It can be tough being a teenager, and there have certainly been many musicals written about that subject over the past few decades (i.e. Spring Awakening, Dear Evan Hansen, Heathers, and many more). If you are on the hunt for contemporary musical theatre songs written for female-identifying characters between the ages of 13-18ish, check out the one-hundred options I compiled below! This list is in no way exhaustive, and if you need more song ideas, there are over 500 teen + young adult soprano & mezzo-soprano songs in my contemporary musical theatre repertoire guide here. The songs below are just a sampling from that far more wide-reaching guide. Please consider purchasing the guide if you find this list useful!
P.S. Although these songs were written for teenage characters, not all will be vocally and/or emotionally appropriate for every young singer. It’s worth noting a number of these roles were played by actors in their 20s+ on Broadway and elsewhere. I would also never discourage any performer across the gender spectrum from singing these songs. As always, I recommend consulting voice and acting teachers if you are a teenager/young adult looking for appropriate songs!
1. “One Perfect Moment” from Bring It On (2012)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Amanda Green & Lin-Manuel Miranda | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
2. “I Love Play Rehearsal” from Be More Chill (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Joe Iconis | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
3. “Why Not Me?” from Carrie (revival; 2012)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
4. “Stupid with Love” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
5. “Saturday Alone” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
6. “Like Other Girls” from Daddy Long Legs (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
7. “Lost in the Brass” from Band Geeks (2014)
Music by Tommy Newman; Lyrics by Tommy Newman & Gabby Alter | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
8. “Portrait of a Girl” from Bare (2004)
Music by Damon Intrabartolo; Lyrics by John Hartmere | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
9. “Fight for Me” from Heathers (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
10. “Pulled” from The Addams Family (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
11. “The View from Here” from Darling (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
12. “Everything Else” from Next to Normal (2009)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
13. “Screw Loose” from Cry-Baby (2008)
Music by Adam Schlesinger; Lyrics by David Javerbaum | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
14. “Requiem” [solo version] from Dear Evan Hansen (2016)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
15. “Kindergarten Boyfriend” from Heathers (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
16. “Dead Mom” from Beetlejuice (2019)
Music by Eddie Perfect | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
17. “Blue Wind” from Spring Awakening (2006)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
18. “Fly Into the Future” from Vanities (2009)
Music & Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
19. “Sing Your Own Song” from Dear Edwina (2008)
Music by Zina Goldrich; Lyrics by Marcy Heisler | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
20. “Just Breathe” from The Prom (2018)
Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
21. “Where Am I Now?” from Lysistrata Jones (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Lewis Flinn | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
22. “Sweet Liberty” from Jane Eyre (2000)
Music by Paul Gordon; Lyrics by Paul Gordon & John Caird | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
23. “My Grand Plan” from The Lightning Thief (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
24. “Beyond My Wildest Dreams” from The Little Mermaid (2008)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Glenn Slater | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
25. “Some Things Are Meant to Be” from Little Women (2005)
Music by Jason Howland; Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
26. “I Speak Six Languages” from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
27. “Live Out Loud” from A Little Princess (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
28. “No More Fear” from Freaky Friday (2016)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: Music Notes
[Technically sung by a mom in her daughter’s body, but que sera sera!]
29. “Be a Little Wild” from Like You Like It (2016)
Music by Daniel S. Acquisto; Lyrics by Sammy Buck | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: Show Site
30. “Good Morning Baltimore” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
31. “Mama Who Bore Me” from Spring Awakening (2006)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
32. “Alyssa Greene” from The Prom (2018)
Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
33. “Say the Word” from The Mad Ones (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Bree Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
34. “Winter Blooms” from Alice by Heart (2019)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
35. “Unprodigal Daughter” from Jagged Little Pill (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Alanis Morissette | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
36. “It Means Beautiful” from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2017)
Music by Dan Gillespie Sells; Lyrics by Tom MacRae | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
37. “True Love” from Frozen (2018)
Music & Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
38. “I Remember” from Ever After (2015)
Music by Zina Goldrich; Lyrics by Marcy Heisler | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
39. “Breathe” from In the Heights (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
40. “More Than Meets the Eye” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: PayHip
41. “In My Dreams” from Anastasia (2017)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
42. “Watch What Happens” from Newsies (2012)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Jack Feldman| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
43. “Pretty Funny” from Dogfight (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
44. “I’d Rather Be Me” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
45. “These Palace Walls” from Aladdin (2014)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
46. “Killer Instinct” from Bring It On (2012)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
47. “Fly, Fly Away” from Catch Me If You Can (2011)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
48. “What It Means to Be a Friend” from 13: The Musical (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
49. “The World According to Chris” from Carrie (revival; 2012)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
50. “A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into” from Be More Chill (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Joe Iconis | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
51. “Lonely Pew” from Reefer Madness (2001)
Music by Dan Studney; Lyrics by Kevin Murphy | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Ballad | Sheet Music: SheetsDaily
52. “Astonishing” from Little Women (2005)
Music by Jason Howland; Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
53. “Carrie” from Carrie (1988/2012)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
54. “World Burn” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
55. “Perfect For You” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: PayHip
56. “I Couldn’t Know Someone Less” from Daddy Long Legs (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Paul Gordon | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
57. “The World Above” from The Little Mermaid (2008)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Glenn Slater | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
58. “All Grown Up” from Bare (2004)
Music & Lyrics by Damon Intrabartolo | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
59. “Dead Girl Walking” from Heathers (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
60. “Home” from Beauty and the Beast (1994)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Tim Rice | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
61. “Under Your Spell” from Buffy: Once More with Feeling (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Joss Whedon | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicaNeo
62. “Superboy and the Invisible Girl” from Next to Normal (2009)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
63. “Follow Your Heart” from Urinetown (2001)
Music by Mark Hollman; Lyrics by Mark Hollman & Greg Kotis | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
64. “The Anonymous Ones” from Dear Evan Hansen (film; 2021)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
65. “Lifeboat” from Heathers (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
66. “Home” from Beetlejuice (2019)
Music by Eddie Perfect | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
67. “The Dark I Know Well” from Spring Awakening (2006)
Music by Duncan Sheik; Lyrics by Steven Sater | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
68. “Cute Boys with Short Haircuts” from Vanities (2009)
Music & Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
69. “Crossing a Bridge” from Anastasia (2017)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
70. “Easy to Say” from Zombie Prom (1996)
Music by Dana Rowe; Lyrics by John Sempsey | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
71. “Change the World” from Lysistrata Jones (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Lewis Flinn | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
72. “Forgiveness” from Jane Eyre (2000)
Music by Paul Gordon; Lyrics by Paul Gordon & John Caird | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
73. “The Forgetting” from Jasper in Deadland (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: Songwriter Website
74. “Foolish Games” from Cruel Intentions (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Jewel Kilcher | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes (Original Jewel Version)
75. “Better” from Little Women (2005)
Music by Jason Howland; Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
76. “My Friend, The Dictionary” from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
77. “Another World” from A Little Princess (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
78. “Parents Lie” from Freaky Friday (2016)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey| Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: Music Notes
[Technically sung by teenager in her mom’s body, but so be it!]
79. “Changing My Major” from Fun Home (2015)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by Lisa Kron | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
80. “I Can Hear the Bells” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
81. “When There Was Me and You” from High School Musical (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Jamie Houston | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
82. “Falling For Ya” from Teen Beach Movie (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Aris Archontis, Jeanie Lurie & Chen Neeman | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
83. “The Girl Who Drove Away” from The Mad Ones (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Bree Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
84. “A Quiet Night at Home” from Bare (2004)
Music & Lyrics by Damon Intrabartolo | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
85. “I Ain’t Got Time” from Zanna, Don’t! (2003)
Music by Tim Acito; Lyrics by Tim Acito & Alexander Dinelaris | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Uptempo | Sheet Music: see full score
86. “Spotlight” from Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (2017)
Music by Dan Gillespie Sells; Lyrics by Tom MacRae | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: Concord Theatricals
87. “Monster” from Frozen (2018)
Music & Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
38. “Reflection” from Mulan (1998) & On the Record (2004)
Music by Matthew Wilder; Lyrics by David Zippel | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
89. “For the First Time” from Tarzan (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Phil Collins | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: SheetsDaily
90. “Dyin’ Ain’t So Bad” from Bonnie & Clyde (2011)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Don Black | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character’s age ranges from about 18 to early 20s throughout the show]
91. “Journey to the Past” from Anastasia (1998/2017)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
92. “Tell Me Why” from Amazing Grace (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Smith | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a tad older, but within reason]
93. “Before It’s Over” from Dogfight (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Uptempo | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
94. “Someone Gets Hurt” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
95. “What Only Love Can See” from Chaplin (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Curtis | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Character is a tad older, but within reason]
96. “Here’s Where I Stand” from Camp (film; 2003)
Music by Michael Gore; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
97. “Hiding in Your Hands” from Dear Evan Hansen (2016)
Music by Benj Pasek; Lyrics by Justin Paul | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Cut song]
98. “The Lamest Place in the World” from 13: The Musical (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
99. “Inside Your Heart” from Bat Boy (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe | Song Type/Tempo: Comedic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: SheetsDaily
[Duet, but could be made into a solo with some editing]
100. “A Change In Me” from Beauty and the Beast (1994) & On the Record (2004)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Tim Rice | Song Type/Tempo: Dramatic Power Ballad | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
Need more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.