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 pre-contemporary musical from the 1980s, most of the songs below are from pre-contemporary musicals as well. In addition, there is a dramatic/epic vibe in many of the following 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 upbeat, 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 read through the synopsis or libretto for Les Misérables➝ while listening to the Les Misérables cast album➝.
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.
Cosette
“How Could I Ever Know?” – The Secret Garden
“Moonfall” – The Mystery of Edwin Drood
“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 Privilege to Pee” – Urinetown
“Little Girls” – Annie
“Oom-Pah-Pah” – Oliver!
“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)
“Back to Before” – Ragtime
“Someone Like You” – Jekyll & Hyde
“The Face I See” – Marguerite
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Anthem” – Chess
“Bui Doi” – Miss Saigon
“How Can I Call This Home?” – Parade
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 (Mezzos)
“A New Life” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Anything But Lonely” – Aspects of Love
“Unexpected Song” – Song and Dance
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Simple” – Nine
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” – Beggars, 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.