Audition songs for baritones
These eight songs suit a baritone, from swaggering leading men to introspective contemporary roles. Guides disagree on a few of them, and where one recommends a song another calls overused, we show both.
1. Lonely Town
On the Town. Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Broadway, 1944. Ballad.
Gabey, a sailor on shore leave, sings it with the ensemble in the show. This golden-age ballad suits a romantic lead.
2. Luck Be a Lady
Guys and Dolls. Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Broadway, 1950. Uptempo.
Sky Masterson sings it with the gamblers in the show. It suits a confident leading man.
Heard often: Listed as overused by Theatre Trip (2021).
3. If Ever I Would Leave You
Camelot. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Broadway, 1960. Ballad.
Robert Goulet first sang this ballad as Lancelot. It shows off a legit lyric baritone.
4. Put On a Happy Face
Bye Bye Birdie. Music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams. Broadway, 1960. Uptempo.
Albert sings this soft-shoe song. It suits a light, charming leading man.
Heard often: Listed as overused by Theatre Trip (2021).
5. Grand Knowing You
She Loves Me. Music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Broadway, 1963. Uptempo.
Kodaly, a smooth cad, sings it on his way out. It shows comic acting more than range.
6. Stars
Les Misérables. Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. West End, 1985. Ballad.
Javert states his beliefs in this dramatic ballad. It suits an antagonist.
Heard often: Listed as overused by Theatre Trip (2021); OnStage Blog (2025) says baritone auditions are full of it and songs like it.
7. I Cannot Hear the City
Sweet Smell of Success. Music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Craig Carnelia. Broadway, 2002. Ballad.
Dallas, a young jazz musician, sings this introspective contemporary song. BroadwayWorld recommends it and notes panels have heard it before.
8. Dust and Ashes
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Music and lyrics by Dave Malloy. Broadway, 2016. Ballad.
Pierre sings about his wasted life in a solo that builds to a big climax. It was added for the 2015 production at the American Repertory Theater.
Need a short version? Read how to make a 16-bar cut. More lists: Audition songs for sopranos, Audition songs for mezzo-sopranos, Audition songs for altos and belters, Audition songs for tenors.
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Sources
We checked each show's writers and opening year against its Wikipedia page in October 2026. The songs and the "heard often" notes come from these guides: