The Best Audition Songs for Into the Woods – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Into the Woods? 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 Into the Woods, broken down by character.
Into the Woods is a pre-contemporary musical that came out in the late 1980s. Because of that, most of the following songs are also from the 1970s-1990s. In addition, all of the Sondheim songs have been marked below for your convenience.
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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 Sondheim, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your casting call. And as you’re picking out a song, these links may be helpful:
• Backing Tracks for the Songs Below
• The “Into the Woods Audition Songs” Spotify Playlist
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 read through the synopsis or libretto➝ while listening to the Into the Woods cast album➝.
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 (and not a specific character), there’s always a chance you might get chosen for a leading/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.
Cinderella
“Goodbye for Now” – Reds (Sondheim/film)
“He Was Tall” – Cinderella
“Learn to Be Lonely” – A Doll’s Life
“Soon” – A Little Night Music (Sondheim)
Cinderella’s Prince / Rapunzel’s Prince
“In Praise of Women” – A Little Night Music (Sondheim)
“Later” – A Little Night Music (Sondheim)
“Me” – Beauty and the Beast
“Proud Lady” – The Baker’s Wife
Jack
“Dreamer in Disguise” – Carrie
“I Want to Go Home” – Big
“Not While I’m Around” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
“Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
Little Red Ridinghood
“Everlasting” – Tuck Everlasting
“Good Girl Winnie Foster” – Tuck Everlasting
“I Know It’s Today” – Shrek
“Naughty” – Matilda
Narrator / Mysterious Man
“It’s In Your Hands Now” – Roadshow (Sondheim)
“Once Upon a Time” – All American
“The Road You Didn’t Take” – Follies (Sondheim)
“Wonders of the World” – The Wizard of Oz
Rapunzel
“Come to My Garden” – The Secret Garden
“Green Finch and Linnet Bird” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
“In My Life” – Les Misérables
“Once Upon a Dream” – Jekyll & Hyde
The Baker
“Being Alive” – Company (Sondheim)
“Easier to Love” – Baby
“Not a Day Goes By” – Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim)
“Our Time” – Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim)
The Baker’s Wife
“Could I Leave You?” – Follies (Sondheim)
“I Remember” – Evening Primrose (Sondheim)
“Loving You” – Passion (Sondheim)
“Where is the Warmth?” – The Baker’s Wife
The Witch
“Children and Art” – Sunday in the Park with George (Sondheim)
“Evil” – The Witches of Eastwick
“I Never Do Anything Twice” – Side by Side by Sondheim (Sondheim)
“Red Shoes Blues” – The Wizard of Oz
The Wolf
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“My Friends” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
“She Was There” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“You…You” – Scrooge
Ensemble (Altos)
“Every Day a Little Death” – A Little Night Music (Sondheim)
“In Buddy’s Eyes” – Follies (Sondheim)
“Losing My Mind” – Follies
Ensemble (Baritones)
“It Wasn’t Meant to Happen” – Marry Me a Little
“Old Friends” – Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim)
“The Colors of My Life” – Barnum
Ensemble (Basses)
“Fear No More” – The Frogs (Sondheim)
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“Live Alone and Like It” – Putting It Together (Sondheim)
Ensemble (Contras)
“Gifts of Love” – The Baker’s Wife
“Like It Was” – Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim)
“The Story of Lucy and Jessie” – Follies (Sondheim)
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love
“Once You See” – Carrie
“Wait” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Happiness” – Passion (Sondheim/Solo Version)
“Repent” – On the Twentieth Century
“When There’s No One” – Carrie
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Finishing the Hat” – Sunday in the Park with George (Sondheim)
“Good Thing Going” – Merrily We Roll Along (Sondheim)
“Johanna” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Into the Woods:
• “Heir Apparently Not” in Kids’ Comedic Monologues That Are Actually Funny➝
• “I Intend to Be a Queen➝” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy)
• “Mother Moon➝” from Fading Joy➝ (Joy)
• “Parade” in Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors➝
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!
Into the Woods Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Into the Woods, 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:
“Into the Woods” – Narrator, Cinderella, Jack, Baker, Baker’s Wife, Stepmother, Florinda, Lucinda, Jack’s Mother, Little Red Riding Hood, Witch
“Cinderella at the Grave” – Narrator, Cinderella, Cinderella’s Mother
“Hello, Little Girl” – Wolf, Little Red Ridinghood
“I Guess This Is Goodbye” / “Maybe They’re Magic” – Narrator, Jack, Baker, Baker’s Wife
“Our Little World” – Rapunzel, Witch
“I Know Things Now” – Little Red Ridinghood
“A Very Nice Prince” – Cinderella, Baker’s Wife
“First Midnight” – Company
“Giants in the Sky” – Jack
“Agony” – Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince
“It Takes Two” – Baker, Baker’s Wife
“Stay with Me” – Witch, Rapunzel
“On the Steps of the Palace” – Cinderella
“Ever After” – Narrator, Florinda, Lucinda, Witch, Company
Act 2:
“So Happy” – Company
“Agony (Reprise)” – Cinderella’s Prince, Rapunzel’s Prince
“Witch’s Lament” – Witch
“Any Moment” – Cinderella’s Prince, Baker’s Wife
“Moments in the Woods” – Baker’s Wife
“Your Fault” – Jack, Baker, Witch, Cinderella, Little Red Ridinghood
“Last Midnight” – Witch
“No More” – Baker, Mysterious Man
“No One Is Alone” – Cinderella, Baker, Little Red Ridinghood, Jack
“Children Will Listen” – Witch, Company
Which of these audition songs for Into the Woods 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
