The Best Audition Songs for Kiss Me, Kate (By Character)

Auditioning for a classic musical like “Kiss Me, Kate” requires not only talent but also a deep understanding of the characters and the era they represent. The songs you choose for your audition can make a significant impact, demonstrating your vocal range, emotional depth, and ability to embody the character. To help you shine in your audition, we’ve curated a list of song suggestions for each main character in “Kiss Me, Kate.” These songs will help you capture the essence of the show while highlighting your unique abilities.

Fred Graham/Petruchio

1. “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific”
2. “Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls”
3. “If Ever I Would Leave You” from “Camelot”
4. “Where Is the Life That Late I Led?” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
5. “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from “My Fair Lady”
6. “This Nearly Was Mine” from “South Pacific”
7. “C’est Moi” from “Camelot”

Lilli Vanessi/Katharine

1. “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady”
2. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” from “The Sound of Music”
3. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel”
4. “Before the Parade Passes By” from “Hello, Dolly!”
5. “So in Love” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
6. “The Sound of Music” from “The Sound of Music”
7. “A Wonderful Guy” from “South Pacific”

Lois Lane/Bianca

1. “I Cain’t Say No” from “Oklahoma!”
2. “Always True to You (In My Fashion)” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
3. “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” from “Leave It to Me!”
4. “I Enjoy Being a Girl” from “Flower Drum Song”
5. “A Bushel and a Peck” from “Guys and Dolls”
6. “Honey Bun” from “South Pacific”
7. “The Lady Is a Tramp” from “Babes in Arms”

Bill Calhoun/Lucentio

1. “Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls”
2. “Maria” from “West Side Story”
3. “On the Street Where You Live” from “My Fair Lady”
4. “Something’s Coming” from “West Side Story”
5. “I’ve Got Your Number” from “Little Me”
6. “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” from “South Pacific”
7. “All I Need Is the Girl” from “Gypsy”

Hattie

1. “Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum” from “Carmen Jones”
2. “Ain’t Misbehavin’” from “Ain’t Misbehavin’”
3. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” from “Show Boat”
4. “Dat’s Love” from “Carmen Jones”
5. “Am I Blue?” from “The Cotton Club Parade”
6. “Stormy Weather” from “Stormy Weather”
7. “Summertime” from “Porgy and Bess”

Paul

1. “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” from “South Pacific”
2. “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls”
3. “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” by Dean Martin
4. “I’ve Got the World on a String” by Frank Sinatra
5. “Singin’ in the Rain” from “Singin’ in the Rain”
6. “Steppin’ Out with My Baby” by Irving Berlin
7. “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” by George Gershwin

Harry Trevor/Baptista Minola

1. “Hello, Dolly!” from “Hello, Dolly!”
2. “Reviewing the Situation” from “Oliver!”
3. “Consider Yourself” from “Oliver!”
4. “If I Were a Rich Man” from “Fiddler on the Roof”
5. “Put On a Happy Face” from “Bye Bye Birdie”
6. “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” from “Annie”
7. “Together Wherever We Go” from “Gypsy”

First Man (Gangster)

1. “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
2. “Guys and Dolls” from “Guys and Dolls”
3. “Fugue for Tinhorns” from “Guys and Dolls”
4. “Me and My Shadow” by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
5. “Mack the Knife” from “The Threepenny Opera”
6. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” by George Gershwin
7. “Friendship” from “Anything Goes”

Second Man (Gangster)

1. “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
2. “Guys and Dolls” from “Guys and Dolls”
3. “Fugue for Tinhorns” from “Guys and Dolls”
4. “Me and My Shadow” by Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
5. “Mack the Knife” from “The Threepenny Opera”
6. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” by George Gershwin
7. “Friendship” from “Anything Goes”

Ralph

1. “Comedy Tonight” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
2. “Gee, Officer Krupke” from “West Side Story”
3. “I’m Not Getting Married Today” from “Company”
4. “Mr. Cellophane” from “Chicago”
5. “King Herod’s Song” from “Jesus Christ Superstar”
6. “Master of the House” from “Les Misérables”
7. “On the Side of the Angels” from “Fiorello!”

Flynt

1. “Me” from “Beauty and the Beast”
2. “The Night They Invented Champagne” from “Gigi”
3. “I’m Calm” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
4. “Not While I’m Around” from “Sweeney Todd”
5. “Miracle of Miracles” from “Fiddler on the Roof”
6. “Reviewing the Situation” from “Oliver!”
7. “A Fellow Needs a Girl” from “Allegro”

Gremio

1. “My Defenses Are Down” from “Annie Get Your Gun”
2. “Razzle Dazzle” from “Chicago”
3. “Put on a Happy Face” from “Bye Bye Birdie”
4. “Standing on the Corner” from “The Most Happy Fella”
5. “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught” from “South Pacific”
6. “How to Succeed” from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
7. “I Won’t Send Roses” from “Mack & Mabel”

Hortensio

1. “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” from “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
2. “With a Little Bit of Luck” from “My Fair Lady”
3. “A Secretary is Not a Toy” from “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”
4. “My Name” from “Oliver!”
5. “Consider Yourself” from “Oliver!”
6. “They All Laughed” by George Gershwin
7. “Put on a Happy Face” from “Bye Bye Birdie”

Haberdasher

1. “Mister Cellophane” from “Chicago”
2. “Javert’s Suicide” from “Les Misérables”
3. “If I Were a Rich Man” from “Fiddler on the Roof”
4. “When I Was a Lad” from “H.M.S. Pinafore”
5. “Reviewing the Situation” from “Oliver!”
6. “C’est Moi” from “Camelot”
7. “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” from “Guys and Dolls”

Stage Doorman

1. “No One is Alone” from “Into the Woods”
2. “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” from “The Pirates of Penzance”
3. “Bring Him Home” from “Les Misérables”
4. “A Wand’ring Minstrel I” from “The Mikado”
5. “You’ll Be Back” from “Hamilton”
6. “Who I’d Be” from “Shrek the Musical”
7. “Reviewing the Situation” from “Oliver!”

Dance Captain

1. “All That Jazz” from “Chicago”
2. “42nd Street” from “42nd Street”
3. “Anything Goes” from “Anything Goes”
4. “We’re in the Money” from “42nd Street”
5. “One” from “A Chorus Line”
6. “Too Darn Hot” from “Kiss Me, Kate” (as a similar style reference)
7. “I Got Rhythm” from “Crazy for You”

We hope these song suggestions inspire you and give you the confidence to deliver a standout performance. Break a leg at your audition, and let your passion for the stage shine through!