe in You” – Finch, Ensemble
“I Believe in You (Reprise)” – Rosemary
“Brotherhood of Man” – Finch, Ensemble
“Company Way (Finale)” – Company
Which of these audition songs for How to Succeed 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.
Need extra help? Just go through this free audition prep checklist!
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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.