28 Showtunes from The Great American Songbook
The Great American Songbook is a list of the most significant/influential songs from the early 20th century. These are the songs that have stood the test of time, and quite a few of them are showtunes! If you’re looking for a classic song for an audition or project, check out this list of some of the amazing showtunes from the Great American Songbook!
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Altos
“Don’t Rain on My Parade” – Funny Girl
“Happy Talk” – South Pacific
“Hello, Young Lovers” – The King and I
“I Enjoy Being a Girl” – Flower Drum Song
Baritones
“Honeysuckle Rose” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
“I Talk to the Trees” – Paint Your Wagon
“If Ever I Would Leave You” – Camelot
“Just One of Those Things” – High Society
Basses
“Edelweiss” – The Sound of Music
“I Could Write a Book” – Pal Joey
“I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’” – Porgy and Bess
“Luck Be a Lady” – Guys and Dolls
Contras
“Anything Goes” – Anything Goes
“Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
“Hey, Look Me Over” – Wildcat
“The Boy Next Door” – Meet Me in St. Louis
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” – Gypsy
“Getting to Know You” – The King and I
“How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” – Finian’s Rainbow
“Shall We Dance?” – The King and I
Sopranos
“Climb Ev’ry Mountain” – The Sound of Music
“Falling in Love With Love” – The Boys from Syracuse
“Summertime” – Porgy and Bess
“The Man I Love” – Strike Up the Band
Tenors
“It Ain’t Necessarily So” – Porgy and Bess
“Strike Up the Band” – Strike Up the Band
“Tea for Two” – No, No, Nanette
“Younger Than Springtime” – South Pacific
Want more songs? Check out these DIY Rep Books for EVERY vocal type!
Which of these Great American Songbook showtunes are your favorite?
And what are you currently working on/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 specific musicals.
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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.