32 “I Am” Songs to Showcase Your Personality
Usually one of the first few numbers in a show, the “I Am” song helps establish a character’s personality or role in the plot. “I Am” songs are usually sung by the protagonist, but sometimes they are sung by supporting character, and sometimes they’re even sung by the antagonist. Here’s a list of our favorites!
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“I Am” Songs for Altos
“A Cockeyed Optimist” – South Pacific
“Backwoods Barbie” – 9 to 5
“I Love Play Rehearsal” – Be More Chill
“I’m the Greatest Star” – Funny Girl
“I Am” Songs for Baritones
“I Am Aldolpho” – The Drowsy Chaperone
“I Am Free” – Zorba
“I’m Not That Smart” – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
“Mister Cellophane” – Chicago
“I Am” Songs for Basses/Bass-Baritones
“Dentist!” – Little Shop of Horrors
“I Am What I Am” – La Cage aux Folles
“Poor, Unsuccessful and Fat” – A New Brain
“The Prince of Humbug” – Barnum
“I Am” Songs for Contras
“I’m Still Here” – Follies
“Millwork” – Working
“Playing Nancy” – Groundhog Day
“Some People” – Gypsy
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
“I Am” Songs for Mezzo-Sopranos
“A Part of That” – The Last Five Years
“Shy” – Once Upon a Mattress
“Some People” – Gypsy
“The Oldest Orphan” – Daddy Long Legs
“I Am” Songs for Sopranos
“How Lovely to Be a Woman” – Bye Bye Birdie
“Mira” – Carnival!
“Morning Person” – Shrek
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“I Am” Songs for Tenors
“Friend Like Me” – Aladdin
“Hard to be the Bard” – Something Rotten!
“I Believe” – The Book of Mormon
“My Petersburg” – Anastasia
“I Am” Songs for Trebles/Children
“Born to Entertain” – Ruthless!
“Good Girl Winnie Foster” – Tuck Everlasting
“Naughty” – Matilda
“Neat to Be a Newsboy” – Working
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Do you know of any other great “I Am” songs?
And which of the above “I Am” songs are you going to work on? We would love to hear all about it in the comments below!
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.