Hello, everyone! I know it can be tough for young adult baritones– and even ‘baritenors’– to find age-appropriate contemporary musical theatre repertoire. Many young-er roles in musicals today continue to be written for higher tenor-adjacent voices. Thus, I thought it might be helpful to make a post featuring one-hundred great contemporary musical theatre songs that are generally appropriate for baritone and ‘baritenor’ singer-actors in their 20s through early 30s.
The pieces below are all from the past 25ish years and generally don’t go higher than a G4 in chest/full voice. However, the tessitura of each song– aka where the vocal line ‘sits’ in a singer’s range– varies (as do vocal registration and dynamic choices). If needed, it is possible to transpose some songs to slightly lower keys on a site like MusicNotes.com. I wouldn’t go overboard, but sometimes even a half or whole step change can make a HUGE difference for vocal freedom. I also recommend performers consult voice and acting teachers about these songs. Not every piece will be vocally and/or emotionally appropriate for every singer, but hopefully they at least provide some ideas.
P.S. This list is in no way exhaustive, and if you need more song ideas, there are over 500 young adult baritone & tenor songs in my contemporary musical theatre repertoire guide here. Some songs there and below are sung by *somewhat* older characters, but I would say they’re all still within the realm of reason. Put another way: None of these pieces should cause significant issues in an audition room for being wildly age inappropriate (and that matters!).
1. “Everything to Win” from Anastasia (2017)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
2. “Where Are All the People?” from Chaplin (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Curtis | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
3. “Tell My Father” from The Civil War (1999)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Jack Murphy | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
4. “Part of a Painting” from Edges (2005)
Music by Benj Pasek; Lyrics by Justin Paul | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
5. “A Dreamer in Disguise” from Carrie (Revival; 2012)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
6. “If the World Turned Upside Down” from Finding Neverland (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
7. “Sibella” from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (2013)
Music by Steven Lutvak; Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
8. “Favorite Places” from Ordinary Days (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
9. “It’s Hard to Speak My Heart“ from Parade (1998)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
10. “I’d Order Love” from First Date (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
11. “Love Who You Love” from A Man of No Importance (2002)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
12. “The Tree on the Hill” from The Lightning Thief (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
13. “Kick Me” from Now. Here. This. (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
14. “Ignorance is Bliss” from Placebo (2011)
Music& Lyrics By Danny Abosch | Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
15. “Isn’t That Enough?” from Honeymoon in Vegas (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
16. “I’m Allergic to Cats” from The Theory of Relativity (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Neil Bartram | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
17. “Rememb’ring You” from Yank! (2005)
Music by Joseph Zellnik; Lyrics by David Zellnik | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
18. “I Could Write Books” from Zanna, Don’t! (2003)
Music by Tim Acito; Lyrics by Tim Acito & Alexander Dinelaris | Sheet Music: SheetMusicGiant
19. “Stop” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
20. “Once Upon a Time” from Bare (2004)
Music by Damon Intrabartolo; Lyrics by Jon Hartmere | Sheet Music: MuseScore
21. “Second Nature” from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
22. “I Sing for You” from Camp (2003)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
23. “Afraid” from Gay Card (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Korrell & Jonathan Keebler | Sheet Music: Repertwa
24. “My Three Best Friends” from Glory Days (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Nick Blaemire | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
25. “What Would You Do?” from If/Then (2014)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
26. “What Say You Meg?” from The Last Ship (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Sting | Sheet Music: SheetMusicDirect
27. “The Man I’ll Never Be” from Daddy Long Legs (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
28. “When the Earth Stopped Turning” from Elegies (2003)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: TotalSheetMusic
29. “Private Property” from Giant (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa | Sheet Music: SheetMusicPlus
30. “Love to Me” from The Light in the Piazza (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
31. “Everything” from Love on a Summer Afternoon (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Sam Davis| Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
32. “What I Wouldn’t Do for You” from Mrs. Sharp (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
33. “All That’s Known” from Spring Awakening (2006)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
34. “Fight from the Heart” from Rocky (2012)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
35. “To Thine Own Self” [Reprise] from Something Rotten! (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
36. “The Ride” from Writing Kevin Taylor (2013)
Music by Will Van Dyke; Lyrics by Josh Halloway| Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
37. “Testimony” from Amazing Grace (2015)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
38. “Maybe We Just Made Love” from I Love You Because (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Joshua Salzman; Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham| Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
39. “Dancing Alone” from I Sing! (2001)
Music by Eli Bolin; Lyrics by Sam Forman | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
40. “Unexpressed” from It’s Only Life (2006)
Music & Lyrics by John Bucchino | Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
41. “I’ll Be Here” from The Wild Party (2000)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
42. “When Your Mind’s Made Up” from Once (2012)
Music by & Lyrics by Glen Hansard | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
43. “Man About Town” from Young Frankenstein (2007)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
44. “Purpose” from Avenue Q (2003)
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
45. “Time” from Tuck Everlasting (2016)
Music by Chris Miller; Lyrics by Nathan Tysen | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
46. “I Love You Like a Table” from Waitress (2016)
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
47. “When Words Fail” from Shrek (2008)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
48. “Night Will Come” from Groundhog Day (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Tim Minchin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
49. “Bright Star” from Bright Star (2015)
Music by Steve Martin & Edie Brickell; Lyrics by Edie Brickell | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
50. “If I Didn’t Believe in You” from The Last Five Years (2002)
Music by & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
51. “When the Booth Goes Bright” from Amélie (2017)
Music by Daniel Messé; Lyrics by Daniel Messé & Nathan Tysen| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
52. “The Life That You Wished For” from Chaplin (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Curtis | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
53. “New Words” from In the Beginning (1998)
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Transpose to F Major on MusicNotes if you want this particular key]
54. “How Glory Goes” from Floyd Collins (1996)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
55. “A Little Closer” from Dear Evan Hansen (film; 2021)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Written for the film adaptation of the stage musical]
56. “Neverland” from Finding Neverland (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
57. “Foolish to Think” from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (2013)
Music by Steven Lutvak; Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
58. “One By One By One” from Ordinary Days (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon | Sheet Music: NewMuiscalTheatre
59. “Breeze Off the River“ from The Full Monty (2000)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
60. “In Love With You” from First Date (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
61. “I Was Here” from The Glorious Ones (2007)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
62. “It Just Wasn’t Meant to Happen” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[There’s a lower, somewhat different arrangement in the BMI Songbook]
63. “Proud of Your Boy” from Aladdin (2014)
Music by Alan Menke; Lyrics by Howard Ashman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Cut from the original 1992 animated film then used in the Broadway musical. The original published key linked here is lower than the Broadway version.]
64. “Alive!” from Death Takes a Holiday (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is death itself but appears as a relatively young man]
65. “Temporarily Lost” from The Bridges of Madison County (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer]
66. “What Is It About Her?” from The Wild Party (2000)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Tops out at Ab as written. Great dramatic acting piece, but difficult!]
67. “I’m Not That Smart” from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Stay on F# at the end if A is too high]
68. “Not a Common Man” from American Psycho (2016)
Music & Lyrics by Duncan Sheik | Sheet Music: SheetMusicDirect
69. “Where Do You Belong?” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
70. “Role of a Lifetime” from Bare (2004)
Music & Lyrics by Damon Intrabartolo| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Sung by both tenors and baritones, but the tessitura is tough near the end.]
71. “Public Life” from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer.]
72. “Laura, Laura” from High Fidelity (2006)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer]
73. “Grow Old with Me” from Wearing Someone Elses Clothes (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
74. “I Thought That I Could Live” from Death Takes a Holiday (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is death itself but appears as a relatively young man]
75. “Fight the Dragons” from Big Fish (2013)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character’s age varies throughout the show, but generally appropriate for a mature younger singer]
76. “What’ll It Be?” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Rachel Bloom & Adam Schlesinger | Sheet Music: CWTV
77. “Charity” from Daddy Long Legs (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
78. “Lost in the Waves” from Out of Our Heads (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Michal Kooman & Christopher Dimond | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Transpose as needed– this is frequently sung in various keys]
79. “Nothing in Common” from Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
80. “Passeggiata” from The Light in the Piazza (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Published key is a half step higher than the cast recording in the second half of the piece]
81. “Talk to Me Dorothy” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer.]
82. “I’ve Got Things to Say” from Waiting for the Moon (2005)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Jack Murphy | Sheet Music: see full score
83. “Left Behind” from Spring Awakening (2006)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
84. “My Nose Ain’t Broken Yet” from Rocky (2012)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
85. “As Good As You” from Jane Eyre (2000)
Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
86. “Freedom” from Pretty Woman (2018)
Music & Lyrics by Bryan Adams & Jim Vallance | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
87. “The Longer I Live” from Dracula (2004)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Don Black & Christopher Hampton | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is much older but appears as a relatively young man– vampires, folks!]
88. “Let Me Walk Among You” from Bat Boy (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe | Sheet Music: see full score
89. “Where’s the Girl?” from The Scarlet Pimpernel (1997)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Nan Knighton | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer. The reprise is also a beast!]
90. “I’d Rather Be Sailing” from A New Brain (1998)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
91. “Whaddya Do?” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a bit older, but still generally appropriate for a mature younger singer.]
92. “Footprint” from The Theory of Everything (2014)
Music by & Lyrics by Neil Bartram | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
93. “It Took Me A While” from John & Jen (1995)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
94. “The Proposal” from Titanic (1997)
Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
95. “Letting You Go” from Placebo (2011)
Music& Lyrics By Danny Abosch | Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
96. “Bring Me Giants” from Cyrano de Bergerac (2009)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse | Sheet Music: TuneScribers
97. “Who I’d Be” from Shrek (2008)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
98. “Isn’t That Always the Way” from A Little Princess (2005)
Music by Barbara Anselmi; Lyrics by Brian Hargrove | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
99. “This Thing” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
100. “I Could Be in Love with Someone Like You” from The Last Five Years (2002)
Music by & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Cut from the show and replaced with “Shiksa Goddess”]
BONUS: “How It Ends” from Big Fish (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is older at this point, but I never tire of hearing both younger and older baritones/tenors sing this gorgeous song out of show context.]
Need more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.