Great songs given to minor/insignificant characters

"On the Street Where You Live" is one of my go-to songs when I audition for a musical. I recall it being described as a song "so good you wonder why it's given to such a minor character" or something along those lines. That made me think about other musicals where standout songs are given to characters who don't factor much into the story.

Another that comes to mind is "Take What You've Got" from Kinky Boots the character who sings it only shows up for the one scene, and structurally it doesn't tell us much about Charlie we don't already know (although it does have a set up for "Everybody Say Yeah") and yet the song is a total banger.

" Not a Day Goes By" for sure...especially since we barely know that character or her back story prior...

My immediate thought is “The Gentleman is a Dope” from Allegro, although several of the songs in that show also qualify.

Thinking on some of the above, it depends on how you define minor or insignificant. I think Freddy is a very significant character in MFL, but he doesn’t have a lot of stage time; same goes for Beth in Merrily. But relative to others, they’re minor characters. So it’s an interesting question that I think can yield a wide array of answers.

Another Life from "Bridges" and Playing Nancy from "Groundhog Day"

Both 'I'm Still Here' and 'Broadway Baby' from Follies

Updated On: 2/3/24 at 01:11 PM

Surprised no one has mentioned “Zip” from Pal Joey.

Dear One from "Kiss of the Spider Woman"

Reading the above, I disagree with a few. For instance:

Fraulein Schneider has at least one more solo and one duet; Lotte Lenya was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical, so I would not consider that meeting the criteria set.

I would also question whether Carlotta is an insignificant character in Follies. Most of the roles in Follies are modest. I would agree with the poster re a number of the songs in Follies probably being reasonable proposals.

I don't disagree re The Miller's Son, although I have never understood the appeal of that song. I have always thought of it as filler, even though it has 'an' 11:00 o'clock slot in the show.

I would probably think of a several numbers from Nine, with Be Italian being the best 'match'. I could also argue that Lilliane had very little to do other than number, for which Liliane Montevecchi won a Tony.

It probably doesn't quite meet the bill, but the lion's share of I Have Dreamed is sung by the male, who is barely in the show.

Also maybe a little stretch, but Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat comes close.

Another popular number from Gypsy whose charms have always escaped me is All I Need now Is the Girl.

Don't know if it qualifies as a great song, but The Grass is Always Greener seems to fit. Marilyn Cooper stopped the show and won a Tony for a role that probably involved 6 minutes of stage time.

I don't think any of the songs from Whorehouse remotely meet the 'great songs' requirement.

Agree re Not a Day Goes By, simply because of the timing of the song. Someone we have not seen previously gets arguably the best song in the show. Her role is a little larger, but when she actually sings the song, she is insignigicant. I remember being surprised at how little applause the number received relative to others in the show, but concluded that was because we had no emotional connection to the character, which is a (minor) gotcha with Merrily's structure.

Disregard

Updated On: 2/3/24 at 05:59 PM

RWPrincess said: "Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill"

Michael is neither minor nor insignificant in that show.

"Another Hundred People"

ChiDoc said: "My immediate thought is “The Gentleman is a Dope” from Allegro, although several of the songs in that show also qualify."

The song is sung by the character who proves to be the protagonist's true love and moral compass. Hardly a minor/insignificant character.