The Best Audition Songs for Something Rotten! – By Character
When considering audition songs for Something Rotten!, it’s fitting to choose a character-driven song from contemporary musical theatre repertoire that aligns with the show’s tone and suits your vocal type. Always refer to the audition notice for specific guidelines.
Because Something Rotten! premiered in 2015, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 2000s and 2020s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed to ensure it matches the show’s style.
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 Something Rotten!
Step 3: Pick an Audition Song
Before choosing a song, find your voice type and range using the Vocal Guide.
Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Whatever you choose, try to stay open to other casting possibilities.
When you’re ready, choose a song from below that best fits your voice and style.
Audition Songs for Something Rotten!
✨Need more options? The list below gives you a great starting point! The Theatre Trip Repertoire Studio gives you access to thousands of songs, hundreds of monologues, and tools to help you find your casting lane! Explore the Repertoire Studio →
Beatrice/Bea
“Better” – Little Women
“Live Out Loud” – A Little Princess
“My Grand Plan” – The Lightning Thief
“Notice Me, Horton” – Seussical The Musical
Nick Bottom
“Gotta Get Out” – The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes
“Look At the Sky” – Urinetown
“Man” – The Full Monty
“Betrayed” – The Producers
Nigel
“A Christmas Song” – Elf
“Her Voice” – The Little Mermaid
“Just Like Him” – Elf
“Purpose” – Avenue Q
Portia
“I Love Play Rehearsal” – Be More Chill
“My Friend, The Dictionary” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“Sing Your Own Song” – Dear Edwina
“There’s a Fine, Fine Line” – Avenue Q
Thomas Nostradamus
“A Day for the Cat In the Hat” – Seussical
“Everything’s Golden” – Tuck Everlasting
“How Lucky You Are” – Seussical
“I Wanna Be a Producer” – The Producers
William Shakespeare
“Jeff Sums It Up” – Tootsie
“Man” – The Full Monty
“Unstoppable” – Tootsie
“Whaddya Do” – Tootsie
🎭 Are you never quite sure which roles to audition for? Take our free Casting Archetype Quiz to see if you’re a villain, ingénue, hero, romantic, or a type that’s even more unique!
Ensemble (Altos)
“Never Fall in Love (With an Elf)” – Elf
“The Lady’s Improving” – The Prom
“What’s Gonna Happen” – Tootsie
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Man About Town” – Young Frankenstein
“Michael’s Reprise” – Tootsie
“That Face” – The Producers
Ensemble (Basses)
“Love Sneaks In” – Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
“Please Send Me Someone” – Young Frankenstein
“We Look to You” – The Prom
Ensemble (Contras)
“Don’t Wanna Be Here” – Ordinary Days
“It’s Not About Me” – The Prom
“There Was John” – Tootsie
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Come Out of the Dumpster” – The Wedding Singer
“Please Don’t Touch Me” – Young Frankenstein
“Watch What Happens” – Newsies
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“It’s a Privilege to Pee” – Urinetown
“No One Cared Like You” – Nunsense II
“What Only Love Can See” – Chaplin
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Don’t Let Me Go” – Shrek
“Run, Freedom, Run!” – Urinetown
“Together Again” – Young Frankenstein
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Something Rotten!:
• “Launcelot’s Haberdashery” from A Connecticut Yankee
• “Neglected Wife” from The Boys from Syracuse
• “Theatre Troupe” from The Book of Will
• “Three Great Events” from A Connecticut Yankee
• “Worth Dying For” from The Three Musketeers
Step 5: Get Your Free Audition Prep Tools
Choosing the right song is just the beginning! Strong preparation helps you walk into the room with confidence and ready to show what you can do.
Get Theatre Trip’s free audition prep resources, including:
☑ Your Audition Prep Checklist
☑ Printable Audition Stamp Cards
☑ Updates when new audition tools are added
Grab your free resources on Patreon→
Something Rotten! Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Something Rotten!, 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! This 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:
“Welcome to the Renaissance” – Minstrel, Company
“God, I Hate Shakespeare” – Nick, Nigel, Ensemble
“Right Hand Man” – Bea, Nick, Nigel
“God, I Hate Shakespeare (Reprise)” – Nick
“A Musical” – Nostradamus, Nick, Ensemble
“I Love the Way” – Portia, Nigel
“Will Power” – Shakespeare, Ensemble
“Bottom’s Gonna Be on Top” – Nick, Company
Act 2:
“Welcome to the Renaissance (Reprise)” – Minstrel
“Hard to Be the Bard” – Shakespeare, Ensemble
“It’s Eggs!” – Nick, Ensemble
“We See the Light” – Portia, Nigel, Brother Jeremiah, Nick, Ensemble
“To Thine Own Self” – Nigel, Nick, Shakespeare, Ensemble
“Right Hand Man (Reprise)” – Bea
“Something Rotten!” – Ensemble
“Make an Omelette” – Nick, Company
“To Thine Own Self (Reprise)” – Nick
“Finale” – Company
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip and the author of The Thespian’s Bucket List. She is also the creator of The Cast Album List. Her background includes a BA in Theatre, a TESOL Drama certificate, and professional experience in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
