Laughing may be the best medicine, but you know what’s just as cathartic? Singing a song that makes other people laugh. Below, I’ve compiled a list of one-hundred great comedic character songs from the past 25ish years written for male-identifying characters. Some are outright hilarious, some are curiously bizarre, and some are just plain amusing. All would make great audition songs for contemporary musical comedies. Happy singing!
P.S. If you need more song suggestions– and/or you just want to support my work– check out my premium repertoire guides in the MTR store.
1. “Man About Town” from Young Frankenstein (2007)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Frederick’s “The Brain”, “Life, Life” & “Frederick’s Soliloquy”]
2. “It’s No Problem” from High Fidelity (2006)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
3. “One by One by One” from Ordinary Days (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Adam Gwon | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
4. “I’m Not a Killer” from Evil Dead: The Musical (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris & Greg Reinblatt| Sheet Music: see full score
5. “How Can I Say Goodbye?” from Zombie Prom (1996)
Music by Dana P. Rowe; Lyrics by John Dempsey | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
6. “The Brownie Song” from Reefer Madness (2001)
Music by Dan Studney; Lyrics by Kevin Murphy | Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: “Mary Jane/Mary Lane”, “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy” & “Dead Old Man” (cut song)]
7. “Thank God She’s Blind” from The Toxic Avenger (2008)
Music by David Bryan; Joe DiPietro & David Bryan | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “You Tore My Heart Out”, “Kick Your Ass” & “Hot Toxic Love”]
8. “Girl, Can I Kiss You With Tongue?” from Cry-Baby (2008)
Music by Adam Shlesinger; Lyrics by David Javerbaum | Sheet Music: see full score
9. “Shiksa Goddess” from The Last Five Years (2002)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Moving Too Fast”, “A Miracle Would Happen” & “The Schmuel Song”]
10. “I Believe” from The Book of Mormon (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” & “Man Up”]
11. “How Lucky You Are” from Seussical (2000)
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
12. “When I Climb to the Top of Mount Rock” from School of Rock (2015)
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Glenn Slater | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Stick It to the Man”]
13. “I Slept with Someone (Who Slept with Lyle Lovett)” from High Fidelity (2006)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
[See also: “Cryin’ in the Rain” & “Desert Island Top 5 Break-Ups”]
14. “Springtime for Hitler / Heil Myself” from The Producers (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
15. “Freeze Your Brain” from Heathers (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Kevin Murphy | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
16. “I Can’t Stand Still” from Footloose (1998)
Music by Tom Snow; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Mama Says”]
17. “Stop” from Mean Girls (2018)
Music by Jeff Richmond; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Damian’s “Where Do You Belong?”]
18. “What’ll It Be?” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Rachel Bloom & Adam Schlesinger | Sheet Music: CWTV
[See also: Greg’s “Settle for Me”, “I Could If I Wanted To”, “Greg’s Drinking Song”, “It Was a S*** Show” & “I Hate Everything But You”]
19. “(It’s) Hairspray” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
20. “The Moon and Me” from The Addams Family (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
21. “Along the Way” from Edges (2005)
Music by Benj Pasek; Lyrics by Justin Paul | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
22. “Chip on My Shoulder” from Legally Blonde (2007)
Music by Laurene O’Keefe; Lyrics by Nell Benjamin | Sheet Music: SheetMusicMax
[See also: “Serious” & “Blood in the Water”]
23. “Wall Lovin'” from Island Song (2017)
Music by Derek Gregor; Lyrics by Sam Carner | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
24. “Please Send Me Someone” from Young Frankenstein (2007)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
25. “Graduation Day” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Sheet Music: see full score
26. “The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing” from Beetlejuice (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Eddie Perfect | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
27. “Caralee” from 35MM (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
28. “I’ve Got My Head in the Clouds” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger & Jack Dolgen | Sheet Music: Songwriter Site
[See also: Josh’s “Angry Mad”, “Thought Bubbles” & “Duh!”]
29. “I Love a Little Town” from The Witches of Eastwick (2000)
Music by Dana P. Rowe; Lyrics by John Dempsey| Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: Darryl’s “Dance with the Devil”]
30. “Casualty of Love” from The Wedding Singer (2006)
Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin | Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: Robbie’s “Somebody Kill Me”]
31. “If You Were Gay” from Avenue Q (2003)
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Purpose”, “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”, “I Wish I Could Go Back to College”, “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English” & “My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada”]
33. “To Excess” from Homemade Fusion (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “My Roomate Benjamin”]
34. “One Knight” from Wonderland (2011)
Music by Frank Wildhorn; Lyrics by Jack Murphy | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Advice from a Caterpillar” & “Go with the Flow”]
35. “Morticia” from The Addams Family (2010)
Music & Lyrics by Andrew Lippa | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Happy/Sad”]
36. “Buzzing from the Bathroom” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger & Jack Dolgen | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
37. “I’d Order Love” from First Date (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
38. “My Problem Right There” from Hands on a Hardbody (2013)
Music by Trey Anastasio; Lyrics by Amanda Green | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
39. “Apology to a Cow” from Bat Boy (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe | Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: “Let Me Walk Among You” & “A Joyful Noise”]
40. “I’m Allergic to Cats” from The Theory of Relativity (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Neil Bartram | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
41. “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” from Waitress (2016)
Music & Lyrics by Sara Bareilles | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Ogie’s “I Love You Like a Table”]
42. “Quasimodo” from When Pigs Fly (1996)
Music & Lyrics by Howard Crabtree & Mark Waldrop | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
43. “Twirler Girl” from Band Geeks (2010)
Music by Gaby Alter | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
44. “This Thing” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
45. “Man Up” from The Book of Mormon (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez & Matt Stone | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” & “I Believe”]
46. “Whaddya Do?” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Michael’s “I Won’t Let You Down”]
47. “I Really, Really Love You (The Stalker Song)” from Sorta Love Songs (2010)
Music by Scott Burkell; Lyrics by Paul Loesel | Sheet Music: Songwriter Site
[See also: “You Make Me Feel so French”]
48. “I Wanna Be a Producer” from The Producers (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Leo’s “That Face” & “‘Til Him”]
49. “I Am Aldolpho” from The Drowsy Chaperone (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Lisa Lambert & Greg Morrison | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
50. “Yesterday, Tomorrow and Today” from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
51. “Here for You” from 9 to 5 (2009)
Music & Lyrics by Dolly Parton| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
52. “I Love Betsy” from Honeymoon in Vegas (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
53. “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
[See also: “Sibella”, “Lady Hyacith Abroad” & “Stop! Wait! What?!”]
54. “You Won’t Succeed on Broadway” from Spamalot (2005)
Music by Jon Du Prez & Eric Idle; Lyrics by Eric Idle | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
55. “Maybe We Just Made Love” from I Love You Because (2006)
Music by Joshua Salzman; Lyrics by Ryan Cunningham | Sheet Music: see full score
56. “World’s Greatest Dad” from Elf (2010)
Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
57. “The Baby Song” from I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (1996)
Music by Jimmy Roberts; Lyrics by Joe DiPietro | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
58. “In Old Bavaria” from The Producers (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Franz’s “Haben Sie Gehört Das Deutsche Band?”]
59. “Run, Freedom, Run!” from Urinetown (1999)
Music & Lyrics by Mark Hollman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
60. “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin (2014)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[A reworked arrangement of the version from the 1992 animated film]
61. “Les Poissons” from The Little Mermaid (2008)
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Glenn Slater | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[Similar to the version from the 1989 animated film. See also: “Les Poissons” (Reprise)]
62. “In Love with You” from First Date (2013)
Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
63. “What Alan Likes” from I Sing! (2001)
Music by Eli Bolin; Lyrics by Sam Forman | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
[See also: “I’m Coming Out”]
64. “Basement” from Relativity (2014)
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
[See also: “Two Minute Warning”]
65. “Sensitive Song” from Cops (2008)
Music by Laurence O’Keefe; Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe & Nel Benjamin| Sheet Music: SheetMusic365
66. “My Unfortunate Erection (Chip’s Lament)” from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
66. “Purpose” from Avenue Q (2003)
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez & Jeff Marx | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “If You Were Gay”, “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”, “I Wish I Could Go Back to College”, “What Do You Do with a B.A. in English” & “My Girlfriend, Who Lives in Canada”]
67. “Women and Sandwiches” from Freaky Friday (2016)
Music by Tom Kitt; Lyrics by Brian Yorkey | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
69. “Hard to Be the Bard” from Something Rotten! (2015)
Music by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Will Power”]
70. “On My Bedside Table” from It’s Only Life (2006)
Music & Lyrics by John Bucchino | Sheet Music: Vocal Selections
[See also: “Painting My Kitchen” & “A Contact High”]
71. “It Takes Two” from Hairspray (2002)
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
72. “Jeff Sums It Up” from Tootsie (2019)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
73. “What Do I Need with Love?” from Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by Dick Scanlan| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “The Speed Test”]
74. “Barry Is Going to Prom” from The Prom (2018)
Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chard Beguelin | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Love Thy Neighbor”]
75. “Come To An Agreement” from Honeymoon in Vegas (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
73. “Don’t Let Me Go” from Shrek (2008)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Donkey’s cut song “I Could Get Used to This”]
77. “Exit Right” from Songs from an Unmade Bed (2005)
Music by Steven Lutvak; Lyrics by Mark Campbell | Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: “He Plays the Cello”, “Spring”, “He Never Did That Before”, “The Other Woman”, “Florence”, “An Admission” & “A Dinner Party”]
55. “I’m Not That Smart” from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005)
Music & Lyrics by William Finn | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
79. “Man” from The Full Monty (2000)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
80. “Michael in the Bathroom” from Be More Chill (2019)
Music & Lyrics by Joe Iconis | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
81. “The Very Worst Year” from Chasing the Day (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Will Van Dyke | Sheet Music: NewMusicalTheatre
82. “It Just Wasn’t Meant to Happen” from Calvin Berger (2006)
Music & Lyrics by Barry Wyner | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
83. “Great Big Stuff” from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Chimp in a Suit”]
84. “The Ballad of Farquaad” from Shrek (2008)
Music by Jeanine Tesori; Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
85. “Brave Sir Robin” from Spamalot (2005)
Music by Jon Du Prez & Eric Idle; Lyrics by Eric Idle | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
86. “Kick Me” from Now. Here. This. (2012)
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: “Archer”]
87. “I Don’t Understand the Poor” from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music by Steven Lutvak; Lyrics by Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
88. “Madrid is My Mama” from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
89. “Getting Out” from Wearing Someone Else’s Clothes (2005)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
90. “Sunday” from tick, tick… BOOM! (2001)
Music by Jonathan Larson | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
91. “That’s All” from Adventures in Love (2000)
Music & Lyrics by Joe Iconis| Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See all: “The Morning After”]
92. “The Proposal” from The Mad Ones (2017)
Music & Lyrics by Bree Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
93. “The King of Broadway” from The Producers (2001)
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
[See also: Max’s “Along Came Bialy” & “Betrayed”]
94. “The More We Dance” from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005)
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
95. “A Little Joy” from Mr. Saturday Night (2022)
Music & Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | Sheet Music: TBA
[See also: Buddy’s “I Still Got It” & “Buddy’s First Act”]
96. “I’m Not a Loser” from SpongeBob SquarePants (2017)
Music & Lyrics by They Might Be Giants| Sheet Music: see full score
[See also: “(Just a) Simple Sponge”, “Super Sea Star Savior” & “Poor Pirates”]
97. “Way Ahead of My Time” from The Taxi Cabaret (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Peter Mills | Sheet Music: Songwriter Site
98. “Love Killer” (2008)
Music & Lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
99. “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton (2015)
Music & Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda | Sheet Music: MusicNotes
100. “Noel’s Lament” from Ride the Cyclone (2011)
Music & Lyrics by Jacob Richmond & Brooke Maxwell | Sheet Music: BandCamp
Need more musical theatre song suggestions? Check out my professional repertoire guides here.