The Best Audition Songs for The Scottsboro Boys
When considering audition songs for The Scottsboro Boys, it’s fitting to choose a jazz or blues 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 Scottsboro Boys is set in the 1930s, the audition songs below have a 1920s/1930s feel to them. 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 Scottsboro Boys.
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.
Audition Songs for The Scottsboro Boys
✨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 →
Interlocutor
“Big News!” – Parade
“It Must Be Believed to Be Seen” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
“Pretty Music” – Parade
“The Ballad of Booth” – Assassins
“Ballad of the Robbers” – Knickerbocker Holiday
Haywood Patterson
“Let Me Drown” – The Wild Party
“Razzle Dazzle” – Chicago
“My Daddy Always Taught Me to Share” – Grind
“New Man” – Grind
“That’s What He Said” – Parade
NOTE: This is an ensemble heavy show with lots of role doublings. That’s why there are only audition song selections for baritones, basses, and tenors below.
Ensemble (Baritones)
“All I Care About” – Chicago
“Doctor Jazz” – Jelly’s Last Jam
“Honeysuckle Rose” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
“If You Could See Her” – Cabaret
“Mister Cellophane” – Chicago
Ensemble (Basses)
“Clap Yo’ Hands” – Oh, Kay!
“I’ll Be Here” – The Wild Party
“Poor Child” – The Wild Party
“Sunny Side Up” – Good News!
“When I Grow Up (The G-Man Song)” – Pins and Needles
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Drift Away” – Grey Gardens
“Make Them Hear You” – Ragtime
“My Problem Right There” – Hands on a Hardbody
“Say a Prayer” – Memphis
“You Coulda Knocked Me Over With a Feather” – Some Like It Hot
Step 4: Select a Monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Scottsboro Boys:
• “Four Ways” from The Piano Lesson
• “On Stage” from A Life in the Theatre
• “Paper Route” from Born Yesterday
• “Poor Relation” from George Washington Slept Here
• “Time for Barbeque” from Detroit ’67
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→
The Scottsboro Boys Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Scottsboro Boys, 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.
“Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey!” – Interlocutor, Company
“Commencing in Chattanooga” – Haywood, Scottsboro Boys
“Alabama Ladies” – Victoria Price, Ruby Bates
“Nothin'” – Haywood
“Electric Chair” – Ensemble
“Go Back Home” – Haywood, Eugene, Scottsboro Boys
“Shout!” – Scottsboro Boys
“Make Friends with the Truth” – Haywood, Billy, Scottsboro Boys
“That’s Not the Way We Do Things” – Samuel Leibowitz
“Never Too Late” – Ruby Bates, Scottsboro Boys
“Financial Advice” – Attorney General
“Southern Days” – Scottsboro Boys
“Alabama Ladies (Reprise)” – Victoria Price
“It’s Gonna Take Time” – Interlocutor
“Zat So” – Governor of Alabama, Samuel Leibowitz, Haywood
“You Can’t Do Me” – Haywood
“The Scottsboro Boys” – Scottsboro Boys
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.
