Hal Leonard’s The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology songbooks are great standard theatre repertoire resources for singers and teachers. The only problem is, there are A LOT of songs to keep track of! To assist, I created this ‘interactive song guide’ for the seven Mezzo/Belter volumes of The Singer’s Musical Theatre Anthology (+ the Teen’s Edition). I first organized all the songs by music style and then created corresponding Spotify playlists with audio recordings and tables that include additional song information. You can use the playlists and tables below to assist with finding the perfect theatre songs! My guides for the SMTA Soprano, Tenor and Baritone/Bass volumes are available here.
P.S. Looking for more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.
OPERETTA SONGS | c. 1870s-1920s
[Songs/arias from operettas and operas]
N/A
TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS (JAZZ AGE & GOLDEN AGE) | c. 1920s-60s
[Traditional theatre, jazz & tin pan alley songs from the 1920s to mid-’60s]
| SHOW | SONG TITLE | SONGWRITER(S) | TEMPO | TYPE | AGE RANGE | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978) | Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now (1929) | Waller; Razaf | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Allegro (1947) | The Gentleman is a Dope | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Annie Get Your Gun (1946) | Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly | Berlin | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Annie Get Your Gun (1946) | I Got Lost in His Arms | Berlin | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Annie Get Your Gun (1946) | I Got the Sun in the Morning | Berlin | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Annie Get Your Gun (1946) | They Say It’s Wonderful | Berlin | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Annie Get Your Gun (1946) | You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun | Berlin | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Anyone Can Whistle (1964)** | Anyone Can Whistle | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Anyone Can Whistle (1964)** | There Won’t Be Trumpets | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Anything Goes (1934) | I Get a Kick Out of You | Porter | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| The Apple Tree (1966) | Gorgeous | Bock; Harnick | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Babes in Arms (1937) | I Wish I Were in Love Again | Rodgers; Hart | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Babes in Arms (1937) | Johnny One Note | Rodgers; Hart | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Babes in Arms (1937) | The Lady is a Tramp | Rodgers; Hart | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Bells are Ringing (1956) | I’m Going Back | Styne; Comden; Green | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Bells are Ringing (1956) | It’s a Perfect Relationship | Styne; Comden; Green | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Bells are Ringing (1956) | Long Before I Knew You | Styne; Comden; Green | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Bells are Ringing (1956) | The Party’s Over | Styne; Comden; Green | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Call Me Madam (1950) | The Hostess with the Mostes’ on the Ball | Berlin | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Cinderella (1957) | In My Own Little Corner | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Cinderella (1957) | Stepsisters’ Lament | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1, MT |
| Damn Yankees (1955) | A Little Brains, A Little Talent | Adler; Ross | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Do Re Mi (1960) | Adventure | Styne; Comden; Green | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Finian’s Rainbow (1947) | How Are Things in Glocca Morra | Lane; Harburg | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1, MT |
| Finian’s Rainbow (1947) | Look to the Rainbow | Lane; Harburg | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Flower Drum Song (1958) | I Enjoy Being a Girl | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1, MT |
| Funny Girl (1964) | Don’t Rain on My Parade | Styne; Merrill | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Funny Girl (1964) | The Music That Makes Me Dance | Styne; Merrill | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949) | Ain’t There Anyone Here for Love? | Styne; Robin | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949) | Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend | Styne; Robin | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Girl Crazy (1930) | But Not for Me | Gershwin | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Good News (1927) | I Want to Be Bad | DeSylva; Brown; Henderson | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Guys and Dolls (1950) | Adelaide’s Lament | Loesser | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Guys and Dolls (1950) | Take Back Your Mink | Loesser | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Gypsy (1959) | Everything’s Coming Up Roses | Styne; Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Gypsy (1959) | Rose’s Turn | Styne; Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Gypsy (1959) | Small World | Styne; Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| Gypsy (1959) | Some People | Styne; Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| House of Flowers (1954) | I Never Has Seen Snow | Arlen; Capote | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961) | Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm | Loesser | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962) | Miss Marmelstein | Rome | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| I Can Get It for You Wholesale (1962) | Who Knows | Rome | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Kiss Me, Kate (1948) | Always True to You in My Fashion | Porter | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Kiss Me, Kate (1948) | Why Can’t You Behave? | Porter | Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Leave It to Me (1938) | My Heart Belongs to Daddy | Porter | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Me and Juliet (1953) | We Deserve Eachother | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| No Strings (1962) | The Sweetest Sounds | Rodgers | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Oklahoma! (1943) | I Cain’t Say No | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1, MT |
| Oliver! (1960) | As Long as He Needs Me | Bart | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965) | He Wasn’t You | Lane; Lerner | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965) | Hurry! It’s Lovely Up Here! | Lane; Lerner | Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965) | What Did I Have That I Don’t Have? | Lane; Lerner | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| On the Town (1944) | Ain’t Got No Tears Left | Bernstein; Comden; Green | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| On the Town (1944) | I Can Cook Too | Bernstein; Comden; Green | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Once Upon a Mattress (1959) | Shy | Rodgers; Barer | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2, MT |
| The Pajama Game (1957) | I’m Not At All in Love | Adler; Ross | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Peter Pan (1954) | Never Never Land | Styne; Comden; Green | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Plain and Fancy (1955) | It’s a Helluva Way to Run a Love Affair | Hague; Horwitt | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| She Loves Me (1963) | A Trip to the Library | Bock; Harnick | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Sophisticated Ladies (1981) | Hit Me With a Hot Note | Ellington; George | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| South Pacific (1949) | A Cock-Eyed Optimist | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| South Pacific (1949) | Honey Bun | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3, MT |
| South Pacific (1949) | I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| A Star is Born (1954) | The Man That Got Away | Arlen; Gershwin | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| St. Louis Woman (1946) | I Had Myself a True Love | Arlen; Mercer | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| The Sound of Music (1959) | Sixteen Going on Seventeen | Rodgers; Hammerstein | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) | I Ain’t Down Yet | Willson | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Two by Two (1970) | An Old Man | Rodgers; Charnin | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Wish You Were Here (1952) | Shopping Around | Rome | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Wonderful Town (1953) | One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man | Bernstein; Comden; Green | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
TRADITIONAL MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS (POST-GOLDEN AGE) | c. 1960s-80s
[Traditional-sounding theatre songs from the mid-1960s to the ’70s and even ’80s]
| SHOW | SONG TITLE | SONGWRITER(S) | TEMPO | TYPE | AGE RANGE | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Act (1977) | City Lights | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| The Apple Tree (1966) | Gorgeous | Bock; Harnick | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Ballroom (1978) | Fifty Percent | Goldenberg; Bergman | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| Barnum (1980) | The Colors of My Life | Coleman; Stewart | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Cabaret (1966) | Cabaret | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Cabaret (1966) | Don’t Tell Mama | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Cabaret (1966) | Maybe This Time | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Cabaret (1966) | Mein Herr | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Cabaret (1966) | So What? | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Cabaret (1966) | What Would You Do? | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Chicago (1975) | Class | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Chicago (1975) | Funny Honey | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Chicago (1975) | Nowadays | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Chicago (1975) | Roxie | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Chicago (1975) | When You’re Good to Mama | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| A Chorus Line (1975) | Dance: Ten; Looks: Three | Hamlisch; Kleben | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| A Chorus Line (1975) | The Music and the Mirror | Hamlisch; Kleben | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| A Chorus Line (1975) | Nothing | Hamlisch; Kleben | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| A Chorus Line (1975) | What I Did for Love | Hamlisch; Kleben | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2, MT |
| City of Angels (1989) | What You Don’t Know About Women | Coleman; Zippel | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Company (1970)** | Another Hundred People | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Company (1970)** | The Ladies Who Lunch | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Curtains (2007) | It’s a Business | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M5 |
| Curtains (2007) | Thinking of Him | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Falsettoland (1990) | Holding to the Ground | Finn | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Fame: The Musical (1988) | Think of Meryl Streep | Margoshes; Levy | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M6 |
| Follies (1971)** | Ah, But Underneath | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Follies (1971)** | Broadway Baby | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Follies (1971)** | Could I Leave You? | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Follies (1971)** | I’m Still Here | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M4 |
| Follies (1971)** | In Buddy’s Eyes | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Follies (1971)** | Losing My Mind | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Follies (1971)** | Uptown, Downtown | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Godspell (1971) | Turn Back, O Man | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Grand Hotel (1989) | I Want to Go to Hollywood | Yeston | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Into the Woods (1987)** | I Know Things Now | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| Into the Woods (1987)** | Last Midnight | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Into the Woods (1987)** | Moments in the Woods | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Is There Life After High School? (1982) | Nothing Really Happened | Carnelia | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| A Little Night Music (1973)** | The Miller’s Son | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| A Little Night Music (1973)** | Send in the Clowns | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M1 |
| Little Shop of Horrors (1982) | Somewhere That’s Green | Menken; Ashman | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Mame (1966) | If He Walked into My Life | Herman | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| Merrily We Roll Along (1981)** | Not a Day Goes By | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Merrily We Roll Along (1981)** | Now You Know | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985) | The Wages of Sin | Holmes | Ballad | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| Nine (1982) | My Husband Makes Movies | Yeston | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Nunsense (1985) | I Just Want to Be a Star | Goggin | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Passion (1994)** | Loving You | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Smile (1986) | Disneyland | Hamlisch; Ashman | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Sunday in the Park with George (1984)** | Everybody Loves Louis | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Sweeney Todd (1979)** | By the Sea | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Sweeney Todd (1979)** | The Worst Pies in London | Sondheim | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Sweet Charity (1966) | If My Friends Could See Me Now | Coleman; Fields | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Sweet Charity (1966) | Where Am I Going | Coleman; Fields | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| They’re Playing Our Song (1979) | If He Really Knew Me | Hamlisch; Sager | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Victor/Victoria (1995) | Paris Makes Me Horny | Mancini; Bricusse | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Working (1978) | It’s An Art | Schwartz | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Working (1978) | Just a Housewife | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Zorba (1968) | Life Is | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
CONTEMPORARY LEGIT MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS | c. 1980s-Present
[Contemporary theatre songs significantly influenced by classical music styles + vocalism. Includes songs from 80s/90s ‘pop opera’ musicals, modern operetta-influenced shows, etc.]
| SHOW | SONG TITLE | SONGWRITER(S) | TEMPO | TYPE | AGE RANGE | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspects of Love (1990) | Anything But Lonely | Webber; Black; Hart | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Bakers Wife (1989) | Meadowlark | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Beautiful Game (2000) | Our Kind of Love | Webber; Elton | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Cats (1981) | Memory | Webber; Nunn | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M1 |
| Chess (1986) | Heaven Help My Heart | Andersson; Rice; Ulvaeus | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Chess (1986) | Someone Else’s Story | Andersson; Rice; Ulvaeus | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Evita (1979) | Don’t Cry for Me Argentina | Webber; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Evita (1979) | I’d Be Surprisingly Good for You | Webber; Rice | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Grey Gardens (2006) | The Cake I Had | Franke; Korie | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M5 |
| Into the Woods (1987)** | Moments in the Woods | Sondheim | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Jekyll & Hyde (1997) | A New Life | Wildhorn; Bricusse | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Jekyll & Hyde (1997) | Someone Like You | Wildhorn; Bricusse | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| John & Jen (1995) | The Road Ends Here | Lippa | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Les Misérables (1987) | Castle on a Cloud | Schönberg; Boublil; Kretzmer | Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| Les Misérables (1987) | I Dreamed a Dream | Schönberg; Boublil; Kretzmer | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Les Misérables (1987) | On My Own | Schönberg; Boublil; Kretzmer | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2, MT |
| Merrily We Roll Along (1981)** | Not a Day Goes By | Sondheim | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Miss Saigon (1989) | I’d Give My Life for You | Schönberg; Boublil; Maltby | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (2012) | Sonya Alone | Malloy | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Nine (1982) | My Husband Makes Movies | Yeston | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| Parade (1998) | My Child Will Forgive Me | Brown | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Parade (1998) | You Don’t Know This Man | Brown | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Side Show (1997) | Who Will Love Me As I Am? | Krieger; Russell | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Song and Dance (1985) | Let Me Finish | Webber; Black | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Song and Dance (1985) | Take That Look Off Your Face | Webber; Black | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Song and Dance (1985) | Tell Me on a Sunday | Webber; Black | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| Song and Dance (1985) | Third Letter Home | Webber; Black | Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Sunset Boulevard (1993) | As If We Never Said Goodbye | Webber; Black; Hampton | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| Sunset Boulevard (1993) | With One Look | Webber; Black; Hampton | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M3 |
| The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985) | The Wages of Sin | Holmes | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M2 |
| The Pirate Queen (2007) | Woman | Schönberg; Boublil; Maltby | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| The Secret Garden (1991) | Hold On | Simon; Norman | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2 |
| The Scarlet Pimpernel (1997) | When I Look At You | Wildhorn; Knighton | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
CONTEMPORARY MIXED MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS | c. 1990s-Present
[Contemporary theatre songs that mix traditional musical theatre and modern pop music stylistic attributes + vocalism to varying degrees. Mostly character songs.]
| SHOW | SONG TITLE | SONGWRITER(S) | TEMPO | TYPE | AGE RANGE | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [title of show] (2006) | A Way Back to Then | Bowen | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| [title of show] (2006) | I Am Playing Me | Bowen | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| 13: The Musical (2008) | The Lamest Place in the World | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| 13: The Musical (2008) | What It Means to Be a Friend | Brown | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| The Addams Family (2010) | Just Around the Corner | Lippa | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| The Addams Family (2010) | Pulled | Lippa | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M6 |
| Aida (2001)* | I Know the Truth | John; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.;Adult | M6 |
| Aida (2001)* | The Past is Another Land | John; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.;Adult | M4 |
| Avenue Q (2003) | Mix Tape | Lopez; Marx | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.;Adult | M7 |
| Avenue Q (2003) | Special | Lopez; Marx | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Avenue Q (2003) | There’s a Fine, Fine Line | Lopez; Marx | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| The Bakers Wife (1989) | Meadowlark | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| The Band’s Visit (2017) | It Is What It Is | Yazbek | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| The Band’s Visit (2017) | Omar Sharif | Yazbek | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Beauty and the Beast (1994)* | A Change in Me | Menken; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3, MT |
| The Book of Mormon (2011) | Sal Tlay Ka Siti | Lopez; Parker; Stone | Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Bring It On (2012) | One Perfect Moment | Kitt; Green; Miranda | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M6 |
| Bring It On (2012) | Tryouts | Kitt; Green | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M7 |
| The Boy from Oz (2003) | Don’t Cry Out Loud | Allen; Sager | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Catch Me If You Can (2011) | Fly, Fly Away | Shaiman; Wittman | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Children of Eden (1991) | Children of Eden | Schwartz | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| The Color Purple (2005) | Too Beautiful for Words | Russell; Willis; Bray | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Come From Away (2017) | I Am Here | Sankoff; Hein | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Cowgirls (1996) | Don’t Call Me Trailer Trash | Murfitt | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Cowgirls (1996) | Heads or Tails | Murfitt | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Curtains (2007) | It’s a Business | Kander; Ebb | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M5 |
| Curtains (2007) | Thinking of Him | Kander; Ebb | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Dear Evan Hansen (2016) | So Big/So Small | Pasek; Paul | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005) | Here I Am | Yazbek | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult | M5 |
| The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) | Show Off | Lambert; Morrison | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens (1990) | Angels, Punks and Raging Queens | Hood; Russell | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Falsettoland (1990) | Holding to the Ground | Finn | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| First Date (2013) | Safer | Zachary; Weiner | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Footloose (1998) | Can You Find It in Your Heart? | Snow; Pitchford | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| The Full Monty (2000) | Life with Harold | Yazbek | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Frozen (2013) | Let It Go | Lopez; Lopez | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Frozen (2018) | Monster | Lopez; Lopez | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Grey Gardens (2006) | The Cake I Had | Franke; Korie | Uptempo | Comedic | Middle-Age; Mature | M5 |
| Groundhog Day (2017) | One Day | Minchin | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Groundhog Day (2017) | Playing Nancy | Minchin | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hairspray (2002) | Good Morning Baltimore | Shaiman; Wittman | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M5 |
| Hairspray (2002) | I Can Hear the Bells | Shaiman; Wittman | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M4 |
| Hairspray (2002) | Miss Baltimore Crabs | Shaiman; Wittman | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M4 |
| Hamilton (2015) | Burn | Miranda | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hamilton (2015) | That Would Be Enough | Miranda | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hercules (1997)* | I Won’t Say (I’m in Love) | Menken; Zippel | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Honeymoon in Vegas (2015) | Anywhere but Here | Brown | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (1996) | Always a Bridesmaid | Roberts; DiPietro | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (1996) | I Will Be Loved Tonight | Roberts; DiPietro | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| If/Then (2014) | Always Starting Over | Kitt; Yorkey | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| If/Then (2014) | You Learn to Live Without | Kitt; Yorkey | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| John & Jen (1995) | The Road Ends Here | Lippa | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Kinky Boots (2013) | The History of Wrong Guys | Lauper | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | Climbing Uphill | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | I Can Do Better Than That | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | A Part of That | Brown | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | See I’m Smiling | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | Still Hurting | Brown | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Last Five Years (2002) | When You Come Home to Me | Brown | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| La La Land (film; 2016) | Audition (The Fools Who Dream) | Hurwitz; Pasek; Paul | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| The Life (1990) | My Body | Coleman; Gasman | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| The Lion King (1997)* | Shadowland | Lebo; Zimmer; Mancina | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Little Mermaid (1989)* | Part of Your World | Menken; Ashman | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| A Little Princess (2005) | Live Out Loud | Lippa | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M5 |
| Little Women (2005) | Astonishing | Howland; Dickstein | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Mean Girls (2018) | World Burn | Richmond; Benjamin | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M7 |
| Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) | Find Your Grail | Du Prez; Idle | Power Ballad | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M5 |
| Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) | Whatever Happened to My Part? | Du Prez; Idle | Power Ballad | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M4 |
| Mulan (1998)* | Reflection | Wilder; Zippel | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (2012) | Sonya Alone | Malloy | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Newsies (2012)* | Watch What Happens | Menken; Feldman | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| A New Brain (1998) | The Music Still Plays On | Finn | Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M6 |
| Next to Normal (2009) | Everything Else | Kitt; Yorkey | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M6 |
| Next to Normal (2009) | So Anyway | Kitt; Yorkey | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Now. Here. This. (2012) | This Time | Bowen | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Once On this Island (1990) | Waiting for Life | Flaherty; Ahrens | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Parade (1998) | My Child Will Forgive Me | Brown | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Parade (1998) | You Don’t Know This Man | Brown | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| The Producers (2001) | When You Got It, Flaunt It | Brooks | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Prom (2018) | Just Breathe | Sklar; Beguelin | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M7 |
| The Prom (2018) | The Lady’s Improving | Sklar; Beguelin | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M7 |
| Ruthless (1992) | Teaching Third Grade | Laird; Paley | Uptempo | Comedic | Adult; Middle-Age | M3 |
| Side Show (1997) | Who Will Love Me As I Am? | Krieger; Russell | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Sister Act (2011) | The Life I Never Led | Menken; Slater | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Smile (1986) | Disneyland | Hamlisch; Ashman | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Songs for a New World (1995) | Just One Step | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Songs for a New World (1995) | I’m Not Afraid of Anything | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Songs for a New World (1995) | Stars and the Moon | Brown | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
| Tarzan (2006)* | You’ll Be in My Heart | Collins | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) | Gimme Gimme | Tesori; Scanlan | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) | Not for the Life of Me | Tesori; Scanlan | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Violet (1997) | Lay Down Your Head | Tesori; Crawley | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Violet (1997) | Look At Me | Tesori; Crawley | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Waitress (2016) | She Used to Be Mine | Bareilles | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Waitress (2016) | What Baking Can Do | Bareilles | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Wicked (2003) | Defying Gravity | Schwartz | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5, MT |
| Wicked (2003) | For Good | Schwartz | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Wicked (2003) | I’m Not That Girl | Schwartz | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| Wicked (2003) | Popular | Schwartz | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Wicked (2003) | The Wizard and I | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Wild Party (2000) | How Did We Come to This? | Lippa | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Wild Party (2000) | The Life of the Party | Lippa | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| The Wild Party (2000) | Look At Me Now | Lippa | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Wild Party (2000) | Maybe I Like It This Way | Lippa | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Wonderland (2011) | Once More I Can See | Wildhorn; Murphy | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (revival; 1999) | My New Philosophy | Lippa | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M3 |
CONTEMPORARY POP/ROCK MUSICAL THEATRE SONGS | c. 1970s-Present
[Contemporary theatre songs heavily influenced by pop, rock and other commercial music styles from the past and present.]
| SHOW | SONG TITLE | SONGWRITER(S) | TEMPO | TYPE | AGE RANGE | VOLUME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aida (2001)* | I Know the Truth | John; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Aida (2001)* | The Past is Another Land | John; Rice | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978) | Hard Candy Christmas | Hall | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Boy from Oz (2003) | Don’t Cry Out Loud | Allen; Sager | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Middle-Age; Mature | M4 |
| Catch Me If You Can (2011) | Fly, Fly Away | Shaiman; Wittman | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Chess (1986) | Heaven Help My Heart | Andersson; Rice; Ulvaeus | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| Chess (1986) | Someone Else’s Story | Andersson; Rice; Ulvaeus | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| A Chorus Line (1975) | What I Did for Love | Hamlisch; Kleben | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M2, MT |
| The Color Purple (2005) | Too Beautiful for Words | Russell; Willis; Bray | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Come From Away (2017) | I Am Here | Sankoff; Hein | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Dear Evan Hansen (2016) | So Big/So Small | Pasek; Paul | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M7 |
| Dreamgirls (1981) | And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going | Krieger; Eyen | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Dreamgirls (1981) | I Am Changing | Krieger; Eyen | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens (1990) | Angels, Punks and Raging Queens | Hood; Russell | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M4 |
| First Date (2013) | Safer | Zachary; Weiner | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Frozen (2013) | Let It Go | Lopez; Lopez | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Frozen (2018) | Monster | Lopez; Lopez | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Godspell (1971) | Day by Day | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| Godspell (1971) | Turn Back, O Man | Schwartz | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M1 |
| Grease (1971) | Freddy, My Love | Casey; Jacobs | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M5, MT |
| Grease (1971) | Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee | Casey; Jacobs | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M2 |
| Grease (1971) | There Are Worse Things I Could Do | Casey; Jacobs | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M4 |
| Groundhog Day (2017) | One Day | Minchin | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Groundhog Day (2017) | Playing Nancy | Minchin | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hamilton (2015) | Burn | Miranda | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hamilton (2015) | That Would Be Enough | Miranda | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Hair (1969) | Easy to Be Hard | MacDermot; Rado; Ragni | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| Hairspray (2002) | I Can Hear the Bells | Shaiman; Wittman | Uptempo | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M4 |
| Hercules (1997)* | I Won’t Say (I’m in Love) | Menken; Zippel | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | MT |
| High School Musical (2006)* | Start of Something New | Gerrard; Nevil | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| High School Musical (2006)* | What I’ve Been Looking For | Dodd; Watts | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| If/Then (2014) | Always Starting Over | Kitt; Yorkey | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| If/Then (2014) | You Learn to Live Without | Kitt; Yorkey | Uptempo | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Kinky Boots (2013) | The History of Wrong Guys | Lauper | Uptempo | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
| The Lion King (1997)* | Shadowland | Lebo; Zimmer; Mancina | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M4 |
| The Life (1990) | My Body | Coleman; Gasman | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Mamma Mia! (1999) | The Winner Takes It All | Andersson; Ulvaeus | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M5 |
| Mean Girls (2018) | World Burn | Richmond; Benjamin | Power Ballad | Comedic | Teen; Y.A. | M7 |
| Mulan (1998)* | Reflection | Wilder; Zippel | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | MT |
| Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) | Find Your Grail | Du Prez; Idle | Power Ballad | Comedic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Next to Normal (2009) | Everything Else | Kitt; Yorkey | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M6 |
| Next to Normal (2009) | So Anyway | Kitt; Yorkey | Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Now. Here. This. (2012) | This Time | Bowen | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M6 |
| Pretty Woman (2018) | Anywhere But Here | Adams; Vallance | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Rent (1996) | Without You | Larson | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Spring Awakening (2006) | The Dark I Know Well | Sheik; Sater | Uptempo | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M5 |
| Spring Awakening (2006) | Mama Who Bore Me | Sheik; Sater | Ballad | Dramatic | Teen; Y.A. | M5 |
| Tarzan (2006)* | You’ll Be in My Heart | Collins | Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| They’re Playing Our Song (1979) | If He Really Knew Me | Hamlisch; Sager | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Adult; Middle-Age | M2 |
| tick, tick… BOOM! (2001) | Come to Your Senses | Larson | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M5 |
| Waitress (2016) | She Used to Be Mine | Bareilles | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Waitress (2016) | What Baking Can Do | Bareills | Uptempo | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M7 |
| Wonderland (2011) | Once More I Can See | Wildhorn; Murphy | Power Ballad | Dramatic | Y.A.; Adult | M6 |
*A Disney musical
**A Stephen Sondheim musical (some consider him to be a musical theatre sub-genre himself)
2 thoughts