The Best Audition Songs for Miss Saigon – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Miss Saigon? 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 Miss Saigon, by character.
Since Miss Saigon is a 1980s musical, the following songs are from shows between the 1980s – 2010s. There are also lots of dramatic selections below to match the musical’s style.
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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: 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 Miss Saigon.
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.
Christopher Scott
“Before the Summer Ends” – Dracula
“Dreamer in Disguise” – Carrie
“Flying Home” – Songs for a New World
“I’ll Be There” – The Pirate Queen
“Sarah” – The Civil War
Ellen Scott
“Back to Before” – Ragtime
“Do It Alone” – Parade
“Someone Else’s Story” – Chess
“Someone Like You” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Where Is the Warmth?” – The Baker’s Wife
Gigi Van Tranh
“God Help The Outcasts” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“I Dreamed a Dream” – Les Misérables
“Maybe I Like It This Way” – The Wild Party
“Woman” – The Pirate Queen
“You Don’t Know This Man” – Parade
John Thomas
“Anthem” – Chess
“Into the Fire” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Love Changes Everything” – Aspects of Love
“Sunset Boulevard” – Sunset Boulevard
“This Is the Moment” – Jekyll & Hyde
Kim
“A New Life” – Jekyll & Hyde
“On My Own” – Les Misérables
“Out of Sight, Out of Mind” – A Tale of Two Cities
“The Sea of Life” – The Pirate Queen
“When Will Someone Hear?” – Martin Guerre
The Engineer
“Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.” – Ragtime [in your natural accent]
“Dog Eats Dog” – Les Misérables
“La Cage aux Folles” – La Cage aux Folles
“Master of the House” – Les Misérables
“Where I Want to Be” – Chess
Thuy
“Intoxication” – Marguerite
“I’m Martin Guerre” – Martin Guerre
“Javert’s Suicide” – Les Misérables
“Pity the Child” – Chess
“What’s Left of Love?” – Marguerite
Ensemble (Altos)
“China Doll” – Marguerite
“The Face I See” – Marguerite
“With One Look” – Sunset Boulevard
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Drink With Me” – Les Misérables
“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” – Les Misérables
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion
Ensemble (Basses)
“There’s Always One You Can’t Forget” – Dance a Little Closer
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ensemble (Contras)
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Sunset Boulevard
“Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria
“My Body Wasn’t Why” – The Glorious Ones
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love
“How Many Tears?” – Martin Guerre
“When the World Was Mine” – The Count of Monte Cristo
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Children of the Wind” – Rags
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
“I Need to Know” – Jekyll & Hyde
“No Moon” – Titanic
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Miss Saigon:
• “I Can’t Trust Anything➝” from Watson Intelligence (Eliza)
• “It’s All Our Fault➝” from The Columnist (Halberstam)
• “It’s Best➝” from Elsewhere➝
• “It’s Never One Thing➝” from Shows for Days (Irene)
• “Some People Get Locked Up➝” from Pretty Theft➝ (Joe)
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!
Miss Saigon Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Miss Saigon, 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:
“Backstage Dreamland” – Gigi, Kim, The Engineer, Ensemble
“The Heat Is On In Saigon” – The Engineer, Kim, John, Chris, Gigi, Ensemble
“The Movie in My Mind” – Gigi, Kim, Ensemble
“The Transaction” – The Engineer, John, Chris, Kim, Ensemble
“The Dance” – Kim, The Engineer, Chris
“Why God Why?” – Chris
“This Money’s Yours” – Chris, Kim
“Sun and Moon” – Chris, Kim
“The Telephone Song” – Chris, John
“The Deal” – The Engineer, Chris
“The Wedding Ceremony” – Gigi, Kim, Chris, Ensemble
“Thuy’s Intervention” – Thuy, Chris, Kim
“Last Night of the World” – Chris, Kim
“The Morning of the Dragon” – Soldiers, The Engineer, Thuy, Ensemble
“I Still Believe” – Kim, Ellen
“Coo-Coo Princess” – The Engineer, Kim, Thuy, Ensemble
“Thuy’s Death” – Thuy, Kim
“This is the Hour” – Ensemble
“If You Want to Die in Bed” – The Engineer
“Kim & Engineer” – Kim, The Engineer
“I’d Give My Life for You” – Kim
Act 2:
“Bui Doi” – John, Ensemble
“The Revelation” – Chris, John
“What a Waste” – The Engineer, Ensemble
“Too Much For One Heart” – John, Kim
“Kim’s Nightmare” – Thuy, Chris, Kim, John, Ensemble
“Sun and Moon (Reprise)” – Kim
“Room 317” – Kim, Ellen
“Now That I’ve Seen Her” / “Maybe” – Ellen
“The Confrontation” – Chris, Ellen, John, Kim
“Paper Dragons” – The Engineer, Kim
“The American Dream” – The Engineer, Ensemble
“Finale” – Chris, Kim
Which of these audition songs for Miss Saigon 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.