The Best Audition Songs for The Secret Garden – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for The Secret Garden? 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 Secret Garden, by character.
The Secret Garden is a pre-contemporary musical that’s set in the 1900s. Because of that, most of the songs below are from pre-contemporary/early contemporary musicals as well (1980-2010). In addition, there is a classic/timeless vibe to many of the following songs in order to match the style of the show.
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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 uptempo, etc.). Make sure to select a song that’s appropriate for your specific casting call.
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 Secret Garden 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.
Archibald Craven
“A World Without You” – Children of Eden
“Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
“The Life That You Wished For” – Chaplin
“The Man I Used to Be” – The Count of Monte Cristo
Colin Craven
“Castle on a Cloud” – Les Misérables
“No Matter What” – Whistle Down the Wind
“On Your Way Home” – James and the Giant Peach
“The Beautiful Day” – Scrooge
Dickon
“Endless Night” – The Lion King
“Flying Home” – Songs for a New World
“Gold” – Once
“The Streets of Dublin” – A Man of No Importance
Dr. Neville Craven
“Heaven’s Light” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“She Was There” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Lily
“My True Love” – Phantom
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Once Upon a Dream” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Sympathy, Tenderness” – Jekyll & Hyde
Martha
“Lady’s Maid” – Titanic
“Our Kind of Love” – The Beautiful Game
“The Burden of Life” – A Man of No Importance
“Tell Me Why” – A Man of No Importance
Mary Lennox
“In My Dreams” – Anastasia
“Live Out Loud” – A Little Princess
“Once Upon a December” – Anastasia
“Only Pretend” – Peter Pan Live!
Ensemble (Altos)
“Days of Plenty” – Little Women
“Here Alone” – Little Women
“Painting Her Portrait” – Jane Eyre
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Barrett’s Song” – Titanic
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
“The Cuddles Mary Gave” – A Man of No Importance
Ensemble (Basses)
“As Good As You” – Jane Eyre
“Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“The Hardest Part of Love” – Children of Eden
Ensemble (Contras)
“Just Beyond the Stars” – Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure
“Out of Sight, Out of Mind” – A Tale of Two Cities
“Woman” – The Pirate Queen
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“Only Love” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“When I Look at You” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“When Will Someone Hear?” – Martin Guerre
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Believe” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“The Finer Things” – Jane Eyre
“Tuesdays, Thursdays” – Far from Heaven
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Before the Summer Ends” – Dracula
“I Never Knew” – Far from Heaven
“No Moon” – Titanic
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for The Secret Garden:
• “My Opinion” from Paul Pry➝ (Oldbutton)
• “My Shares Are Worthless➝” from A Little Princess (Miss Minchin)
• “My Sister in This House” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Rooms” in Fantasy Monologues for Young Actors➝
• “The Grace of Mary Traverse” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
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 Secret Garden Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in The Secret Garden 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 I:
“Opening” – Lily, Fakir, Ensemble
“There’s a Girl” – Ensemble
“The House Upon the Hill” – Mrs. Medlock, Mary, Ensemble
“I Heard Someone Crying” – Lily, Mary, Archibald, Ensemble
“If I Had A Fine White Horse” – Martha
“A Girl in the Valley” – Archibald, Lily
“It’s a Maze” – Mary, Ben, Dickon
“Winter’s on the Wing” – Dickon
“Show Me the Key” – Mary, Dickon
“A Bit of Earth” – Archibald
“Storm I” – Ensemble
“Lily’s Eyes” – Archibald, Neville
“Storm II” – Mary, Ensemble
“Round-Shouldered Man” – Colin
“Final Storm” – Mary, Ensemble
Act 2:
“The Girl I Mean to Be” – Mary
“Quartet” – Archibald, Lily, Neville, Rose
“Race You to the Top of the Morning” – Archibald
“Wick” – Dickon, Mary
“Come to My Garden” – Lily, Colin
“Come Spirit, Come Charm” – Mary, Dickon, Martha, Lily, Ensemble
“Disappear” – Neville
“Hold On” – Martha
“Letter Song” – Archibald, Mary
“Where in the World” – Archibald
“How Could I Ever Know” – Archibald, Lily
“Finale” – Colin, Martha, Mary, Nevilla, Archibald, Ensemble
Which of these audition songs for The Secret Garden 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.
Please do a best audition songs for 42nd street. I have an audition coming up the first week of September and need help.
Hi Sophia! Will do! It’s on the list now, and I’m marking it with priority since your auditions are right around the corner. I’ll make sure to get to it this week. 🙂
Delivery! https://www.theatretrip.com/audition-songs-for-42nd-street/