Audition Song Suggestions for Bye Bye Birdie the Musical – By Character
Written by Leryn Turlington
May 8, 2020
You’ve ‘got a lot of livin’ to do to prepare for a musical theatre audition for the classic Broadway show, Bye Bye Birde!. Let Performer Stuff’s expert musical theatre audition song coaches find your perfect audition song for the musical theatre classic, Bye Bye Birdie! Our recommendations come with links to purchase sheet music or an audition cut found on PerformerStuff.com. For further study, we provide links to listen to audition songs on both Youtube and a Spotify playlist. Break a leg with your audition for Bye, Bye Birdie, the musical. Be sure to let us know if the audition song worked for you!
Audition song suggestions for the character Albert Peterson (baritone)
Albert dreams of leaving his job as teen music sensation Conrad Birdie’s manager and starting a new, quiet life with his girlfriend of eight years, Rosie, but his overbearing mother and other unexpected events thwart his efforts. This actor is a true song-and-dance man who transforms from a neurotic servant of his mother and his job to an independent thinker and faithful partner to Rose.
“Make ‘Em Laugh” from Singin’ in the Rain
Audition song suggestions for the character Rose Alvarez (mezzo)
Rose is the voice of reason and encouragement for Albert, the brains behind his plan for Conrad, and the instigator when things go awry. It is through her gumption that Albert finds the strength and the means to start a new life together finally. This actor is of Latin descent and must be a triple threat for the show-stopping number, “Spanish Rose.”
“There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This” from Sweet Charity
Audition song suggestions for the character Conrad Birdie (baritone)
Inspired by the life of Elvis Presley, Conrad Birdie is the teenage heart-throb at the center of the story who graces the people of Sweet Apple, Ohio, with his presence. He is reserved when he is slated to give “One Last Kiss” to the lucky teen Kim MacAfee, but we later learn he would instead be drafted into the army than keep up his lonely celebrity lifestyle.
“Born to Hand Jive” from Grease
Audition song suggestions for the character Mrs. Mae Peterson (spoken)
Albert’s meddling mother, Mae, is quick to guilt, shame, or follow her son all the way to Ohio to keep him in line. She criticizes Rose’s Spanish heritage and shows insecurity at any woman taking Albert away from her (especially Rose). Mae provides much of the comic relief of the play and is typically a spoken role, though sometimes sings a song added for the 1995 movie.
“Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy
Audition song suggestions for the character Mr. MacAfee (baritone)
Mr. Harry MacAfee is the eccentric and excitable lense through which we see all the disruption Conrad Birdie’s arrival causes. As Kim’s father, he must navigate running a smooth household while Kim finds fame as the lucky teen who gets to kiss Conrad and consequently seeks independence. He and his wife Doris go from comically frustrated to cartoonishly exuberant when they realize they will get to go on The Ed Sullivan Show.
“Grand Knowing You” from She Loves Me
Audition song suggestions for the character Kim MacAfee (soprano)
Kim MacAfee’s constant obstacle throughout the play is determining what makes a “woman” in the 1950s, how close she is to reaching that goal, and how much adulthood she is comfortable with. She believes going steady with her sweetheart Hugo is a giant step, but even she isn’t immune to Conrad Birdie’s celebrity appeal when she wins his very last kiss before joining the army. Empathizing with the teenage heart and mind is required to make Kim a three-dimensional character.
“Frank Mills” from HAIR
Audition song suggestions for the character Randolph MacAfee (baritone)
At 10 years old, Randolph fills the archetype of Kim’s annoying younger brother. Yet he too cannot escape the excitement of Conrad’s arrival or be on The Ed Sullivan Show. He tries to relate to his kooky father, but Harry knows that Randolph will eventually be like the other teenagers that frustrate him so much.
“Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun” from A Christmas Story
Audition song suggestions for the Ensemble Characters (all vocal types)
Teenagers, parents, townspeople– including Hugo Peabody and Gloria Rasputin, which are both speaking roles. Choose a song from here that suits your voice type!
Audition song suggestions for a Soprano:
“One Night With You” from All Shook Up
Audition song suggestions for an Alto:
“You Should See Yourself” from Sweet Charity
Audition song suggestions for a Tenor:
“Something’s Coming” from West Side Story
“Always Look On the Bright Side of Life” from Spamalot
Listen to a Spotify playlist of audition songs for the musical Bye, Bye, Birdie here:
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