NATS National Convention Resource
Pop Songs for the Contemporary Musical Theatre Audition
A supplemental reference guide from Noel Smith's presentation. Explore pop song options matched to the style of contemporary musicals — organized by genre, show, and artist archetype.
The Formula
Casting Notice → Style → Artist Archetype → Song Choice
Jagged Little Pill
90s Alternative Rock
Alanis Morissette, Natalie Merchant, Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, Garbage, The Cranberries, Fiona Apple
The Outsiders
Folk Pop / Americana / Indie Rock
Noah Kahan, Hozier, Zach Bryan, Jason Isbell, Gregory Alan Isakov, The Lumineers, The Head and the Heart
Lazarus
Art Rock / Glam Rock
David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, St. Vincent, Arcade Fire
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Emo Rock
Fall Out Boy, Dashboard Confessional, Jimmy Eat World, The All-American Rejects, Panic! At the Disco, Paramore
School of Rock
Classic Hard Rock
AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, Heart, Aerosmith, The Who
Lizzie
Female-Driven Punk / Hard Rock
Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Dorothy, Evanescence, Hole, Joan Jett, Garbage
Passing Strange
Indie Rock / Art Rock
Prince, Lenny Kravitz, TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley
Girl From the North Country
Folk Rock
Bob Dylan, Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin, John Prine, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell
Almost Famous
70s Classic Rock
Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Elton John, Bad Company
Bat Out of Hell
Power Rock / Arena Rock
Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Journey, Foreigner, Styx, Queen, Bon Jovi
Dead Outlaw
Americana / Folk Rock / Country
Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Tyler Childers, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Zach Bryan