10 Sondheim Songs to Sing in an Audition
While not everyone shares this opinion, I do not believe that Sondheim songs are off-limits for audition material. I fully understand why many feel they are. Typically they are more complex compositions and you don't always know the skill level of the accompanist. So why roll the dice at an audition on that?
However, I do feel there are some audition gems within his catalog. Songs that will not only show off your ability but also allow for excellent performance and won't make your accompanist hate you.
Here are ten, five for men, five for women. I've also queued each video for what section I would suggest.
Men
"Not a Day Goes By" from Merrily We Roll Along
Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment Not a Day Goes By · Jim Walton Original Broadway Cast Recording ℗ 1982 BMG Music Released on: 2005-05-31 Composer, Lyricist: Stephen Sondheim Associated Performer: Merrily We Roll Along Orchestra Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick Conductor: Paul Gemignani / 保羅傑姆納尼 Producer: Thomas Z.
"No More" from Into the Woods
Chip Zien Tom Aldredge
"Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins
John Hinckley Jr. - Alexander Gemignani Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme - Mary Catherine Garrison Proprietor - Marc Kudisch
"Side by Side" from Company
Robert: Boyd Gaines Sarah: Kate Burton Harry: Robert Westenberg Susan: Patricia Ben Peterson Peter: Jonathan Dokuchitz Jenny: Diana Canova David: John Hillner Amy: Veanne Cox Paul: Danny Burstein Joanne: Debra Monk Larry: Timothy Landfield
"Too Many Mornings" from Follies
From Mandy Patinkin's CD "Oscar & Steve." The songs Pleasant Little Kingdom and Too Many Mornings are from the show "Follies." Mandy sings the Ben part, and Judy Blazer sings the part of Sally.
Women
"Sooner or Later" from Dick Tracy
Sooner Or Later Madonna I'm Breathless [Music from & inspired by the film Dick Tracy 1990] Lyrics: Sooner or later you're gonna be mine, Sooner or later you're gonna be fine. Baby, it's time that you face it, I always get my man. Sooner or later you're gonna decide, Sooner or later there's nowhere to hide.
"Loving You" from Passion
Donna Murphy in the performance of a lifetime, namely Fosca in Stephen Sondheim's brilliant "Passion". This is from the DVD released by Image Entertainment. No copyright infringement is meant, and if the owners of the video would like it removed, all they have to do is ask!
"Stay with Me" from Into the Woods
Bernadette Peters Pamela Winslow
"Could I Leave You?" from Follies
"Small World" from Gypsy
"Small World" (Track 04) from the 2015 London Cast Recording of Gypsy featuring Imelda Staunton, Peter Davison More like this at http://www.firstnightrecords.com