With the end of 2015 fast approaching, I want to take a moment to recognize ten great solo selections from musicals which premiered on Broadway throughout the year. While shows like Hamilton, Fun Home, and Something Rotten! dominated the public’s attention this year, a handful of other new musicals graced The Great White Way as well. Some of these shows closed rather quickly, but that doesn’t make them ‘bad’ musicals in any way, shape, or form. Remember, Broadway is first and foremost a commercial industry. A musical doesn’t have to be a commercial hit in order to be artistically successful.
In terms of musical and vocal styles, 2015 has been one of the most diverse years in recent Broadway history. It is fascinating to think that a heavily pop-rock/hip hop-driven show like Hamilton opened the same year as a more ‘traditional’ musical like Doctor Zhivago. Most of the other new Broadway musicals fell somewhere in between these two stylistic extremes (i.e. Finding Neverland, Something Rotten!, It Shoulda Been You, etc.). I think you’ll hear this stark musical contrast in many of the songs below. I have included five audition selections for men and five songs women. Enjoy!
P.S. Need more help finding musical theatre repertoire to sing? Check out all my professional repertoire guides here.
1. “Higher” from Allegiance
Music & Lyrics by Jay Kuo
Performed by Lea Salonga
2. “Hard to Be the Bard” from Something Rotten!
Music & Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick
Performed by Christian Borle & Ensemble
3. “Jenny’s Blues” from It Shoulda Been You
Music by Barbara Anselmi; Lyrics by Brian Hargrove
Performed by Lisa Howard
4. “Edges of the World” from Fun Home
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Performed by Michael Cerveris
5. “When the Music Played” from Doctor Zhivago
Music by Lucy Simon; Lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers
Performed by Kelli Barrett
6. “Wait for It” from Hamilton
Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Performed by Leslie Odom, Jr.
7. “All That Matters” from Finding Neverland
Music by Gary Barlow; Lyrics by Garcy Barlow and Eliot Kennedy
Performed by Laura Michelle Kelly
8. “Isn’t That Enough?” from Honeymoon in Vegas
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown
Performed by Rob McClure
9. “Where Did the Rock Go?” from School of Rock: The Musical
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Performed by Sierra Boggess
10. “Testimony” from Amazing Grace
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Smith
Performed by Josh Young