Lists of Best Musical Theater Audition Songs for Kids and Songs to Stay Away From

Indeed, there aren’t too many audition songs for a child’s range; that’s why there are musical theater auditions where the casting panel hears packs of kids singing the same three songs all day. By the time you and your child are in the dilemma of picking the best song, you will have realized how tough it can be as as you have to look for a piece that will help them stand out among the rest, all the while keeping the age of the performer in mind. Note that selecting from thousands of audition songs is a grueling process. Coaches and parents spend hours doing their research, listening to each song, reading song lists after lists, and gathering people’s opinions about them. So to help make things easier for you, we’ve picked the best audition songs your young performer can use in the future. This list also includes the overused audition songs that you might want to steer clear of.

However, do be aware that this is not a surefire ticket to booking a role as that decision is totally up to the casting directors. Instead, these lists serve as a helpful guide to narrow down the song selection for the big day.

Best Musical Theater Audition Songs for Kids

Up-tempo audition songs for girls

• “A Change in the Wind” from Caddie Woodlawn
• “So Long Dearie” from Hello, Dolly
• “Not for the Life of Me” from Thoroughly Modern Millie
• “The Stepsister’s Lament” from Cinderella

Up-tempo audition songs for boys

• “Me” from Beauty and the Beast
• “All I Ever Wanted” from Prince of Egypt
• “Take a Chance on Me” from Little Women
• “The Testimony” from Amazing Grace

Ballad audition songs for girls

• “Soldier On” from A Little Princess
• “Far from the Home I Love” from Fiddler on the Roof
• “Candle on the Water” from Pete’s Dragon
• “Will He Like Me” from She Loves Me
• “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” from A Tale of Two Cities
• “How Could I Ever Know” from The Secret Garden

Ballad audition songs for boys

• “Prima Donna” from Phantom of the Opera
• “Now While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd
• “Happiness” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
• “A Sentimental Man” from Wicked
• “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” from Les Miserables
• “Gliding” from Ragtime
• “Lost in the Darkness” from Jekyll and Hyde

Overused audition songs 

You’d rather surprise casting directors by choosing something that is less expected. That way, you can totally own the performance and not risk being compared to the original singer or another auditionee. Hearing another auditionee sing the same song you’re planning to perform, especially when they get to do a unique rendition of it first, can crush an auditionee’s confidence. Here are some overused audition songs for kids.

• “Reflection” from Mulan
• “Part of Your World” from Little Mermaid
• “Memory” from Cats
• “I Dream a Dream” from Les Misérables
• “On My Own” from Les Misérables
• “Where Is Love” from Oliver
• “Let It Go” from Frozen
• Every song from Sound of Music

For in-depth tips on preparing your child for a musical theater audition in general, check this article out.