The Best Audition Songs for Once on This Island – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Once on This Island? 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 Once on This Island, broken down by character.
Since Once on This Island is a musical from the 1990s, the songs below are from 1980-2010. In addition, there are lots of tropical, classic, and spiritual vibes in the following list 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 uptempo, 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 Once on This Island 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.
Agwe
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
“Make Them Hear You” – Ragtime
“They Live in You” – The Lion King
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
Andrea Deveraux
“China Doll” – Marguerite
“The Finer Things” – Jane Eyre
“What Only Love Can See” – Chaplin
“Will You?” – Grey Gardens
Asaka
“Circle of Life” – The Lion King
“Hell No!” – The Color Purple
“Raise Your Voice” – Sister Act
“You Can’t Get to Heaven” – The Life
Daniel Beauxhomme
“I Am My Own Invention” – Wonderland
“One Step Closer” – The Little Mermaid
“Proud of Your Boy” – Aladdin
“Take a Chance on Me” – Little Women
Erzulie
“Christmas Lullaby” – Songs for a New World
“Finding Wonderland” – Wonderland
“He Lives in You (Reprise)” – The Lion King
“The Gods Love Nubia” – Aida
Papa Ge
“Easy as Life” – Aida
“Sweet Child” – The Little Mermaid
“The Court of Miracles” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“The Man I Used to Be” – The Count of Monte Cristo
Ti Moune
“Almost There” – The Princess and the Frog [2000s film/non-theatre]
“Beyond My Wildest Dreams” – The Little Mermaid
“Something of My Own” – Dessa Rose
“That’s How You Know” – Enchanted [2000s film/non-theatre]
Tonton Julian
“I Was Here” – The Glorious Ones
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“Love Who You Love” – A Man of No Importance
“To Be a Captain” – Titanic
Ensemble (Altos)
“My Strongest Suit” – Aida
“The Past Is Another Land” – Aida
“White Milk & Red Blood” – Dessa Rose
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Heaven’s Light” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“Ink” – Dessa Rose
“The Hardest Part of Love” – Children of Eden
Ensemble (Basses)
“As Good As You” – Jane Eyre
“If I Can’t Love Her (Reprise)” – Beauty and the Beast
“Welcome to the World” – A Man of No Importance
Ensemble (Contras)
“A Change in Me” – Beauty and the Beast
“Shadowland” – The Lion King
“Someday” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Everything I Know” – In the Heights
“Push Da Button” – The Color Purple
“Twelve Children” – Dessa Rose
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Around the World” – Grey Gardens
“Princess” – A Man of No Importance
“The Sea of Life” – The Pirate Queen
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Another Pyramid” – Aida
“Endless Night” – The Lion King
“Lost in the Wilderness” – Children of Eden
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Once on This Island:
• “I Intend to Be a Queen➝” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Lucy)
• “Moon Man Walk” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Mother Moon➝” from Fading Joy➝ (Joy)
• “Rooms” in Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors➝
• “That’s All I Got➝” from Other Desert Cities (Trip)
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!
Once on This Island Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Once on This Island, 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.
“We Dance” – Ensemble
“One Small Girl” – Agwe, Asaka, Erzulie, Papa Ge, Tonton, Mama Euralie, Little Girl, Ensemble
“Waiting for Life” – Ti Moune, Ensemble
“And the Gods Heard Her Prayer” / “Rain” – Asaka, Agwe, Erzulie, Papa Ge, Ensemble
“Discovering Daniel” / “Pray” – Ti Moune, Mama, Tonton, Ensemble
“Forever Yours” – Ti Moune, Daniel, Papa Ge
“The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes” – Armond, Ensemble
“Ti Moune”- Ti Moune, Mama, Tonton
“Mama Will Provide” – Asaka, Ensemble
“Some Say” – Ensemble
“The Human Heart” – Erzulie, Ensemble
“Gossip” – Daniel, Ti Moune, Armand, Ensemble
“Some Girls” – Daniel
“The Ball” – Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune, Ensemble
“Ti Moune’s Dance” – Erzulie, Asaka, Agwe, Papa Ge, Ensemble
“When We Are Wed” – Andrea, Daniel, Ti Moune
“Forever Yours (Reprise)” – Papa Ge, Ti Moune, Erzulie, Ensemble
“A Part of Us” – Mama, Little Ti Moune, Erzulie, Asaka, Agwe, Tonton, Ensemble
“Why We Tell the Story” – Ensemble
Which of these audition songs for Once on This Island 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.