The Best Audition Songs for Oliver! – by Character
Do you have an upcoming audition for Oliver!? 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 Oliver!, broken down by character.
Since Oliver! is a post-golden age musical, most of the songs below are from musicals between 1950-1980. In addition, many of the following songs have a bit of darkness/playfulness to them, 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. Also, as you’re picking out a song, these links may be helpful:
• Backing Tracks for the Songs Below
• The “Oliver! Audition Songs” Spotify Playlist
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 Oliver! 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.
Bill Sykes
“Alive” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Dog Eats Dog” – Les Misérables
“Lonely Room” – Oklahoma!
“The Highest Judge of All” – Carousel
Fagin
“Captain Hook’s Waltz” – Peter Pan
“Kids” – Bye Bye Birdie
“Master of the House” – Les Misérables
“With a Little Bit of Luck” – My Fair Lady
Mr. Bumble
“Don’t Cry” – The Most Happy Fella
“In My Own Lifetime” – The Rothschilds
“Joey, Joey, Joey” – The Most Happy Fella
“Melinda” – On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Nancy
“Being Good Isn’t Good Enough” – Hallelujah, Baby!
“Bill” – Show Boat
“Just You Wait” – My Fair Lady
“Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” – My Fair Lady
Oliver Twist
“Distant Melody” – Peter Pan
“My Best Girl” – Mame
“Not While I’m Around” – Sweeney Todd
“Round-Shouldered Man” – The Secret Garden
The Artful Dodger
“Gary, Indiana” – The Music Man
“I Won’t Grow Up” – Peter Pan
“Little People” – Les Misérables
“Neat to be a Newsboy” – Working
Ensemble (Altos)
“A Cockeyed Optimist” – South Pacific
“And I Was Beautiful” – Dear World
“If He Walked Into My Life” – Mame
Ensemble (Baritones)
“Soliloquy” – Carousel
“The Big Black Giant” – Me and Juliet
“What Makes it Happen?” – Walking Happy
Ensemble (Basses)
“A Wonderful Day Like Today” – The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd
“Get Me to the Church on Time” – My Fair Lady
“Try to Remember” – The Fantasticks
Ensemble (Contras)
“Hey, Look Me Over” – Wildcat
“Lazy Afternoon” – The Golden Apple
“Where is the Warmth?” – The Baker’s Wife
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Ensemble (Mezzos)
“Ribbons Down My Back” – Hello, Dolly!
“So Many People” – Saturday Night
“Why Go Anywhere At All?” – The Gay Life
Ensemble (Sopranos)
“Far From the Home I Love” – Fiddler on the Roof
“Ice Cream” – Anne of Green Gables
“My White Knight” – The Music Man
Ensemble (Tenors)
“Fanny” – Fanny
“Miracle of Miracles” – Fiddler on the Roof
“Wondrin’” – Anne of Green Gables
Ensemble (Trebles/Children)
“Getting Tall” – Nine
“I Gotta Crow” – Peter Pan
“The Tree” – The Me Nobody Knows
Step 4: Select a monologue
If requested, here are a few audition monologues for Oliver!:
• “A Thirteen-Year-Old Maid” in Young Women’s Monologues from Contemporary Plays➝
• “Come and Find Me➝” from The Silver Box➝ (Jones)
• “I Must Say” from The Importance of Being Earnest➝ (Lady Bracknell)
• “Tommy Has Proposed” from An Ideal Husband➝ (Mabel)
• “We’ll Figure It Out” in Monologues for Kids and Tweens➝
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!
Oliver! Song List
Here’s a list of the musical numbers in Oliver, 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:
“Food, Glorious Food” – Ensemble
“Oliver!” – Mr. Bumble, Widow Corney, Ensemble
“I Shall Scream!” – Mr. Bumble, Widow Corney
“Boy for Sale” – Mr. Bumble
“That’s Your Funeral” – Mr. Sowerberry, Mrs. Sowerberry, Mr. Bumble
“Where Is Love?” – Oliver
“Consider Yourself” – The Artful Dodger, Oliver, Ensemble
“You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two” – Fagin, Ensemble
“It’s a Fine Life” – Nancy, Fagin, The Artful Dodger, Bet, Ensemble
“I’d Do Anything” – The Artful Dodger, Nancy, Oliver, Bet, Fagin, Ensemble
“Be Back Soon” – Fagin, The Artful Dodger, Oliver, Ensemble
Act 2:
“Oom-Pah-Pah” – Nancy, Ensemble
“My Name” – Bill Sikes
“As Long as He Needs Me” – Nancy
“Where Is Love? (Reprise)” – Mrs. Bedwin
“Who Will Buy?” – Rose Seller, Oliver, Ensemble
“It’s a Fine Life (Reprise)” – Bill Sikes, Nancy, Fagin, The Artful Dodger
“Reviewing the Situation” – Fagin
“Oliver! (Reprise)” – Mr. Bumble, Widow Corney
“As Long as He Needs Me (Reprise)” – Nancy
“Reviewing the Situation (Reprise)” – Fagin
“Finale” – Company
Which of these audition songs for Oliver! 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.
I need help finding a song for a theater class that is at least 2 min long that is upbeat and appropriate.
Hey!! Since you’re looking for something that’s upbeat, you should check out this great list of upbeat audition songs, broken down by vocal type. And most of them are at least 2 minutes long as well! Hopefully one of them is a good fit. 🙂
Hi there, I’m auditioning for Oliver the musical this coming week and I am auditioning for the role of Charlotte sommersbery and/or Bet. I’m not a trained singer but cab somewhat, or so I’ve been told. I would still like to have shot at either of these roles, unfortunately we still have to sing for our audition. Any songs you would recommend for me.
Thanks
^can somewhat sing
Hi Lily! I just looked around for some ideas, and I came up with two song choices that might be a good fit for your situation (both from musicals of the 1960s). The first is “On the Other Side of the Tracks” from Little Me. And the second is “I Like Him” from Drat! The Cat! Both songs are really good choices for beginner singers since they have pretty small vocal ranges. And both are really nice choices for teens/young adults.
On top of that, they would both work well for altos or mezzos – so regardless of which vocal type you have, you should be able to sing them! I would just suggest singing through both and seeing if one of them might be a good fit! And also, make sure to practice that cockney accent a bit in case they request it at the audition! Have fun with it!