The Best Mature Audition Songs – by Vocal Type
Looking for a mature audition song or showtune for an upcoming audition or project? Well, if it’s for an audition, you should check out our giant database of audition songs for specific musicals. But if your show hasn’t yet been covered by us, or if you’re just looking to expand your repertoire with songs written for older characters, just go through this list of mature audition songs, sorted by vocal type.
By the way, all of the following are sung by musical theatre characters who are 50+! And if you haven’t gone through the steps to find your vocal type yet, I would definitely recommend doing so!
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First Step: 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 “Mature Audition Songs” Spotify Playlist
Quick Tip: For easy access to each song’s sheet music, backing tracks, music, time period, and vocal type info, just follow any of the links below!
Altos
“Close the Door” – Anastasia
“Liaisons” – A Little Night Music
“Rookie in the Ring” – My Favorite Year
“With One Look” – Sunset Boulevard
Baritones
“Beautiful Girls” – Follies
“The Greatest Star of All” – Sunset Boulevard
“To Be a Captain” – Titanic
“Wonderful” – Wicked
Basses
“A Fellow Needs a Girl” – Allegro
“Days Gone By” – She Loves Me
“Joe” – Working
“With a Little Bit of Luck” – My Fair Lady
Contras
“Daybreak” – Amazing Grace
“Love and Love Alone” – The Visit
“Say Yes” – 70, Girls, 70
“What They Never Tell You” – It Shoulda Been You
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Mezzo-Sopranos
“If He Walked Into My Life” – Mame
“The Revolutionary Costume for Today” – Grey Gardens
“Turn up the Spotlight” – Nunsense
“Witch’s Lament” – Into the Woods
Sopranos
“Around the World” – Grey Gardens
“Climb Ev’ry Mountain” – The Sound of Music
“Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love” – The New Yorkers
“Repent” – On the Twentieth Century
Tenors
“Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables
“Buddy’s Blues” – Follies
“Everything’s Golden” – Tuck Everlasting
“The Cuddles Mary Gave” – A Man of No Importance
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these mature musical theatre songs is your favorite?
And what are you working on at the moment? Feel free to share in the comments below!
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.