The Best Audition Songs for The Civil War – By Vocal Type
When considering audition songs for The Civil War, it’s fitting to choose a pop, gospel, or country song from musical theatre repertoire that aligns with the tone of the show and suits your vocal type. Always refer to the audition notice for specific 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 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 The Civil War.
Step 3: Pick an Audition Song
Before choosing a song, find your voice type and range using the Vocal Guide.
When you’re ready, choose a song from below that best fits your voice and style.
Audition Songs for The Civil War
✨ Want audition material that gets you noticed? Explore monologues, songs, and guidance on finding your casting lane inside The Theatre Trip Archive on Patreon!
Altos
“Beautiful” – Marie Christine
“Goodbye, My Love” – Ragtime
“Lay Down Your Head” – Violet
“You Oughta Be Here With Me” – Big River
“You Don’t Know This Man” – Parade
Baritones
“Free At Last” – Big River
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“It’s Hard to Speak My Heart” – Parade
“Wheels of a Dream” – Ragtime
“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
“The Night Dolly Parton Was Almost Mine” – Pump Boys and Dinettes
“Waitin’ For The Light to Shine” – Big River
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
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:
• “In Your Memory” from Shenandoah
• “Nasty Scoundrels” from The Fourteenth of July
• “Something Like This” from Call of the Revolution
• “To Be a Man” from This One Thing I Do
• “What War Is” from The Whipping Man
Step 5: Audition Prep
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.
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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! 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:
“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
“I Never Knew His Name” – Sarah
“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
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.
