The Best Audition Songs for The Civil War – by Vocal Type
Do you have an upcoming audition for The Civil War? 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 Civil War, broken down by vocal type.
Since The Civil War is a 1990s musical the songs below are from 1980-2010. In addition there are lots of pop/rock, country, and patriotic 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. Also, as you’re picking out a song, these links may be helpful:
• Backing Tracks for the Songs Below
• The “The Civil War Audition Songs” Spotify Playlist
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 The Civil War cast album➝.
Step 3: Pick an audition song
Next, based on your personality and vocal type, choose a suitable song from the list below!
Altos
“Back to Before” – Ragtime
“Beautiful” – Marie Christine
“Lay Down Your Head” – Violet
“You Don’t Know This Man” – Parade
“Your Daddy’s Son” – Ragtime
Baritones
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“Look Around” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Make Them Hear You” – Ragtime
“Never Met a Man I Didn’t Like” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Yankee Boy” – Rags
Basses/Bass-Baritones
“Early in the Morning” – Five Guys Named Moe
“It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” – Parade
“They Live in You” – The Lion King
“Waitin’ For The Light to Shine” – Big River
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
Contras
“Flying Home” – Songs for a New World
“Goodbye, My Love” – Ragtime
“Heaven Help My Heart” – Chess
“Let It Sing” – Violet
“My Child Will Forgive Me” – Parade
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Blame it on the Summer Night” – Rags
“Children of the Wind” – Rags
“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
“Breeze Off the River” – The Full Monty
“How Glory Goes” – Floyd Collins
“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: 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 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” – Capt. 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
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.
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.