The Best Audition Songs for The Drowsy Chaperone – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for The Drowsy Chaperone? 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 Drowsy Chaperone, by character.
The Drowsy Chaperone is a pre-contemporary musical that’s set in the late 1920s. Because of this, lots of the songs below are from pre-contemporary/early-contemporary musicals. In addition, you’ll find that many of these songs are from musicals that are set in or actually from the 1920s/1930s.
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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 comedic, 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 “Drowsy Chaperone 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 Drowsy Chaperone cast album➝ while reading through the synopsis.
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, choose the song that you feel most comfortable with from the list below.
Adolpho
“Dulcinea” – Man of La Mancha
“Me” – Beauty and the Beast
“The Gypsy in Me” – Anything Goes
“You Can Get Away With Anything” – The Woman in White
Janet Van De Graaf
“Gimme Gimme” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“I Get a Kick Out of You” – Anything Goes
“I Want to Go to Hollywood” – Grand Hotel
“Willing to Ride” – Steel Pier
Kitty
“A Little Girl from Little Rock” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
“Daddy’s Girl” – Grey Gardens
“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
“Wall Street” – Dames at Sea
Man in Chair
“Coffee Shop Nights” – Curtains
“I Miss the Music” – Curtains
“I Want to Make Magic” – Fame
“Second Chance” – Steel Pier
Mrs. Tottendale
“Deep Love” – Young Frankenstein
“I’m Just Wild About Harry” – Shuffle Along
“Jeanette’s Showbiz Number” – The Full Monty
“Somebody Older” – Steel Pier
Robert Martin
“Grand Knowing You” – She Loves Me
“Little Jazz Bird” – Lady, Be Good
“Nice Work If You Can Get It” – Nice Work If You Can Get It
“The Candy Man” – Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
The Drowsy Chaperone
“All Falls Down” – Chaplin
“An Old-Fashioned Love Story” – The Wild Party
“Nobody Does it Like Me” – Seesaw
“Only in New York” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
Trix
“Always True to You in My Fashion” – Kiss Me, Kate
“Boy! What Love Has Done to Me” – Girl Crazy
“Can This Be Love?” – Fine and Dandy
“Delishious” – Nice Work If You Can Get It
Ensemble (Altos)
“Everybody’s Girl” – Steel Pier
“My Big Mistake” – The Will Rogers Follies
“Not for the Life of Me” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
Ensemble (Baritones)
“The Life That You Wished For” – Chaplin
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” – Crazy for You
“What Is It About Her?” – The Wild Party
Ensemble (Basses)
“Oh, Lady Be Good!” – Lady, Be Good
“Please Send Me Someone” – Young Frankenstein
“Why Should I Wake Up?” – Cabaret
Ensemble (Contras)
“I Hate Musicals” – Ruthless!
“They Don’t Know” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“What You Need” – Grand Hotel
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“All Things to One Man” – Grind
“Jimmy” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“What Good Is Love?” – Pins and Needles
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Glad to Be Unhappy” – On Your Toes
“Just Imagine” – Good News!
“Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love” – Leave It to Me
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Broadway Baby” – Dames at Sea
“I Turned the Corner” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
“What Do I Need With Love?” – Thoroughly Modern Millie
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Drowsy Chaperone:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “I Must Say” from The Importance of Being Earnest➝ (Lady Bracknell)
• “Nothing But Misfortune” from Poor John➝ (John)
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
• “You Won’t Misunderstand Me” from The Goal➝ (Sir Stephen)
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 Drowsy Chaperone Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Drowsy Chaperone 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.
“Hello” – Man in Chair
“Fancy Dress” – Company
“Cold Feets” – Robert, George
“Show Off” – Janet, Ensemble
“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“I Am Aldolpho” – Aldolpho, The Drowsy Chaperone
“Accident Waiting To Happen” – Robert, Janet
“Toledo Surprise” – Feldzieg, Kitty, Gangsters, Adolpho, Mrs. Tottendale, Ensemble
“Message From A Nightingale” – Kitty, Gangsters, Aldolpho, The Drowsy Chaperone
“Bride’s Lament” – Janet, Company
“Love Is Always Lovely In The End” – Mrs. Tottendale, Underling
“I Do, I Do in The Sky” – Trix, Company
“As We Stumble Along (Reprise)” – Company
Which of these audition songs for The Drowsy Chaperone 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.
Have any song ideas for Kitty?
Hey Grace! Such a good question! I just added a few ideas for Kitty above, and I’ve added some additional new songs around the post. Also, “Not for the Life of Me” in the “Mezzo” section might be worth trying out as well. Have so much fun with this!