The Best Audition Songs for The Bridges of Madison County – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for The Bridges of Madison County? 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 The Bridges of Madison County, broken down by character.
Since The Bridges of Madison County is a contemporary musical, most of the following songs are from contemporary shows as well. In addition, there are lots of legit and country 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 read through the synopsis while listening to the The Bridges of Madison County cast album➝.
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 (and not a specific character), there’s always a chance you might get chosen for a leading/supporting role!
To summarize, keep an open mind and try not to take the process too seriously. And when you’re ready, decide which character you’d like to audition for. And finally, choose a suitable song from the list below!
Bud
“Fight the Dragons” – Big Fish
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“Stronger” – Hands on a Hardbody
“Time” – Tuck Everlasting
Francesca
“Losing Roberto” – Death Takes a Holiday
“Once Upon Another Time” – Love Never Dies
“Tuesdays, Thursdays” – Far from Heaven
“Will You?” – Grey Gardens
Marian
“At Long Last” – Bright Star
“How Bout a Dance?” – Bonnie & Clyde
“I Don’t Need a Roof” – Big Fish
“Way Back in the Day” – Bright Star
Robert
“Heartbreaker” – Bright Star
“How It Ends” – Big Fish
“Sleeping” – Once
“When the Booth Goes Bright” – Amélie
Ensemble (Altos)
“Asheville” – Bright Star
“If You Knew My Story” – Bright Star
“Pretty Funny” – Dogfight
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Disappear” – The Burnt Part Boys
“Dust and Ashes” – The Great Comet
“Stranger” – Big Fish
Ensemble (Basses)
“Everything About You” – Groundhog Day
“I Like It Here” – The Story of My Life
“Night Will Come” – Groundhog Day
Ensemble (Contras)
“Come Back” – Dogfight
“Dusty Plays the Saw” – The Burnt Part Boys
“Woman” – The Pirate Queen
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Losing Track of Time” – Summer of ’42
“Sister’s Pickle” – Amélie
“The Light in the Piazza” – The Light in the Piazza
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“How Will I Know?” – Death Takes a Holiday
“Love Never Dies” – Love Never Dies
“Who Is This Man?” – Death Takes a Holiday
Ensemble (Tenors)
“How Glory Goes” – Floyd Collins
“I Never Knew” – Far from Heaven
“Like Father, Like Son” – When Midnight Strikes
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Bridges of Madison County:
• “Heaven in Your Pocket” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝
• “Jugger’s Rain #1” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝
• “Jugger’s Rain #2” in Audition Arsenal for Women in Their 20s➝
• “Right Place, Right Time #2” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “Wilderness of Mirrors” in Audition Arsenal for Men in Their 20s➝
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!
The Bridges of Madison County Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Bridges of Madison County, 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:
“To Build a Home” – Francesca, Company
“Home Before You Know It” – Bud, Michael, Carolyn, Francesca
“Temporarily Lost” – Robert
“What Do You Call a Man Like That?” – Francesca
“You’re Never Alone” – Bud, Company
“Another Life” – Marian
“Wondering” – Robert, Francesca
“Look At Me” – Francesca, Robert, Company
“The World Inside a Frame” – Robert
“Something From a Dream” – Bud
“Get Closer” – Marge, Ensemble
“Falling Into You” – Robert, Francesca
Act 2:
“State Road 21” – Singer, Michael, Carolyn, Company
“Who We Are and Who We Want to Be” – Robert, Francesca, Company
“Almost Real” – Francesca
“Before and After You” – Francesca, Robert
“One Second and a Million Miles” – Robert, Francesca
“When I’m Gone” – Charlie, Bud, Company
“It All Fades Away” – Robert
“Always Better” – Francesca, Robert, Company
Which of these audition songs for The Bridges of Madison County 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.