This probably shouldn’t be called a variant of the Bechdel Test; there are plenty of musicals where women speak to each other but don’t sing duets/trios/group numbers together. But that’s what this list is, and I don’t think there’s an official name for it, so I’m just going with it. Also, this doesn’t count group numbers that have individual lines sung by women and men both or songs that are sung by one woman with an all-female backup. This is just a list of lady songs. (Girls and women who sing musical theatre are always looking for songs like this to do in concerts with friends, it is known.) And unfortunately, while the Bechdel Test proper excludes conversations held solely about men, this list cannot do so; since such a large proportion of the musical theatre catalogue as a whole is comprised of songs about romance, not including songs about romance on this list would make it itsy bitsy. And this is only the musicals I am familiar with from the list. Starred* items are ones that people I know have sung publicly in the past.
Annie by Charles Strouse: “Hard Knock Life,” sung by the orphans (I think this is why so many theatrically inclined little girls like Annie, because they can all be in it with their friends).*
Bernarda Alba by Michael John LaChiusa: is 100% ladies. It’s an all-lady cast. And it’s weird, but it’s fabulous.
Bye Bye Birdie by Charles Strouse: “What Did I Ever See In Him?” sung by Rosie and Kim.*
Carousel by Rodgers and Hammerstein: “You’re a Queer One, Julie Jordan,” sung by Carrie and Julie.*
Chicago by Kander and Ebb: “Cell Block Tango,” sung by Velma and the merry murderesses (this counts because they all have solos), “My Own Best Friend,” sung by Roxie and Velma (not in the film).
A Chorus Line by Hamlisch and Kleban: “At the Ballet,” sung by Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie.
Fiddler on the Roof by Bock and Harnick: “Matchmaker,” sung by Hodel, Chava, and Tzeitel.*
Grease by Casey and Jacobs: “It’s Raining On Prom Night,” sung by Sandy and a radio singer.*
Hairspray by Shaiman and Wittman: “Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now,” sung by Tracy, Penny, Amber, and their mothers.*
Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim: “A Very Nice Prince,” sung by Cinderella and the Baker’s Wife.*
Legally Blonde by Benjamin and O’Keefe: “Ohmygod You Guys,” sung by Elle, Serena, Margot, Pilar and Company.*
The Light in the Piazza by Adam Guettel: “Statues and Stories,” sung by Margaret and Clara.
Little Women by Howland and Dickstein: “An Operatic Tragedy,” sung by all four sisters, “Our Finest Dreams,” sung by all four sisters, “I’d Be Delighted,” sung by Marmee, Meg, Beth, and Jo, and “Some Things Are Meant To Be,” sung by Beth and Jo.
Little Shop of Horrors by Menken and Ashman: the “Prologue,” sung by the Do-Wop Girls.*
–your fangirl heroine.
partlydrawn 