The Best Audition Songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood

When considering audition songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, it’s fitting to choose a character-driven 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 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 to ensure it matches the show’s style.

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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.

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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.

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Step 3: Pick an Audition Song

Before choosing a song, find your voice type and range using the Vocal Guide.

Based on your personality and vocal type, decide whether to audition for the ensemble or a specific character. Whatever you choose, try to stay open to other casting possibilities.

When you’re ready, choose a song from below that best fits your voice and style.

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Audition Songs for The Mystery of Edwin Drood

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✨Need more options? The list below gives you a great starting point! The Theatre Trip Repertoire Studio gives you access to thousands of songs, hundreds of monologues, and tools to help you find your casting lane! Explore the Repertoire Studio →

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Bazzard / Phillip Bax

“At the Grand Hotel” – Grand Hotel

“Guido’s Song” – Nine

“Only With You” – Nine

“The Colors of My Life” – Barnum

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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!

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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

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John Jasper / Clive Paget

“Alive!” – Jekyll & Hyde

“Farewell, Good Angel” – Jane Eyre

“Funny” – City of Angels

“In Every Age” – Titanic

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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

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Rosa Bud / Deirdre Peregrine 

“How Could I Ever Know?” – The Secret Garden

“My True Love” – Phantom

“Soon” – A Little Night Music

“When There’s No One” – Carrie

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🎭 Are you never quite sure which roles to audition for? Take our free Casting Archetype Quiz to see if you’re a villain, ingénue, hero, romantic, or a type that’s even more unique!

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Ensemble (Altos)

“As We Stumble Along” – The Drowsy Chaperone

“Beautiful Things” – Doctor Dolittle

“Bring on the Men” – Jekyll & Hyde

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Ensemble (Baritones)

“I Promise You a Happy Ending” – Mack & Mabel

“I’ll Begin Again” – Scrooge!

“She Is Not Thinking of Me” – Gigi

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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

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Ensemble (Contras)

“I Hate Musicals” – Ruthless!

“The Story of Lucy and Jessie” – Follies

“Willing to Ride” – Steel Pier

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Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)

“Bride’s Lament” – The Drowsy Chaperone

“Lady’s Maid” – Titanic

“The Night It Had to End” – Romance/Romance

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Ensemble (Sopranos)

“Love Makes Such Fools of Us All” – Barnum

“Melodie de Paris” – Phantom

“Repent” – On the Twentieth Century

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Ensemble (Tenors)

“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies

“How Did They Build the Titanic?” – Titanic

“Love Can’t Happen” – Grand Hotel

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Step 4: Select a Monologue

If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Mystery of Edwin Drood:

• “Camden Town” from A Sherlock Carol

• “Near Frozen” from Seven Keys to Baldpate

• “The Best Brains” from Beggar on Horseback

• “The Formula” from Black Coffee

• “On Tiptoe” from Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville

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Step 5: Get Your Free Audition Prep Tools

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.

Get Theatre Trip’s free audition prep resources, including:

☑ Your Audition Prep Checklist
☑ Printable Audition Stamp Cards
☑ Updates when new audition tools are added

Grab your free resources on Patreon→

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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! 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.

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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

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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

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