27 Best Musical Theatre Audition Songs for Mezzo-Sopranos

If you sing in mezzo-soprano and have an upcoming audition, you’ll want to impress the judges, which isn’t always easy. They expect you to differentiate yourself from the crowd because they’ve seen this done many times before. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best musical theatre audition songs for mezzo-sopranos.

1. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from Grease

Song Year: 1978

Initially sung by Olivia Newton-John, this iconic song has maintained its popularity for generations. The song talks about being in love with the wrong person. The protagonist falls in love with the person despite being ignored and taken for granted.

The track is an excellent pick for an audition because most candidates are unlikely to select it, and the audience is familiar with it.

2. “There’s No Business Like Show Business” from Annie Get Your Gun

Song Year: 1946

The musical follows the story of a pioneer woman from the West. Annie Oakley was part of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and a famous sharpshooter. The character’s departure from the norm accounts for the musical’s jovial tone.

The tune leaves a lot of room for individual interpretation. It’s an excellent track to perform while also playing the role, which the judges might find interesting.

3. “Secret Love” from Calamity Jane

Song Year: 1953

The musical features Doris Day as the star. The track is just one of many fantastic songs she performs in the film. She had feelings for ‘Wild Bill Hickok, but he didn’t want her.

The heartfelt love song will awaken memories for anyone who recalls the film. It’ll also appeal to those unfamiliar with the film, rendering it one of the best musical theatre audition songs for a mezzo-soprano.

4. “Home” From Beauty and the Beast

Song Year: 1994

Belle sings the song after exchanging places with her father in the Beast’s cell. She is heartbroken as the Beast commands her to join him for supper. She then meets a few of her captor’s servants, offering company and support.

Try to imitate Belle’s character when performing this song as she sings about finding her way home. If you can ideally bring out the song’s emotional lyrics, you’re sure to stand out from the crowd.

5. “Another Suitcase In Another Hall” by Evita

Song Year: 1977

Webber and Tim Rice use the suitcase as a metaphor to represent modern nomadism. It’s about individuals who are in constant motion without any foundation. Dickson controls the track with sadness and delicacy.

The song allows you to portray a character deeply into their emotions. You’ll give a fantastic performance if you can do that perfectly.

6. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from The Sound of Music

Song Year: 1959

The song conveys a message about striving to reach one’s goals in life, no matter how high you might be. The song allows mezzo-sopranos to show off their vocal range. It will test your voice, and the judges will be on the lookout for that. However, it will also show how to connect with the words and appropriately convey their message.

7. “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” from Grease

Song Year: 1978

The song is an excellent pick for the mezzo-sopranos audition because it gives you much freedom. After a brief introductory monologue, the singer immediately launches into the performance. If they’re searching for someone who can sing and act, this is the track to prove you’re the right candidate.

To do justice to the song, you must do more than sing it. You’ll need to replicate Rizzo’s performance in Grease, as everyone is familiar with her character. That includes what you’re wearing and how you move and speak.

8. “Somewhere” From Westside Story

Song Year: 1957

Next on our list is a timeless classic co-written by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. It’s an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.

It’s a fantastic composition full of feelings, emotion, and American history in the 1950s. It calls for both cautious and bold performance. You’ll need the self-confidence to attempt this, but you will impress the judges if you succeed.

9. “As Long As He Needs Me” from Oliver Twist

Song Year: 1960

The fantastic tune is part of Lionel Bart’s adaptation of Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist. The song tells the story of Nancy, an orphan from the streets of London who finds solace in Bill Sikes, a notorious criminal. Despite being a crook, she loves him deeply and defends him unconditionally.

However, she’s worried about his explosive anger, and he ends up murdering her. It’s a powerful song that requires a lot of emotional control and vocal range to do it justice. It would be best to convey the feeling to the audience to make a better impression.

10. “Hello Young Lovers” From The King And I

Song Year: 1951

The classic tune from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical film is an excellent choice for mezzo-sopranos looking for an audition song since it allows you to perform while acting out the lyrics. The heroine, Anna, sings when narrating about her late husband to the king’s wives and shows sympathy towards the youngest wife.

The judges will listen to your vocals and look for evidence of creative lyrical interpretation. They expect you to contextualize the message in your performance, rendering this tune a great pick.

11. “Love Look Away” from The Flower Drum Song

Song Year: 1959

The powerful ballad lets you show off your range and control as you move from low to high notes. The song is full of emotion and longing, enabling you to tap into your inner strength and give a heartfelt performance.

It might not be the simplest tune to perform, but the composition is very “musical.” So, if that’s what they’re looking for, you will make a lasting impression.

12. “Bewitched” From Pal Joey

Song Year: 1940

Initially composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, this song is a staple of the Broadway collection. It tells the story of a heartbroken woman whose lover has abandoned her, but she’s still hopeful that he’ll return one day.

The song requires a powerful range, with soaring highs and emotive lows, rendering it an excellent audition choice for mezzo-sopranos audition. It will be a challenging song, but if you can connect with the lyrics and portray the character effectively, you’ll deliver a captivating performance.

13. “I Could Have Danced All Night” From the My Fair Lady

Song Year: 1956

The song, from Lerner and Loewe’s 1956 musical, is a joyous expression of happiness and joy. It’s full of beautiful vocal melodies and allows performers to demonstrate their vocal prowess.

Incorporate Eliza Doolittle’s (the show’s protagonist) energy and enthusiasm following an unrehearsed dance with her teacher for a truly memorable performance.

14. “Send in the Clowns” From a Little Night Music

Song Year: 1973

Written by Stephen Sondheim, the song is about regrets as the protagonist looks back on a lost relationship. She recalls her relationship with Fredrik, a lawyer pursuing her, but she rejected his marriage proposals. The song is full of emotion and features a slow tempo. You can choose it to highlight your skill at conveying emotions. The judges will be testing for that.

15. “If I Loved You” From Carousel

Song Year: 1945

The song starts with a dreamy introduction and builds in intensity as the character confesses their feelings of love and uncertainty to the other person. The lyrics are heartfelt, allowing you to explore the character’s emotions. This is an excellent pick if you’re looking for an emotional piece that will permit you to demonstrate your vocal range.

16. “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” From Phantom of the Opera

Song Year: 1986

Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the song is a powerful meditation on grief and loss. You must focus on conveying the lyrics’ message to make a positive impression.

A good performance of this song will bring out the character’s sorrow and remembrance while also showcasing your vocal skills. The judges will marvel at your ability to draw out the track’s emotional content.

17. “Holding Out for a Hero” From Footloose

Song Year: 1984

The heartfelt tune is a lost or unreciprocated love. The protagonist is sad because their partner behaves like they don’t exist or have an affair with someone else. Be sure to bring out the song’s emotion to stand out. Besides demonstrating your vocal range, this intense tune will highlight your acting skills.

18. “The Sound of Music” From Sound of Music

Song Year: 1959

As a mezzo-soprano, the track is an excellent pick for auditions since it starts with a beautiful low register that gradually rises to a high note. It describes how the power of unity and love can overcome the horrors of conflict. The song’s emotional depth will captivate the audience and showcase your vocal prowess.

19. “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” From Gypsy

Song Year: 1959

The track is about life hardships and how individuals always strive to be at the top. The song is a perfect selection to highlight your acting capabilities, as it chronicles Rose’s journey from being a struggling stage mother to becoming a star.

The track’s sheer emotion can tear even the toughest audition rooms. It’s sure to leave a lasting impression on the judges.

20. “What Did I Ever See in Him” From Bye Bye Birdie

Song Year: 1960

The classic song tells the story of a woman looking back on a past relationship and questioning her ex-lover’s worth. With its memorable melody, simple lyrics, and engaging chorus, it’s sure to be a hit with any audition panel. It will highlight your vocal control and range while displaying some attitude and personality.

21. “I Never Wanted This” From It Shoulda Been You

Song Year: 2015

The song’s lyrics express the regret and despair of a woman who never wanted the situation she’s in now yet feels powerless to escape it. It’s an excellent choice for mezzo-sopranos looking to show off their range and emotional depth.

It’s a slow, plaintive melody full of emotion and sorrow. The song begins with a haunting low note as she remembers how it all began. As the song progresses, the melody rises as she proclaims her strength and resilience.

22. “Easy to be Hard” From Hair

Song Year: 1969

Written by Gerome Ragni, James Rado, and MacDermot, the song describes how difficult it can be to be kind and show understanding in a harsh world. The protagonist is encouraging people to be better and help those in need. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to portray different characters and emotions through your performance.

23. “The History of Wrong Guys” From Kinky Boots

Song Year: 2013

The musical Kinky Boots follows the life of Charlie Price, who has acquired his father’s shoe factory. He teams up entertainer and drags Queen Lola to:

• Create a brand of high-heeled boots
• Save the company

In the process, they realize that they’re not so different from one another. The song offers a combination of both spoken and sung elements. The lyrics are humorous and endearing, making them a perfect choice for any audition. So don’t forget to add it to your list of songs.

24. “Everything Changes” From Waitress

Song Year: 2016

“Everything Changes” from the musical Waitress is an empowering and inspiring song for any mezzo-soprano auditioning for a musical theatre role. It tells the story of a woman taking charge of her life and not letting others dictate her decisions or future.

It conveys that anything is possible if you’re willing to take a chance and make a change. The judges will look at your vocals and ability to relate to the message.

25. “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” by Finian’s Rainbow

Song Year: 1956

The song’s heartfelt lyrics make it a perfect choice for any mezzo-soprano audition. It employs imagery relatable to many people to paint a picture of Ireland’s village. It features a low register and solid emotional punch, which you must demonstrate appropriately to impress the judges.

26. “I Cain’t Say No” From Oklahoma!

Song Year: 1943

As one of the best audition songs for mezzo-sopranos, the song is a fun and lively tune about a woman’s struggle with her conscience when resisting temptation. The lyrics are simple and direct, which makes them easy to memorize and perform.

If you can perfectly demonstrate the protagonist’s sexual awakening and the challenges it brings, consider including this classic number in your audition collection.

27. “Shall We Dance?” From The King And I

Song Year: 1951

This last song, “The King and I,” was written by the legendary Hammerstein and Rodgers.

It’s last on this list, as while it’s a popular audition song for mezzo-sopranos, there’s some controversy around it. Everything about the musical, including the movie and the soundtrack, remains prohibited in Thailand. The governing powers believe it paints a negative picture of them due to its historical inaccuracies.

It tells the story of a teacher who was brought in to attempt and revolutionize a nation that was resistant to change. She describes her feelings toward the King as “love-hate,” though the former dominates. The song celebrates the memorable moment when they eventually acknowledge that the former is more powerful.

I would personally choose another of the above songs instead of this for a theater audition.

Top Musical Theatre Audition Songs for Mezzo-Sopranos, Final Thoughts

Auditioning for a musical theatre role can be intimidating, especially when picking the right song. Fortunately, there are plenty of fantastic audition songs for mezzo-sopranos.

With these great audition songs for mezzo-sopranos, you’ll have enough to practice before facing the audience and judges in your next audition. We hope the above article on musical theatre audition songs for a mezzo-soprano was helpful.