The Best Audition Songs for The Civil War – By Vocal Type
If you’re looking for audition songs for The Civil War, it’s best to choose a pop, gospel, or country 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 The Civil War 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 The Civil War.
Step 3: Pick an Audition Song
Next, based on your personality and vocal type, choose a suitable song from the list below!
Altos
“Beautiful” – Marie Christine
“Goodbye, My Love” – Ragtime
“Lay Down Your Head” – Violet
“You Oughta Be Here With Me” – Big River
“Your Daddy’s Son” – Ragtime
Baritones
“Free At Last” – Big River
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” – Parade
“They Live in You” – The Lion King
“Yankee Boy” – Rags
Basses
“Early in the Morning” – Five Guys Named Moe
“Look Around” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Waitin’ For The Light to Shine” – Big River
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
Contras
“Back to Before” – Ragtime
“Let It Sing” – Violet
“My Child Will Forgive Me” – Parade
“Tell Me It’s Not True” – Blood Brothers
“The Feeling That We Have” – The Wiz
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Blame It on the Summer Night” – Rags
“How Bout a Dance?” – Bonnie & Clyde
“The Flagmaker, 1775” – Songs for a New World
“When I Look at You” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“You Can’t Get to Heaven” – The Life
Sopranos
“Colored Woman” – Memphis
“If This Is What We’re Fighting For” – The Beautiful Game
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“The Sea of Life” – The Pirate Queen
Tenors
“How Glory Goes” – Floyd Collins
“Make Them Hear You” – Ragtime
“Pretty Music” – Parade
“She Cries” – Songs for a New World
“That’s What He Said” – Parade
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Civil War:
• “Goin’ North” in Audition Arsenal for Men in Their 20s➝
• “Little Victories” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Nasty Scoundrels” from The Fourteenth of July➝
• “Something Like This” from Call of the Revolution➝
• “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!
The Civil War Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Civil War, 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:
“Brother, My Brother” – Captain Emmet Lochran
“A House Divided” – Ensemble
“By The Sword” / “Sons of Dixie” – Ensemble
“Peculiar Institution” – Ensemble
“If Prayin’ Were Horses” – Clayton Toler, Bessie Toler
“Missing You (My Bill)” – Sarah McEwen
“Judgment Day” – Captain Billy Pierce, Captain Emmett Lochran, Private Sam Taylor, Ensemble
“Tell My Father” – Private Sam Taylor
“Freedom’s Child” – Frederick Douglass, Ensemble
“Greenback” – Autolycus Fell, Mabel, Violet
“Father, How Long?” – Clayton Toler
“Someday” – Harriet Jackson, Bessie Toler, Ensemble
“I’ll Never Pass This Way Again” – Corporal Henry Stewart
“How Many Devils?” – Ensemble
Act 2:
“Virginia” – Captain Billy Pierce
“Candle in the Window” – Harriet Jackson
“Oh! Be Joyful!” – Autolycus Fell, Sergeant Byron Richardson, Private Conrad Bock, Private Hotchkiss
“The Hospital” – Mrs. Bixby, Clayton Toler, Ensemble
“If Prayin’ Were Horses (Reprise)” – Clayton Toler, Bessie Toler
“River Jordan” – Benjamin Reynolds, Ensemble
“Sarah” – Corporal William McEwen
“The Honor of Your Name” – Sarah McEwen
“Greenback (Reprise)” – Autolycus Fell, Violet
“Northbound Train” – Captain Emmett Lochran
“Last Waltz for Dixie” – Captain Billy Pierce, Ensemble
“The Glory” – Captain Emmett Lochran, Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Reynolds, Company
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these audition songs for The Civil War did you choose?
And how did your audition go? 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.
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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
