28 Showtunes from The Great American Songbook – by Vocal Type
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
“Happy Talk” – South Pacific
“Hello, Young Lovers” – The King and I
“Hey, Look Me Over” – Wildcat
“I Enjoy Being a Girl” – Flower Drum Song
Baritones
“Honeysuckle Rose” – Ain’t Misbehavin’
“If Ever I Would Leave You” – Camelot
“Just One of Those Things” – High Society
“Luck be a Lady” – Guys and Dolls
Basses
“Edelweiss” – The Sound of Music
“I Could Write a Book” – Pal Joey
“I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’” – Porgy and Bess
“I Talk to the Trees” – Paint Your Wagon
Contras
“Anything Goes” – Anything Goes
“But Not For Me” – Girl Crazy
“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
“The Boy Next Door” – Meet Me in St. Louis
Mezzo-Sopranos
“Don’t Rain on My Parade” – Funny Girl
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” – Gypsy
“My Favorite Things” – The Sound of Music
“Shall We Dance?” – The King and I
Sopranos
“All the Things You Are” – Very Warm for May
“Climb Ev’ry Mountain” – The Sound of Music
“Falling in Love With Love” – The Boys from Syracuse
“Getting to Know You” – The King and I
Tenors
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” – Blackbirds of 1928
“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” – Oklahoma!
“They Call the Wind Maria” – Paint Your Wagon
“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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.