The Best Audition Songs for Parade – By Character

If you’re looking for audition songs for Parade, it’s best to choose a dramatic or emotional song from musical theatre repertoire that matches the show’s tone and suits your vocal type. Be sure to check your audition notice for any specific song guidelines.

Because Parade premiered in 1998, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1980s and 2010s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed by a musical theatre professional to ensure fit and audition readiness.

---

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more details, please see our full disclosure.

---

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 Parade.

---

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.

---

Britt Craig

“Bigger Isn’t Better” – Barnum

“Hand for the Hog” – Big River

“Magic Foot” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

“Mama Says” – Footloose

---

Frankie Epps

“All Hail the Brain” – 13

“Here I Come” – 13

“Top of the World” – Tuck Everlasting

“Warts and All” – Honk!

---

Jim Conley / Newt Lee

“Don’t Take Much” – The Life

“Early in the Morning” – Five Guys Named Moe

“Heaven Help Me” – Footloose

“Patriotic” – Rocky

---

Leo Frank

“How It Ends” – Big Fish

“It All Fades Away” – The Bridges of Madison County

“Temporarily Lost” – The Bridges of Madison County

“The World Inside a Frame” – The Bridges of Madison County

---

Lucille Frank

“Back to Before” – Ragtime

“Children of the Wind” – Rags

“Goodbye, My Love” – Ragtime

“Loving You” – Passion

---

Mary Phagan

“Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad” – Bonnie & Clyde

“Everlasting” – Tuck Everlasting

“Good Girl Winnie Foster” – Tuck Everlasting

“Picture Show” – Bonnie & Clyde  [Young Bonnie’s part]

---

Ensemble (Altos)

“Another Life” – The Bridges of Madison County

“Lay Down Your Head” – Violet

“Your Daddy’s Son” – Ragtime

---

Ensemble (Baritones)

“Barrett’s Song” – Titanic

“Guv’ment” – Big River

“Yankee Boy” – Rags

---

Ensemble (Basses)

“Father How Long?” – The Civil War

“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime

“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel

---

Ensemble (Contras)

“That’s What You Call a Dream” – Bonnie & Clyde

“The Music Still Plays On” – A New Brain

“Woman” – The Pirate Queen

---

Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!

---

Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)

“How Bout a Dance?” – Bonnie & Clyde

“The Flagmaker, 1775” – Songs for a New World

“When Will Someone Hear?” – Martin Guerre

---

Ensemble (Sopranos)

“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel

“How Could I Ever Know?” – The Secret Garden

“I’m Leaving You” – The Life

---

Ensemble (Tenors)

“Breeze Off the River” – The Full Monty

“Make Them Hear You” – Ragtime

“Time” – Tuck Everlasting

---

Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Parade:

• “Jugger’s Rain #1” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝

• “Jugger’s Rain #2” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝

• “Very Well➝” from Enemies➝  (She)

• “What Truth?” from The Cherry Orchard➝

• “Wilderness of Mirrors” in Audition Arsenal for Men in Their 20s➝

---

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!

---

Parade Song List

Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Parade, 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:

“Prologue: The Old Red Hills of Home” – Young Soldier, Old Soldier, Ensemble

“Anthem: The Dream of Atlanta” – Ensemble

“How Can I Call This Home?” – Leo, Ensemble

“The Picture Show” – Frankie, Mary

“Leo At Work” / “What Am I Waiting For?” – Leo, Lucille, Ensemble

“Interrogation Sequence” – Newt Lee

“Funeral Sequence” – Frankie, Ensemble

“Watson’s Lullaby” – Tom Watson

“Somethin’ Ain’t Right” – Hugh Dorsey

“Big News!” – Britt Craig, Ensemble

“You Don’t Know This Man” – Lucille

“Hammer of Justice” – Watson, Ensemble

“Twenty Miles From Marietta” – Hugh Dorsey

“Frankie’s Testimony” – Frankie, Mary, Watson, Ensemble

“The Factory Girls” / “Come Up to My Office” – Leo, Ensemble

“My Child Will Forgive Me” – Mrs. Phagan

“That’s What He Said” – Jim Conley, Ensemble

“It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” – Leo

“Closing Statements and Verdict” – Ensemble

---

Act 2:

“A Rumblin’ and a Rollin'” – Riley, Angela

“Do It Alone” – Lucille

“Pretty Music” – Governor Slaton

“The Glory” – Judge Roan, Dorsey

“This Is Not Over Yet” – Leo, Lucille

“Blues: Feel the Rain Fall” – Jim Conley, Ensemble

“Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes?” – Watson, Dorsey, Ensemble

“All the Wasted Time” – Leo, Lucille

“Sh’ma” – Leo

“Finale” – Lucille, Leo, Frankie, Company

---

Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!

---

Which of these audition songs for Parade 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.

---