The Best Audition Songs for Seussical (By Character)

Auditioning for Seussical the Musical means diving into a whimsical world of imagination, vibrant characters, and catchy tunes inspired by the works of Dr. Seuss. From the endearing Horton the Elephant to the mischievous Cat in the Hat, each character offers a unique opportunity to showcase your personality, vocal range, and storytelling skills. Selecting the perfect audition song that fits the playful and colorful nature of Seussical—while avoiding songs directly from the show—can help you stand out in the audition room. Below, you’ll find song suggestions that capture the essence of each character, drawing from similar musical styles and vibes, ensuring your audition is as fun and memorable as the characters themselves.

The Cat in the Hat

1. “Friend Like Me” – Aladdin (playful, energetic, and full of charisma)
2. “Put on a Happy Face” – Bye Bye Birdie (light-hearted and encourages fun, similar to the Cat’s role as a cheerleader and instigator)
3. “All for the Best” – Godspell (upbeat, clever, and showcases humor)
4. “Consider Yourself” – Oliver! (welcoming and full of personality)
5. “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” – Mary Poppins (whimsical, fun, and a bit mischievous)
6. “The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl” – The Music Man (cheeky and comedic)
7. “King of New York” – Newsies (energetic and lively, with a sense of mischief)

Horton the Elephant

1. “You’ve Got a Friend” – Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (earnest, supportive, and heartfelt)
2. “I Am I, Don Quixote” – Man of La Mancha (captures Horton’s idealism and determination)
3. “Being Alive” – Company (reflects the desire for connection and caring nature)
4. “Out There” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame (shows vulnerability and a longing to belong)
5. “If I Can’t Love Her” – Beauty and the Beast (emotional and earnest, demonstrating a strong moral compass)
6. “Bring Him Home” – Les Misérables (compassionate, tender, and hopeful)
7. “The Impossible Dream” – Man of La Mancha (reflects Horton’s steadfast belief and courage)

Gertrude McFuzz

1. “On My Own” – Les Misérables (reflects Gertrude’s longing and determination to be noticed)
2. “Pulled” – The Addams Family (quirky, comedic, and captures Gertrude’s transformation and inner conflict)
3. “Popular” – Wicked (upbeat, captures Gertrude’s desire to fit in and be noticed)
4. “Much More” – The Fantasticks (innocent and filled with yearning for something beyond her current life)
5. “Somebody, Somewhere” – The Most Happy Fella (reflects hope and the desire to be seen)
6. “Good Morning Baltimore” – Hairspray (optimistic, energetic, and reflects a desire for change)
7. “I Know Things Now” – Into the Woods (shows growth and newfound confidence)

JoJo

1. “Goodnight My Someone” – The Music Man (sweet, innocent, and filled with hope)
2. “Naughty” – Matilda (rebellious, clever, and captures JoJo’s imaginative spirit)
3. “The Girl I Mean to Be” – The Secret Garden (captures the sense of wonder and hope)
4. “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” – The Lion King (playful, confident, and filled with youthful ambition)
5. “Maybe” – Annie (hopeful and full of longing, with a childlike innocence)
6. “When I Grow Up” – Matilda (captures the imaginative and hopeful spirit of JoJo)
7. “Where is Love?” – Oliver! (reflects JoJo’s vulnerability and sense of wonder)

Mayzie LaBird

1. “Adelaide’s Lament” – Guys and Dolls (playful, comedic, and shows a sassy, self-aware side)
2. “Always True to You in My Fashion” – Kiss Me, Kate (flirty and captures Mayzie’s carefree nature)
3. “My Strongest Suit” – Aida (showy, vibrant, and self-absorbed, similar to Mayzie’s personality)
4. “A Call from the Vatican” – Nine (playful, flirtatious, and dynamic)
5. “Taylor, the Latte Boy” – (comedic, shows off Mayzie’s playful and slightly self-centered nature)
6. “Life of the Party” – The Wild Party (energetic, commanding attention, and carefree)
7. “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (showcases a glamorous and self-centered personality)

Sour Kangaroo

1. “Big, Blonde, and Beautiful” – Hairspray (bold, sassy, and commanding)
2. “Last Midnight” – Into the Woods (powerful, commanding, with a touch of menace)
3. “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” – Dreamgirls (strong, assertive, and dramatic)
4. “Mama Will Provide” – Once on This Island (energetic, nurturing, and full of personality)
5. “I Know Where I’ve Been” – Hairspray (soulful and powerful, showing authority and depth)
6. “Heat Wave” – Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (fiery and full of confidence)
7. “Easy as Life” – Aida (dramatic and showcases a strong, no-nonsense attitude)

General Genghis Khan Schmitz

1. “Gee, Officer Krupke” – West Side Story (energetic, slightly comedic, and reflects authority with a sense of humor)
2. “Master of the House” – Les Misérables (boisterous, commanding, and humorous)
3. “Reviewing the Situation” – Oliver! (reflects cunning and a bit of a schemer)
4. “Right Hand Man” – Something Rotten! (shows off a strong, assertive presence)
5. “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” – The Pirates of Penzance (comedic and authoritative with a quick wit)
6. “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (playful and comedic with a hint of authority)
7. “I Wanna Be a Producer” – The Producers (ambitious and somewhat over-the-top)

Mr. Mayor

1. “I Believe in You” – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (optimistic and shows leadership qualities)
2. “Marry Me a Little” – Company (reflects a desire for balance and responsibility)
3. “Dear Theodosia” – Hamilton (tender, caring, and reflective of a fatherly nature)
4. “A Secretary is Not a Toy” – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (playful yet reflects responsibility)
5. “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” – Hello, Dolly! (upbeat and community-focused)
6. “I Won’t Send Roses” – Mack & Mabel (shows a balance between charm and practicality)
7. “Fatherhood Blues” – Baby (playful and reflective of his role as a concerned parent)

Mrs. Mayor

1. “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm” – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (reflects a devoted, supportive nature)
2. “Stepsisters’ Lament” – Cinderella (humorous and slightly exasperated, with a touch of charm)
3. “Getting Married Today” – Company (comedic, fast-paced, and slightly frantic)
4. “A Spoonful of Sugar” – Mary Poppins (light-hearted and nurturing)
5. “Matchmaker” – Fiddler on the Roof (playful, reflective of traditional roles)
6. “Take Me to the World” – Evening Primrose (expresses a desire for connection and broader experiences)
7. “My White Knight” – The Music Man (romantic and full of optimism)

The Wickersham Brothers

1. “Jailhouse Rock” – Smokey Joe’s Cafe (energetic, rebellious, and mischievous)
2. “Greased Lightnin’” – Grease (upbeat, cool, and full of swagger)
3. “Bad Boys” – Miami Sound Machine (playful and captures their cheeky, trouble-making spirit)
4. “We’re Off to See the Wizard” – The Wizard of Oz (adventurous and whimsical)
5. “The Rum Tum Tugger” – Cats (full of attitude, with a playful and rebellious edge)
6. “Cool” – West Side Story (slick, composed, with a touch of menace)
7. “Step in Time” – Mary Poppins (upbeat, rhythmic, and showcases their coordinated mischief)

The Grinch

1. “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” – (Not typically used in auditions but matches the character perfectly)
2. “Be Prepared” – The Lion King (sly, sinister, and showcases a cunning attitude)
3. “Poor Unfortunate Souls” – The Little Mermaid (playful villainy, full of character)
4. “Reviewing the Situation” – Oliver! (scheming and reflective of an outsider’s view)
5. “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” – Little Shop of Horrors (energetic and mischievously evil)
6. “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” – Sweeney Todd (dark, brooding, with a sense of menace)
7. “When You’re an Addams” – The Addams Family (quirky, dark, and full of attitude)

Vlad Vladikoff

1. “Those Canaan Days” – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (dramatic, with a touch of comic exaggeration)
2. “Master of the House” – Les Misérables (boisterous and slightly villainous with a comedic edge)
3. “Gaston” – Beauty and the Beast (showcases brashness and arrogance)
4. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” – Young Frankenstein (stylish, over-the-top, and showy)
5. “Comedy Tonight” – A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (playful and engaging with a comedic touch)
6. “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” – Kiss Me, Kate (comedic and slightly over-the-top, capturing a sense of flair)
7. “Big Spender” – Sweet Charity (bold, commanding attention with a touch of cheekiness)

Yertle the Turtle

1. “King Herod’s Song” – Jesus Christ Superstar (light-hearted, egotistical, and flamboyant)
2. “The King of the World” – Songs for a New World (bold and reflective of authority)
3. “Master of the House” – Les Misérables (comedic, showcasing a leadership quality with a humorous twist)
4. “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” – The Pirates of Penzance (witty, fast-paced, and authoritative)
5. “Little Tin Box” – Fiorello! (playful, slightly egotistical, and reflective of a leader)
6. “Reviewing the Situation” – Oliver! (introspective, but with a comedic authority)
7. “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat” – The Aristocats (cool, laid-back, with a sense of superiority)

Bringing the vibrant and eccentric characters of Seussical the Musical to life on stage requires the right mix of vocal ability, personality, and a touch of Seussian magic. By choosing audition songs that align with the playful spirit and imaginative storytelling of the show, you’ll not only highlight your fit for the role but also stand out to the casting team. Whether you’re embodying Horton’s earnestness, JoJo’s boundless imagination, or Mayzie’s flair, these song suggestions will help you capture the heart and soul of the characters without repeating any familiar tunes from Seussical. Step into the audition room with confidence, let your creativity shine, and get ready to wow with your unique take on these beloved characters! Break a leg!

Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash