Broadway stars share the songs they put at the front of their rep books. (The following responses were culled from Playbill’s Cue and A series.)
Also check out: We Asked Over 70 Actors to Name Their Favorite Show Tune of All Time
Ellyn Marsh
"Think" by Arethea Franklin
Krystal Joy Brown
"My Funny Valentine"
Michaela Bradshaw
"Meadowlark" The Baker's Wife
Benjamin Fankhauser
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered"
Graham Alexander
"Piece of My Heart" – Janis Joplin version
Sarah Chase
"I Have Confidence" from The Sound of Music as Judy Garland, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Elaine Stritch and Julie Andrews – each alternating lines
Justin Sargent
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
Alton White
"Wheels of a Dream" from Ragtime and "Rain" from Once on This Island
Jessica Grové
"Is It Really Me?" from 110 in the Shade
Nicholas Rouleau
"Monticello" from Edges
Annaleigh Ashford
"I Remember" from Evening Primrose
Bryan Clark
James Sampliner's arrangement of "No One Is Alone"
Teal Wicks
"Up to the Mountain" or "I Never Has Seen Snow"
"Gorgeous" from The Apple Tree
Jay Armstrong Johnson
A bluesy version of "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson
Gerard Canonico
"Honesty" by Billy Joel
Daniel Jenkins
An old Sondheim tune on the ukulele. Fun to play, but I'm not sure what it's like to listen to…
Andrew Durand
"Jessie's Girl"
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Music that Makes Me Dance" and "I Think It's Going to Rain Today"
Jenni Barber
Rarely am I ever asked to prepare my own stuff anymore, but when I do I have a rotating list of charm songs dripping in double entendre.
Brynn O'Malley
"A Cock-Eyed Optimist"
Andrew Samonsky
"She's got a Way" by Billy Joel
Andrew Varela
"Over the Wall" from Kiss of the Spider Woman
Taylor Louderman
"I'll Show Him" from Plain and Fancy
Erin Mackey
I use any excuse to sing "The Light in the Piazza"
Christine Lakin
"I Wanna Be That Girl" from Sneaux
Graham Rowat
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You" by Ben Folds
Ashley Spencer
"Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific
Howard McGillin
"Home" from The Wiz. Seriously? I can never think of a song to audition with
Ivan Hernandez
"Marta" from Kiss of the Spider Woman or "With or Without You" by U2
Bryce Pinkham
"My Heart Will Go On." Next question.
Kevin Dwight Daniels Jr.
"Look Ma, I Made It" from Nunsense 2
Nikki Renee Daniels
Whatever they give me!
Molly Ranson
"Since I Fell for You"
Emma Hunton
I try to pick songs that are appropriate to the audition I'm going on. I've used everything from Simon and Garfunkle to Stephen Schwartz to Stevie Nicks.
Van Hughes
When I met Dolly Parton at the 9 to 5 audition, I sang "Something" and played along with my ukulele. She said, "I bet you threw that yodel in just for me!"
Kerry O'Malley
"What Did I Have That I Don't Have" from On A Clear Day
Matt Shingledecker
"All I Need Is the Girl" from Gypsy
Jason Tam
"Sometimes A Day Goes By"
Like I'm gonna give that away!
Jenn Harris
I have nice, somber "Bui-Doi," Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," and "Glitter in the Air" with props, but I have to allow clean up time.
Gabriel Ebert
"Good Thing Going" from Merrily We Roll Along
Gavin Lee
If I'm stuck for an appropriate song I always fall back on my standard "I Got Rhythm," sung in whatever accent is required.
Terri White
"Who Can I Turn To?"
Randy Graff
"Come Summer" by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh
Bryce Ryness
It's a stickey wicket, but I normally sing something of my own.
"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia
Corbin Bleu
"What Is It About Her?" from The Wild Party
Caren Lyn Manuel
"Acid Queen"
Michael Esper
"Boxcar" by Jawbreaker
Stephen Kunken
"I Feel Pretty" or "Rose's Turn." Depends on the day.
Noah Robbins
The opening scene of "8 Mile"
Rachel de Benedet
"How Can I Quit Now?" cut from The Last Smoker in America
Alan Campbell
Cole Porter's "Girls" and an old Platters song.
Maxwell Caulfield
"Sunset Boulevard"
Matt Cavenaugh
Oh jeez. Whatever song they send me to learn. Truthfully, my audition book is pretty bad.
"What More Do I Need?"
Gregg Edeman
Audition? WHERE?!
Michele Pawk
"Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long" and "Once Upon a Time"
Jackie Hoffman
"The Border Song" by Doug Cohen
Jay Klaitz
Beyonce's "Single Ladies" Andy Karl
Haven't had one since the last time Jay Binder made fun of me singing "This Is the Moment" years ago.
Hugh Panaro
"I Love You As Much As I Am Able" from Little Me
"I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw
Emily Skinner
"I've Got What You Want" from The Apple Tree. Seemed wise to be blatant right away… ahem.
Natalie Cortez
Could I just sing from the score, please?
Carolee Carmello
"Golden Rainbow"
Sierra Boggess
"If I Loved You" from Carousel
Stark Sands
"Corner of the Sky" from Pippin
Celia Keenan-Bolger
"Is It Really Me?" from 110 in the Shade
Monica Simoes
"Desperado" John O'Hurley
"Mr. Clown"
Bianca Marroquin
"I'm Way Ahead" from Seesaw
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
"Family" from Dreamgirls
Beth Leavel
"I Got Rhythm" and "Someone to Watch Over Me"
