The Best Audition Songs for West Side Story – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for West Side Story? 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 West Side Story, broken down by character.
Since West Side Story is a golden-age musical, the songs below have are from golden-age/post-golden age musicals as well. In addition, there is a classic and cool vibe to many of the songs below 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 West Side Story cast album➝ while reading through the synopsis. Or you can watch the the classic film version of West Side Story➝.
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.
Anita
“An English Teacher” – Bye Bye Birdie
“One Hundred Easy Ways” – Wonderful Town
“Spanish Rose” – Bye Bye Birdie
“There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” – Sweet Charity
Maria
“No Other Love” – Me and Juliet
“One Boy” – Bye Bye Birdie
“This Is All Very New to Me” – Plain and Fancy
“Till There Was You” – The Music Man
Riff
“Luck Be a Lady” – Guys and Dolls
“Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” – Guys and Dolls
“There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame” – South Pacific
“Too Darn Hot” – Kiss Me, Kate
Tony
“Like a God” – Flower Drum Song
“Restless Heart” – Fanny
“You Are Never Away” – Allegro
“You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” – South Pacific
Ensemble (Altos)
“I Am Going to Like It Here” – Flower Drum Song
“The Beast in You” – Goldilocks
“We Deserve Each Other” – Me and Juliet
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Talk to the Trees” – Paint Your Wagon
“Those Were The Good Old Days” – Damn Yankees
“Young and Foolish” – Plain and Fancy
Ensemble (Basses)
“Heart” – Damn Yankees
“My Time of Day” – Guys and Dolls
“What a Waste” – Wonderful Town
Ensemble (Contras)
“A Little Brains, A Little Talent” – Damn Yankees
“Lazy Afternoon” – The Golden Apple
“Why Can’t You Behave?” – Kiss Me, Kate
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“So Many People” – Saturday Night
“Sweet Thursday” – Pipe Dream
“The Next Time it Happens” – Pipe Dream
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“A Little Bit In Love” – Wonderful Town
“Mr. Wonderful” – Mr. Wonderful
“So Far” – Allegro
Ensemble (Tenors)
“All I Need Is the Girl” – Gypsy
“Fanny” – Fanny
“That’s the Way It Happens” – Me and Juliet
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for West Side Story:
• “I Don’t Know➝” from Sun Dried➝ (Mary Louise)
• “I Don’t Want to Be an Actress➝” from Snakebit (Jenifer)
• “Green Pepper➝” from Cocktails at Pam’s (Estelle)
• “Play Memory” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “That’s All I Got➝” from Other Desert Cities (Trip)
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!
West Side Story Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in West Side Story, 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:
“Jet Song” – Riff, Ensemble
“Something’s Coming” – Tony
“Maria” – Tony
“America” – Anita, Rosalia, Ensemble
“Tonight” – Tony, Maria
“Gee, Officer Krupke” – Action, Snowboy, The Jets
Act 2:
“I Feel Pretty” – Maria, Rosalia, Estella, Consuelo
“One Hand, One Heart” – Tony, Maria
“Tonight (Quintet)” – Company
“Somewhere” – Tony, Maria, Consuelo, Ensemble
“Cool” – Riff, Ensemble
“A Boy Like That” – Anita, Maria
“I Have a Love” – Anita, Maria
“Finale” – Maria, Tony, Company
Which of these audition songs for West Side Story 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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.