The Best Audition Songs for Big River (By Character)

If you’re gearing up for an audition in Big River, you’re in for an exciting adventure! Based on Mark Twain’s beloved The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, this musical is filled with rich characters and heartfelt moments. From the daring and curious Huck Finn to the wise and compassionate Jim, each role offers a unique opportunity to showcase your talent. But picking the right audition song can feel daunting. You want something that not only shows off your voice but also captures the spirit of the character. In this post, I’ve put together a list of songs that fit perfectly with the vibe and themes of Big River, helping you find that ideal piece to make your audition shine.

Huckleberry Finn (Huck)

1. “I Can Do That” – A Chorus Line (Hamlisch and Kleban)
2. “Wherever He Ain’t” – Mack and Mabel (Herman)
3. “Waving Through a Window” – Dear Evan Hansen (Pasek and Paul)
4. “I Got No Strings” – Pinocchio (Harline and Washington)
5. “All Good Gifts” – Godspell (Schafer)
6. “Tomorrow” – Annie (Strouse and Charnin)
7. “Do You Hear the People Sing?” – Les Misérables (Boublil and Schönberg)

Jim

1. “Ol’ Man River” – Show Boat (Kern and Hammerstein)
2. “Ain’t Misbehavin'” – Fats Waller
3. “The Color Purple” – The Color Purple (McDonald)
4. “I’ve Got a Feeling” – Hairspray (Shaiman and Wittman)
5. “Lord, I’m Coming Home” – Godspell (Schafer)
6. “Freedom” – The Color Purple (McDonald)
7. “If I Could Be Where You Are” – Josh Groban

Tom Sawyer

1. “The Wizard and I” – Wicked (Schwartz)
2. “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” – Sweeney Todd (Sondheim)
3. “I Want to Be a Producer” – The Producers (Brooks)
4. “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” – Britney Spears
5. “It’s a Hard Knock Life” – Annie (Strouse and Charnin)
6. “You Can’t Stop the Beat” – Hairspray (Shaiman and Wittman)
7. “The Life I Lead” – Mary Poppins (Sherman)

Pap Finn

1. “The Devil You Know” – The Devil’s Advocate (Schoenberg)
2. “My Way” – Frank Sinatra (Revamped from Jeanne by Paul Anka)
3. “I Am What I Am” – La Cage aux Folles (Herman)
4. “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” – Avenue Q (Lopez and Marx)
5. “I Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
6. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” – South Pacific (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
7. “The Streets of Dublin” – A Man of No Importance (Flaherty and Ahrens)

Mary Jane Wilkes

1. “In My Own Little Corner” – Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
2. “I Could Have Danced All Night” – My Fair Lady (Lerner and Loewe)
3. “The Girl I Mean to Be” – The Secret Garden (Sergio Trujillo)
4. “Astonishing” – Little Women (Lao)
5. “The Heart is Slow to Learn” – A Christmas Carol (Stiles and Drew)
6. “Someone Like You” – Jekyll and Hyde (Wildhorn)
7. “Hold On” – The Secret Garden (Sergio Trujillo)

Judge Thatcher

1. “If I Were a Rich Man” – Fiddler on the Roof (Bock and Harnick)
2. “Who Am I?” – Les Misérables (Boublil and Schönberg)
3. “I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin'” – Porgy and Bess (Gershwin)
4. “Mister Cellophane” – Chicago (Kander and Ebb)
5. “My Defenses Are Down” – The Glass Menagerie (Theatre Royal)
6. “Happiness” – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Gershwin)
7. “The Best Things in Life Are Free” – Good News (DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson)

The Duke

1. “The King of Wishful Thinking” – Go West
2. “Shy” – Once Upon a Mattress (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
3. “What Do You Want from Me?” – American Idiot (Green Day)
4. “The Devil’s Advocate” – The Devil’s Advocate (Kern)
5. “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries” – Ray Henderson
6. “The Joker” – Steve Miller Band
7. “Dancing Through Life” – Wicked (Schwartz)

The King

1. “The King and I” – The King and I (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
2. “Shy” – Once Upon a Mattress (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
3. “A Little Bit of Happiness” – The Fantasticks (Schmidt and Jones)
4. “The Last Midnight” – Into the Woods (Sondheim)
5. “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” – Hercules (Menken)
6. “Mister Cellophane” – Chicago (Kander and Ebb)
7. “If I Were a Bell” – Guys and Dolls (Loesser)

Miss Watson

1. “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” – Cole Porter
2. “The Girl I Mean to Be” – The Secret Garden (Sergio Trujillo)
3. “The Life I Lead” – Mary Poppins (Sherman)
4. “Hold On” – The Secret Garden (Sergio Trujillo)
5. “In My Own Little Corner” – Cinderella (Rodgers and Hammerstein)
6. “Astonishing” – Little Women (Lao)
7. “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” – Jesus Christ Superstar (Webber)

As you prepare for your audition for Big River, remember that your song choice can really set you apart. The right piece will highlight not just your vocal skills but also your understanding of the character’s journey and emotions. By exploring the suggestions in this post, you’ll be well-equipped to find a song that resonates with your chosen character and captures the essence of their story. So take a deep breath, dive in, and let your passion and talent flow like the mighty Mississippi. Break a leg—you’ve got this!