The Best Audition Songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood – By Character
If you’re looking for audition songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, it’s best to choose a character-driven 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 Drood premiered in 1985, the audition songs below are drawn from musicals between the 1970s and 1990s. Each one has been carefully hand-picked and reviewed by a musical theatre professional to ensure fit and audition readiness.
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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 Mystery of Edwin Drood.
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 (rather than a specific character), there’s always a chance of being cast in a leading or 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.
Bazzard / Phillip Bax
“At the Grand Hotel” – Grand Hotel
“Guido’s Song” – Nine
“Only With You” – Nine
“The Colors of My Life” – Barnum
Chairperson / Mayor Thomas Sapsea
“Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.” – Ragtime
“I’ll Be Here Tomorrow” – The Grand Tour
“Out There” – Barnum
“Thank You Very Much” – Scrooge!
Edwin Drood / Alice Nutting
“Everybody Wants to Do a Musical” – Nick & Nora
“I Am Here to Stay” – Nunsense II
“It’s an Art” – Working
“One Brick at a Time” – Barnum
John Jasper / Clive Paget
“Alive!” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Farewell, Good Angel” – Jane Eyre
“Funny” – City of Angels
“In Every Age” – Titanic
Princess Puffer / Angela Prysock
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Sunset Boulevard
“Rookie in the Ring” – My Favorite Year
“Surabaya-Santa” – Songs for a New World
“What You Need” – Grand Hotel
Rosa Bud / Deirdre Peregrine
“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“How Could I Ever Know?” – The Secret Garden
“My True Love” – Phantom
“When There’s No One” – Carrie
Ensemble (Altos)
“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“Beautiful Things” – Doctor Dolittle
“Bring on the Men” – Jekyll & Hyde
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Promise You a Happy Ending” – Mack & Mabel
“I’ll Begin Again” – Scrooge!
“She Is Not Thinking of Me” – Gigi
Ensemble (Basses)
“As Good As You” – Jane Eyre
“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds
“There’s Always One You Can’t Forget” – Dance a Little Closer
Ensemble (Contras)
“I Hate Musicals” – Ruthless!
“The Story of Lucy and Jessie” – Follies
“Willing to Ride” – Steel Pier
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Bride’s Lament” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“Lady’s Maid” – Titanic
“The Night It Had to End” – Romance/Romance
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Love Makes Such Fools of Us All” – Barnum
“Melodie de Paris” – Phantom
“Repent” – On the Twentieth Century
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies
“How Did They Build the Titanic?” – Titanic
“Love Can’t Happen” – Grand Hotel
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Mystery of Edwin Drood:
• “Actor!” in Audition Monologues for Young Men➝
• “An Illegal Death Warrant➝” from The Strange Gentleman➝
• “Sherlock Holmes” in The Best Men’s Monologues from New Plays, 2019➝
• “The Man I Could Bind Myself To➝” from A Doll’s House➝ (Nora)
• “Where Is He?➝” from The Father Clock➝ (Flub)
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 Mystery of Edwin Drood Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 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:
“There You Are” – Chairman, Company
“A Man Could Go Quite Mad” – Jasper
“Two Kinsmen” – Drood, Jasper
“Moonfall” – Rosa
“Moonfall Quartet” – Rosa, Helena, Alice, Beatrice
“The Wages of Sin” – Puffer
“Ceylon” / “A British Subject” – Helena, Neville, Drood, Ensemble
“Both Sides of the Coin” – Sapsea, Jasper
“Perfect Strangers” – Rosa, Drood
“No Good Can Come From Bad” – Neville, Jasper, Rosa, Drood, Helena, Ensemble
“Never the Luck” – Bazzard, Ensemble
“Off to the Races” – Sapsea, Durdles, Deputy, Ensemble
Act 2:
“An English Music Hall” – Chairman, Company
“Settling Up the Score” – Puffer, Datchery, Ensemble
“The Name of Love” / “Moonfall” – Jasper, Rosa, Company
“Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead” – Puffer, Datchery, Company
“Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead (Reprise)” – Company
“Settling Up the Score (Reprise)” – Chairman, Company
“The Garden Path to Hell” – Puffer
“Out on a Limerick” – Varies
“Jasper’s Confession” – Jasper
“Murderer’s Confession” – Varies
“Perfect Strangers (Reprise)” – Varies
“The Writing on the Wall” – Drood, Company
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these audition songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood 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.
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.
