32 Heartbreakingly Sad Musical Theatre Songs – by Vocal Type
Are you looking for a heartbreaking or sad showtune for an upcoming project or audition? Well, if it’s for an audition, you should check out our giant database of audition songs for specific musicals. Otherwise, you can go through the following list of sad musical theatre songs, sorted by vocal type.
To enhance your experience, you can pop on our “Musical Theatre Songs to Cry To”➝ Spotify playlist.
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Altos
“How Did We Come to This?” – The Wild Party
“Invisible” – Beetlejuice
“Now That I’ve Seen Her” – Miss Saigon
“On My Own” – Les Misérables
Baritones
“Close Every Door” – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
“I Miss the Music” – Curtains
“It Just Wasn’t Meant to Happen” – Calvin Berger
“Just One of Those Things” – High Society
Basses
“As Good As You” – Jane Eyre
“Fathers and Sons” – Working
“If I Can’t Love Her (Reprise)” – Beauty and the Beast
“There’s Always One You Can’t Forget” – Dance a Little Closer
Contras
“How Did I Get to Where I Am?” – Marguerite
“Living in the Shadows” – Victor/Victoria
“Maybe” – Miss Saigon
“Without You” – Rent
Psst… Here’s where you can find out your vocal type!
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Burn” – Hamilton
“How Many Tears?” – Martin Guerre
“Still Hurting” – The Last Five Years
“The Movie in My Mind” – Miss Saigon
Sopranos
“After Midnight Dies” – The Wild Party
“I’m Leaving You” – The Life
“No One Knows Who I Am” – Jekyll & Hyde
“Sons of” – Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Tenors
“Heartbreaker” – Bright Star
“Leave” – Once
“The Cuddles Mary Gave” – A Man of No Importance
“Words Fail” – Dear Evan Hansen
Trebles
“Castle on a Cloud” – Les Misérables
“On Your Way Home” – James and the Giant Peach
“Quiet” – Matilda
“Where Is Love?” – Oliver!
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these sad musical theatre songs are your favorite?
And what are you currently working on? We would love to hear all about your favorite heartbreaking or sad musical theatre songs 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.