The Best Audition Songs for Annie – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Annie? 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 Annie, broken down by character.
Since Annie is a 1970s musical, most of the following songs are from shows between the 1950s – 1980s. There are also lots of 1920s/1930s vibes below to match the musical’s style.
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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 upbeat, 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 about Annie.
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.
Annie
“Poor Sweet Baby” – Snoopy!!!
“When I Get My Name in Lights” – The Boy From Oz
“Where Is Love?” – Oliver!
“You’ve Got Possibilities” – It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman
Bert Healy
“Grand Knowing You” – She Loves Me
“Put on a Happy Face” – Bye Bye Birdie
“Singin’ in the Rain” – Singin’ in the Rain
“The Candy Man” – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Grace Farrell
“I Belong Here” – The Grand Tour
“Would You?” – Singin’ in the Rain
“You Are My Lucky Star” – Singin’ in the Rain
“You Don’t Know” – Miracle on 34th Street
Lily St. Regis
“Funny Honey” – Chicago
“If My Friends Could See Me Now” – Sweet Charity
“Welcome to Holiday Inn” – Seesaw
“Where Am I Going?” – Sweet Charity
Miss Hannigan
“Why Do The Wrong People Travel?” – Sail Away
“Nobody Does It Like Me” – Seesaw
“That Mister Man of Mine” – Dames at Sea
“The Ladies Who Lunch” – Company
Oliver Warbucks
“If I Have to Live Alone” – The Baker’s Wife
“I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” – My Fair Lady
“She Wasn’t You” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
“Why Should I Wake Up?” – Cabaret
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds
“Once Upon a Time” – All American
“This Is a Great Country” – Mr. President
Rooster
“All I Care About” – Chicago
“Proud Lady” – The Baker’s Wife
“Razzle Dazzle” – Chicago
“Star to Be”
“Broadway Baby” – Follies
“Forty-Second Street” – 42nd Street
“Turn Up the Spotlight” – Nunsense
Ensemble (Altos)
“Open the Window” – Anne of Green Gables
“The Usher from the Mezzanine” – Fade Out – Fade In
“Time Heals Everything” – Mack & Mabel
Ensemble (Baritones)
“I Don’t Remember Christmas” – Starting Here Starting Now
“I Promise You a Happy Ending” – Mack & Mabel
“She Is Not Thinking of Me” – Gigi
Ensemble (Basses)
“More I Cannot Wish You” – Guys and Dolls
“Movies Were Movies” – Mack & Mabel
“Real Live Girl” – Little Me
Ensemble (Contras)
“Chanson” – The Baker’s Wife
“Dimples” – Little Me
“Say Yes” – 70, Girls, 70
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“I’ll Show Him” – Plain and Fancy
“Patterns” – Baby
“Sing Happy” – Flora, the Red Menace
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Doll on a Music Box” – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
“Ice Cream” – Anne of Green Gables
“Magic Moment” – The Gay Life
Ensemble (Tenors)
“I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack & Mabel
“Morning Glow” – Pippin
“Too Many Tomorrows” – Sweet Charity
Ensemble (Trebles/Orphans)
“Born to Entertain” – Ruthless!
“Let Me Entertain You” – Gypsy
“Little Lamb” – Gypsy
“The Perfect Nanny” – Mary Poppins
“Truly Scrumptious” – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Annie:
• “I Can’t Write” from The Genius➝
• “Mother Moon➝” from Fading Joy➝ (Joy)
• “My Sister in This House” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “We’ll Figure It Out” in Monologues for Kids and Tweens➝
• “You Know What➝” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Patty)
Final Step: Audition Prep
Once you’ve gathered your materials and studied the show, it’s time to focus on the preparation. Need guidance? Download this FREE audition prep checklist to stay on track!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Annie Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Annie, 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:
“Maybe” – Annie, Orphans
“It’s the Hard Knock Life” – Annie, Molly, Orphans
“It’s the Hard Knock Life (Reprise)” – Molly, Pepper, Kate, July, Tessie, Duffy
“Tomorrow” – Annie
“We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover” – Ensemble
“Little Girls” – Miss Hannigan
“I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here” – Grace, Annie, Ensemble
“N.Y.C.” – Warbucks, Grace, Annie, Star-to-Be, Ensemble
“Easy Street” – Rooster, Miss Hannigan, Lily
“You Won’t Be an Orphan for Long” – Grace, Ensemble
“Why Should I Change a Thing?” – Warbucks
Act 2:
“Maybe (Reprise)” – Annie
“You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” – Bert Healy, Ensemble
“You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile (Reprise)” – Orphans
“Easy Street (Reprise)” – Rooster, Miss Hannigan, Lily
“Tomorrow (Reprise)” – Annie, Roosevelt, Warbucks, Ensemble
“Something Was Missing” – Warbucks
“Annie” – Grace, Drake, Ensemble
“I Don’t Need Anything But You” – Warbucks, Annie, Grace
“A New Deal for Christmas” – Warbucks, Grace, Annie, Roosevelt, Molly, Orphans, Ensemble
Which of these audition songs for Annie 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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
Hi! I have a video audition for Annie coming up and I REALLY want to get in! Do you have any suggestions for the role of Annie or a (named) orphan? I just haven’t heard of many of the songs that are listed. Thank you so much!
Hi! That’s so exciting that you have such a fun audition coming up. Before I suggest any additional songs, I would love to encourage you to give the songs above a listen (under both Annie and the orphans). They’re probably just songs that you haven’t heard because they are a bit older in order to match the style of the show. But if you still don’t feel good about any of those, you can also try out “My New Philosophy” or “I Know It’s Today” from the Audition Songs for Kids post.
Hope this helps!
Hi! I love both of those songs! I will give them a try! Thank you so much for helping! 🙂