
The musical Chicago is set in the glitzy and dangerous world of 1920s vaudeville, where ambition, fame, and scandal collide in a darkly comedic tale of crime and punishment. At the heart of the story are bold, flawed characters like Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, each vying for the spotlight as they navigate the twisted legal system of Chicago. If you’re auditioning for Chicago, it’s essential to choose songs that not only showcase your vocal talents but also capture the era, style, and personality of your character. Whether you’re playing the charming yet devious Billy Flynn, the tough-as-nails Matron “Mama” Morton, or any of the iconic Merry Murderesses, selecting a song that embodies the jazz age and character nuances will give you an edge in your audition.
1. Roxie Hart
- “Let Me Entertain You” (Gypsy)
- “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
- “I Want to Go to Hollywood” (Grand Hotel)
- “Mein Herr” (Cabaret)
- “They Just Keep Moving the Line” (Smash)
- “The Lady Is a Tramp” (Babes in Arms)
- “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” (South Pacific)
2. Velma Kelly
- “All That Jazz” (Cabaret)
- “When You’re Good to Mama” (The Wild Party)
- “The Man That Got Away” (A Star Is Born)
- “I Am What I Am” (La Cage aux Folles)
- “It’s All the Same” (Man of La Mancha)
- “Whatever Lola Wants” (Damn Yankees)
- “One Night Only” (Disco Version, Dreamgirls)
3. Billy Flynn
- “You’ve Got That Thing” (Fifty Million Frenchmen)
- “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” (Born to Dance)
- “Luck Be a Lady” (Guys and Dolls)
- “Being Alive” (Company)
- “Put on a Happy Face” (Bye Bye Birdie)
- “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” (Shall We Dance?)
- “Come Back to Me” (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever)
4. Matron “Mama” Morton
- “Broadway Baby” (Follies)
- “So What” (Cabaret)
- “Nobody Does It Like Me” (Seesaw)
- “Anything Goes” (Anything Goes)
- “Blow Gabriel Blow” (Anything Goes)
- “That’s Rich” (Newsies)
- “I Don’t Care” (Me and My Girl)
5. Amos Hart
- “Mr. Cellophane” (Cabaret)
- “Not While I’m Around” (Sweeney Todd)
- “I Can’t Stand Still” (Footloose)
- “If I Can’t Love Her” (Beauty and the Beast)
- “Love, I Hear” (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)
- “Make Them Hear You” (Ragtime)
- “I Don’t Remember You” (The Happy Time)
6. Mary Sunshine
- “Glitter and Be Gay” (Candide)
- “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl)
- “I Could Have Danced All Night” (My Fair Lady)
- “I Enjoy Being a Girl” (Flower Drum Song)
- “My Strongest Suit” (Aida)
- “I’m Still Here” (Follies)
- “The Hostess with the Mostes’ on the Ball” (Call Me Madam)
7. Fred Casely
- “Stayin’ Alive” (Saturday Night Fever) — a characterful audition option
- “Love Changes Everything” (Aspects of Love)
- “On the Street Where You Live” (My Fair Lady)
- “Easy to Love” (Anything Goes)
- “Her Voice” (The Little Mermaid)
- “You’re Nothing Without Me” (City of Angels)
- “Johanna” (Sweeney Todd)
8. The Six Merry Murderesses (Cell Block Tango Women)
Liz (Pop)
- “The Devil You Know” (Side Show)
- “You Don’t Own Me” (Smash)
- “That Dirty Old Man” (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum)
- “It’s a Perfect Relationship” (Bells Are Ringing)
- “A Call from the Vatican” (Nine)
- “Whatever Lola Wants” (Damn Yankees)
- “I Can Cook, Too” (On the Town)
Annie (Six)
- “If” (Two on the Aisle)
- “Gorgeous” (The Apple Tree)
- “If My Friends Could See Me Now” (Sweet Charity)
- “The Stepsister’s Lament” (Cinderella)
- “Shy” (Once Upon a Mattress)
- “Adelaide’s Lament” (Guys and Dolls)
- “Take Back Your Mink” (Guys and Dolls)
June (Squish)
- “I Want to Be Bad” (Good News!)
- “Call Me” (American Gigolo)
- “Let’s Misbehave” (Paris)
- “Heat Wave” (As Thousands Cheer)
- “Teach Me Tonight” (Swing Time)
- “You Can Always Count on Me” (City of Angels)
- “I’m a Woman” (Smokey Joe’s Cafe)
Hunyak (Uh-Uh)
- “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (The Phantom of the Opera)
- “Far From the Home I Love” (Fiddler on the Roof)
- “On My Own” (Les Misérables)
- “With You” (Ghost the Musical)
- “Out Here on My Own” (Fame)
- “Someone Like You” (Jekyll & Hyde)
- “Maybe I Like It This Way” (The Wild Party)
Velma Kelly (He Had It Coming)
- “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Funny Girl)
- “One Night Only” (Dreamgirls)
- “And All That Jazz” (Cabaret)
- “Le Jazz Hot” (Victor/Victoria)
- “Defying Gravity” (Wicked)
- “The Music and the Mirror” (A Chorus Line)
- “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” (Gypsy)
Mona (Lipschitz)
- “Maybe This Time” (Cabaret)
- “Hit Me With a Hot Note” (Sophisticated Ladies)
- “A Guy What Takes His Time” (She Done Him Wrong)
- “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” (Evita)
- “The Ladies Who Lunch” (Company)
- “The Best Is Yet to Come” (Sweet Charity)
- “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” (South Pacific)
9. Go-to-Hell Kitty
- “Glitter and Be Gay” (Candide)
- “Diamonds Are Forever” (James Bond: Diamonds Are Forever)
- “No One Else” (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812)
- “Paris Original” (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
- “All I Care About Is Love” (Cabaret)
- “I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You” (Evita)
- “In His Eyes” (Jekyll & Hyde)
10. Harry (Velma’s Former Lover)
- “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (Jersey Boys)
- “Luck Be a Lady” (Guys and Dolls)
- “Maria” (West Side Story)
- “If Ever I Would Leave You” (Camelot)
- “Something’s Coming” (West Side Story)
- “The Impossible Dream” (Man of La Mancha)
- “Stars” (Les Misérables)
11. Judge
- “The Best of Times” (La Cage aux Folles)
- “Hello, Little Girl” (Into the Woods)
- “Reviewing the Situation” (Oliver!)
- “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” (Oklahoma!)
- “I Don’t Remember You” (The Happy Time)
- “Camelot” (Camelot)
- “They Call the Wind Maria” (Paint Your Wagon)
12. Sergeant Fogarty
- “Good Thing Going” (Merrily We Roll Along)
- “Some Enchanted Evening” (South Pacific)
- “Stars” (Les Misérables)
- “Cops” (West Side Story)
- “A Policeman’s Lot Is Not a Happy One” (The Pirates of Penzance)
- “I’ll Never Say No” (The Unsinkable Molly Brown)
- “Bring Him Home” (Les Misérables)
Ensemble Audition Songs:
- “All That Jazz” (Cabaret) — A classic that captures the sultry jazz energy of the show.
- “Steam Heat” (The Pajama Game) — Energetic and rhythmic, perfect for ensemble roles with choreography.
- “Big Spender” (Sweet Charity) — Playful and full of attitude, great for capturing ensemble swagger.
- “T’ain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do” (Ain’t Misbehavin’) — A sassy and jazzy number that matches the era perfectly.
- “Anything Goes” (Anything Goes) — Captures the fast-paced, razzle-dazzle world of vaudeville and jazz.
- “Too Darn Hot” (Kiss Me, Kate) — High energy and perfect for ensemble roles, full of heat and rhythm.
- “Mack the Knife” (The Threepenny Opera) — A sharp, jazzy song full of dark humor and wit, great for capturing the essence of the ensemble in Chicago.
Auditioning for Chicago requires more than just a strong voice – it demands a deep connection to the characters’ bold personalities and the sultry, scandalous atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties. By choosing songs that align with the style and era of the show, you can truly step into the world of Chicago and bring these unforgettable characters to life. Whether you’re channeling Roxie’s hunger for fame or Velma’s defiance, let your song choice reflect the spirit of the character you’re auditioning for, and you’ll be ready to command the stage in this legendary musical.
Leave a Reply