The Best Audition Songs for Ragtime – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Ragtime? 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 Ragtime, broken down by character.
Since Ragtime is a musical from the 1990s, the songs below are from musicals between 1980-2010. In addition, there are lots of passionate, dramatic, and 1920s/1930s 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 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 Ragtime 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.
Coalhouse Walker, Jr
“Farewell, Good Angel” – Jane Eyre
“Sarah” – The Civil War
“They Live in You” – The Lion King
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Evelyn Nesbit
“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“I Want to Go to Hollywood” – Grand Hotel
“Jazz Time” – Marguerite
“Show Off” – The Drowsy Chaperone
Father
“Barrett’s Song” – Titanic
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“The Life That You Wished For” – Chaplin
“Where Are All the People?” – Chaplin
Mother
“Children of the Wind” – Rags
“Do It Alone” – Parade
“Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria
“You Don’t Know This Man” – Parade
Sarah
“Beautiful” – Marie Christine
“He’s No Good” – The Life
“I Wish I Could Forget You” – Passion
“Tell Me” – Marie Christine
Tateh
“Happy/Sad” – The Addams Family
“I’ll Be Here Tomorrow” – The Grand Tour
“The American Dream” – Miss Saigon
“You Can Get Away With Anything” – The Woman in White
Younger Brother
“If the World Were Like the Movies” – My Favorite Year
“The Man I Used to Be” – The Count of Monte Cristo
“To Be a Captain” – Titanic
“Yankee Boy” – Rags
Ensemble (Altos)
“A Lovely Day to Be Out of Jail” – The Life
“Black Is a Moocher” – The Wild Party
“Brand New World” – Rags
Ensemble (Baritones)
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” – Parade
“What’s Left of Love?” – Marguerite
Ensemble (Basses)
“Funny” – City of Angels
“Grand Parade” – Grand Hotel
“I Waltz Alone” – Grand Hotel
Ensemble (Contras)
“God Help The Outcasts” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“My Child Will Forgive Me” – Parade
“What You Need” – Grand Hotel
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“All Things to One Man” – Grind
“Blame it on the Summer Night” – Rags
“How Bout a Dance?” – Bonnie & Clyde
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Around the World” – Grey Gardens
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“Will You?” – Grey Gardens
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Big News!” – Parade
“My Daddy Always Taught Me to Share” – Grind
“Pretty Music” – Parade
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Ragtime:
• “I Can’t Write” from The Genius➝
• “Little Victories” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Something Like This” from Call of the Revolution➝
• “Very Well➝” from Enemies➝ (She)
• “What Truth?” from The Cherry Orchard➝
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!
Ragtime Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Ragtime, 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: Ragtime” – Company
“Goodbye, My Love” – Mother
“Journey On” – Father, Tateh, Mother
“The Crime of the Century” – Evelyn Nesbit, Younger Brother, Mother, Ensemble
“What Kind of Woman” – Mother
“A Shtetl iz Amereke” – Tateh, Little Girl, Ensemble
“Success” – Tateh, Ensemble
“His Name Was Coalhouse Walker” – Coalhouse, Ensemble
“Gettin’ Ready Rag” – Coalhouse, Ensemble
“Henry Ford” – Henry Ford, Coalhouse, Ensemble
“Nothing Like the City” – Tateh, Mother, Edgar, Little Girl
“Your Daddy’s Son” – Sarah
“The Courtship” – Coalhouse, Mother, Ensemble
“New Music” – Father, Mother, Younger Brother, Coalhouse, Sarah, Ensemble
“Wheels of a Dream” – Coalhouse, Sarah
“The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square” – Younger Brother, Emma Goldman, Ensemble
“Gliding” – Tateh
“Justice” – Coalhouse, Sarah, Ensemble
“President” – Sarah
“Till We Reach That Day” – Sarah’s Friend, Coalhouse, Company
Act 2:
“Coalhouse’s Soliloquy” – Coalhouse
“Coalhouse Demands” – Coalhouse, Ensemble
“What a Game” – Father, Ensemble
“Atlantic City” – Evelyn Nesbit, Father, Mother, Ensemble
“Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.” – Tateh
“Our Children” – Mother, Tateh
“Sarah Brown Eyes” – Coalhouse, Sarah
“He Wanted to Say” – Younger Brother, Emma Goldman, Coalhouse, Ensemble
“Back to Before” – Mother, Ensemble
“Look What You’ve Done” – Booker T. Washington, Coalhouse, Ensemble
“Make Them Hear You” – Coalhouse
“Epilogue” – Company
Which of these audition songs for Ragtime 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.