The Best Audition Songs for Les Misérables – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Les Misérables? 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 Les Misérables, broken down by character.
Since Les Misérables is a 1980s musical, the following songs are from shows between the 1970s – 1990s. There are also lots of dramatic selections 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 more about Les Misérables.
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.
Cosette
“How Could I Ever Know?” – The Secret Garden
“My True Love” – Phantom
“Sympathy, Tenderness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“When There’s No One” – Carrie
Enjolras
“In Every Age” – Titanic
“Into the Fire” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Sunset Boulevard” – Sunset Boulevard
“This Is the Moment” – Jekyll & Hyde
Éponine
“I Still Believe” – Miss Saigon
“I’d Give My Life For You” – Miss Saigon
“Now That I’ve Seen Her” – Miss Saigon
“The Movie in My Mind” – Miss Saigon
“When Will Someone Hear?” – Martin Guerre
Fantine
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” – Sunset Boulevard
“How Many Tears?” – Martin Guerre
“Maybe” – Miss Saigon
“Once Upon a Dream” – Jekyll & Hyde
“When I Look at You” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Gavroche
“Consider Yourself” – Oliver!
“Giants in the Sky” – Into the Woods
“Not While I’m Around” – Sweeney Todd
“Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” – Sweeney Todd
Javert
“Alive!” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Falcon in the Dive” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
“Nowhere Left to Run” – Amazing Grace
“Where I Want to Be” – Chess
Jean Valjean
“A Bit of Earth” – The Secret Garden
“A Chance For Me” – Amazing Grace
“I’m Martin Guerre” – Martin Guerre
“Live With Somebody You Love” – Martin Guerre
Madame Thénardier
“It’s a Fine Life” – Oliver!
“It’s a Privilege to Pee” – Urinetown
“Little Girls” – Annie
“The Worst Pies in London” – Sweeney Todd
Marius Pontmercy
“Close Every Door” – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
“Johanna” – Sweeney Todd
“She’s a Woman” – Kiss of the Spider Woman
“Why God Why?” – Miss Saigon
Master Thenardier
“If You Want to Die in Bed” – Miss Saigon
“Reviewing the Situation” – Oliver!
“The American Dream” – Miss Saigon
“You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” – Oliver!
Young Cosette
“Getting Tall” – Nine
“Once Upon a December” – Anastasia
“Round-Shouldered Man” – The Secret Garden
“The Girl I Mean to Be” – The Secret Garden
Ensemble (Altos)
“A New Life” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Someone Like You” – Jekyll & Hyde
“The Face I See” – Marguerite
Ensemble (Baritones)
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
“No One Has Ever Loved Me” – Passion
“Words He Doesn’t Say” – Romance/Romance
Ensemble (Basses)
“How Long Must This Go On?” – Beauty and the Beast
“Lost in the Darkness” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Where’s the Girl?” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Ensemble (Contras)
“Gifts of Love” – The Baker’s Wife
“God Help The Outcasts” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
“Someone Else’s Story” – Chess
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzo-Sopranos)
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love
“Simple” – Nine
“Unusual Way” – Nine
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“Moonfall” – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Before the Summer Ends” – Dracula
“No Moon” – Titanic
“She Was There” – The Scarlet Pimpernel
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Les Misérables:
• “A Thirteen-Year-Old Maid” in Young Women’s Monologues from Contemporary Plays➝
• “Blue Stockings” in Contemporary Monologues for Teenagers: Female➝
• “I Trust No Man➝” from Danton➝ (Robespierre)
• “Les Liasons Dangereuses” in Solo!: The Best Monologues of the 80s – Women➝
• “Personal➝” from Always Ridiculous➝
• “Something Like This” from Call of the Revolution➝
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!
Les Misérables Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Les Misérables, 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:
“Work Song” – Javert, Valjean, Ensemble
“Valjean Arrested” / “Valjean Forgiven” – Valjean, Bishop, Ensemble
“What Have I Done?” – Valjean
“At the End of the Day” – Fantine, Foreman, Valjean, Ensemble
“I Dreamed a Dream” – Fantine
“Lovely Ladies” – Fantine, Ensemble
“Who Am I?” – Valjean
“Come to Me” – Fantine, Valjean
“Confrontation” – Javert, Valjean
“Castle on a Cloud” – Young Cosette, Madame Thénardier
“Master of the House” – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Ensemble
“The Well Scene” – Valjean, Young Cosette
“The Bargain” / “The Waltz” – Valjean, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Young Cosette
“Stars” – Javert
“Look Down” – Gavroche, Enjolras, Marius, Ensemble
“Red and Black” – Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire, Feuilly, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, Gavroche
“Do You Hear the People Sing?” – Enjolras, Combeferre, Feuilly, Ensemble
“In My Life” – Cosette, Valjean, Marius, Éponine
“A Heart Full of Love” – Marius, Cosette, Éponine
“The Attack on Rue Plumet” – Thénardier, Éponine, Marius, Valjean, Cosette, Ensemble
“One Day More” – Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Company
Act 2:
“At the Barricade” – Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Éponine, Valjean, Ensemble
“On My Own” – Éponine
“Building the Barricade” – Enjolras, Marius, Ensemble
“Javert’s Arrival” – Javert, Enjolras, Gavroche
“Little People” – Gavroche, Ensemble
“A Little Fall of Rain” – Éponine, Marius
“Drink with Me” – Grantaire, Feuilly, Enjolras, Prouvaire, Joly, Marius
“Bring Him Home” – Valjean
“Dog Eats Dog” – Thénardier
“Javert’s Suicide” – Valjean, Javert
“Turning” – Ensemble
“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” – Marius
“Every Day” / “A Heart Full of Love (Reprise)” – Cosette, Marius, Valjean
“Valjean’s Confession” – Valjean, Marius
“Wedding Chorale” – Marius, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Ensemble
“Beggars at the Feast” – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier
“Epilogue” – Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius, Éponine
“Finale” – Company
Which of these audition songs for Les Misérables 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.