The Best Audition Songs for Sunset Boulevard – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Sunset Boulevard? 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 Sunset Boulevard, broken down by character.
Since Sunset Boulevard is a 1990s musical, the following songs are from shows between the 1980s – 2000s. 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 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 Sunset Boulevard.
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.
Betty Schaefer
“In My Life” – Les Misérables
“Jazz Time” – Marguerite
“The Night It Had to End” – Romance/Romance
“Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” – Phantom of the Opera
Joe Gillis
“Day After That” – Kiss of the Spider Woman
“I’m Martin Guerre” – Martin Guerre
“Into the Fire” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Reflection” – A Tale of Two Cities
Max von Mayerling
“Evermore Without You” – The Woman in White
“Funny” – City of Angels
“I Can’t Recall” – A Tale of Two Cities
“The Longer I Live” – Dracula
Norma Desmond
“Nothing Like You’ve Ever Known” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“Tell Me on a Sunday” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“The Last Man in My Life” – Tell Me on a Sunday
“Unexpected Song” – Tell Me on a Sunday
Ensemble (Altos)
“Let Me Finish” – Song and Dance
“Someone Like You” – Jekyll & Hyde
“The Face I See” – Marguerite
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Dressing Them Up” – Kiss of the Spider Woman
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion
“Unsettled Scores” – Whistle Down the Wind
Ensemble (Basses)
“I Waltz Alone” – Grand Hotel
“Other Pleasures” – Aspects of Love
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ensemble (Contras)
“Another Winter in a Summer Town” – Grey Gardens
“Be On Your Own” – Nine
“Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Only Love” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Pink” – War Paint
“When the World Was Mine” – The Count of Monte Cristo
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Happiness” – Passion
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Before the Summer Ends” – Dracula
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
“No Moon” – Titanic
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Sunset Boulevard:
• “I Can’t Trust Anything➝” from Watson Intelligence (Eliza)
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “Play Memory” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
• “You’ve Got to Come Back a Star➝” from 42nd Street (Julian)
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!
Sunset Boulevard Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Sunset Boulevard, 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” – Joe
“Let’s Have Lunch” – Joe, Betty, Artie, Sheldrake, Ensemble
“Surrender” – Norma
“With One Look” – Norma
“Salome” – Norma, Joe
“The Greatest Star Of All” – Max
“Girl Meets Boy” – Joe, Betty, Artie
“New Ways To Dream” – Joe, Norma
“The Lady’s Paying” – Norma, Joe, Manfred, Ensemble
“The Perfect Year” – Norma, Joe
“This Time Next Year” – Joe, Betty, Artie, Ensemble
“Auld Lang Syne” – Artie, Betty, Ensemble
Act 2:
“Sunset Boulevard” – Joe
“There’s Been A Call” – Norma, Joe
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Norma
“Paramount Conversations” – Betty, Joe, Sheldrake, Max, Norma, Cecil
“Girl Meets Boy (Reprise)” – Joe, Betty
“A Little Suffering” – Ensemble
“Too Much in Love To Care” – Joe, Betty
“New Ways To Dream (Reprise)” – Max
“The Phone Call” – Norma
“The Final Scene” – Norma, Max, Ensemble
Which of these audition songs for Sunset Boulevard 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.