Audition Song Suggestions for Cabaret the Musical – by Character
Written by Leryn Turlington
June 15, 2020
Willkommen and Bienvenue to your perfectly marvelous guide to auditioning for the musical Cabaret! Let Performer Stuff’s expert musical theatre audition song coaches find your perfect audition song for the musical theatre classic, Cabaret! 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 Cabaret the musical. Be sure to let us know if the audition song worked for you!
Audition song suggestions for the character Emcee (tenor)
The Emcee is the Master of Ceremonies for Berlin’s infamous Kit Kat Klub. The Emcee himself is a widely-interested individual– a thick and expressive German accent, fluidity in gender expression and movement, and an omniscient and watchful presence over the Klub and the changing world around it. He both narrates and foils the growing conflict in pre-Nazi Germany.
“Dressing Them Up” from Kiss of the Spider Woman
Audition song suggestions for the character Sally Bowles (mezzo)
The leading lady of our story and headliner of the Kit Kat Klub, the character of Sally is as delicious and layered as a German chocolate cake. She is a British ex-pat who avoids her past by filling her present with excitement, entertainment, meaning, and men. Cliff’s love affair leads her to many difficult decisions about settling down, moving on, and possibly starting a family- all of this coincides with the rise of a totalitarian regime.
“The Party’s Over” from Bells Are Ringing
Audition song suggestions for the character Clifford Bradshaw (baritone)
When Cliff arrived in Berlin as a gloomy, uninspired American writer, primed perfectly for his introduction to Sally Bowles at the Kit Kat Klub, Sally was about to turn his life upside down. Sally moved in with him the day after their first meeting and immersed him in Berlin’s eccentric and unorthodox cultural scene. It isn’t until after this thrilling romance ends after he flees the impending Nazi regime and returns to America alone, that he can write. And when he finally does, he has no choice but to document the absurd and wonderful life he led alongside Sally.
“Too Many Tomorrows” from Sweet Charity
Audition song suggestions for the character Fräulein Schneider (alto)
Fräulein Schneider owns the boarding house where Cliff stays during his time in Berlin (soon after to be joined by Sally). Fräulein is lively and excitable, but realistic. Past trials have given her the resolve and independence to manage as a woman alone in the early 20th century. Because of this survivor mentality and the changing political climate of Germany, she does not see a future where she can marry a Jew and therefore breaks off her engagement with Herr Schultz.
“As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Sunset Boulevard
Audition song suggestions for the character Herr Schultz (baritone)
Herr Schultz is another resident of Fräulein Schneider’s boarding house. He is German, owns a thriving fruit market, a bachelor, and a patient and kind man. He is also Jewish. During the play, we witness his joyful engagement with Fräulein Scheidner, but as the Nazi presence becomes more apparent and his shop is vandalized, she breaks off the engagement.
“Mister Cellophane” from Chicago
Audition song suggestions for the character Fräulein Kost (mezzo)
Fräulein Kost is another boarder under Fräulein Scheidner’s care who enjoys frequent nighttime visits with sailors much to Fräulein Scheidner’s disapproval. A Nazi sympathizer, she sparks significant discomfort at Fräulein Scheidner and Herr Schultz’s engagement party when she confidently starts the crowd in the anthem “Tomorrow Belongs to Me.”
“(I’ll Build A) Stairway to Paradise” from George White’s Scandals of 1922
Audition for Ensemble (all vocal types)
The Cabaret ensemble consists of a versatile group of singers, dancers, and character actors. They play members of the Kit Kat Klub as well as various singing and spoken roles.
Soprano:
“Funny Honey” from Chicago
“Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music
Listen to a Spotify Playlist of these audition songs here:
Looking for more material? Check out our other stories below!
- Top Standout Audition Songs for Shrek the Musical
- Fantastic Song Suggestions for The Addams Family Auditions
- Bobby Baby! 16 Musical Theatre Trios for Females
- The Flyin’ Fightin’ Forties: 16 Female Solo Ideas From The WWII Era
- Guys: 25 MORE Wow-Able Solos From Broadway’s Golden Age
- Ladies: 25 MORE Wow-Able Solos From Broadway’s Golden Age
- Top 10 Contemporary Male Audition Cuts
- Top 10 Contemporary Female Audition Cuts
- Top 10 Traditional Male Audition Cuts
- 10 Monologues for Women Who Speak Their Mind
- 10 Female Monologues From Love-Sick Characters
- 10 Monologues from Male Characters: Fathers, Brothers, and Sons
- 10 Monologues for People Who Have a Bone to Pick
- 10 Great Monologues from LGBTQ-Identifying Characters
- 10 Monologues for Characters Who Have Theatre on the Brain
- 10 Male Monologues from Characters Dealing With Death
- Guys: 25 Wow-Able Solos from Broadway’s Golden Age
- Ladies: 25 Wow-Able Solos from Broadway’s Golden Age