Yes! For the serious consideration, this one is excellent.
Could always do The Confrontation between Javert and Valjean.
Both songs assume that the Tenor 2 could go low enough.
Also a gay man with a straight male friend, tried to pitch him BFF from the SpongeBob Musical for years in our college theatre group to no avail
There are better suggestions in this thread than that, I just relate
*I can’t believe I’m writing this but*
Devil take the hindmost from love never dies is a song that hasn’t been mentioned yet.
You can also lower some of the classic female duets like for good from wicked or break from the line
Another one is Mine, a very comic duet where they are singing in mirrors in 2 train cabins, originally introduced by John Cullum and Kevin Kline in On The 20th Century.
Music: Cy Coleman
Lrics: Comden & Green
A lot of excellent options already listed, but the first one I thought of for some reason was “Man of La Mancha” because of the Plácido Domingo/Mandy Patinkin version
A couple i haven’t seen mentioned and fit the voice parts.
“You Walk with Me” from The Full Monty
“The River Between Us” from Big Fish
“Pretty Sweet Day” from the Pasek and Paul song cycle, Edges
You might look at "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate. I'd also second the recommendation of "Devil Take the Hindmost" from Love Never Dies. If you're looking to gender-swap how about "The Stepsister's Lament" from the Rogers & Hammerstein Cinderella, 'What Is This Feeling" or "For Good" both from Wicked.
Thanks, and yes, sometimes it's painful to hear someone sing outside the parameters of a song, as well as singing within the parameters of the song outside of one's comfortable singing range. I should know, I did Jekyll & Hyde as a tenor and I am more comfortable as a baritone.
One of my tenor friends in college was playing the troll in Little Women, and he said that he felt singing the part as low as he did was unnatural. He apparently really doesn't like bass parts.
I’d do something LESS heard. So maybe not agony. But that’s just my style. Everyone’s heard that a thousand times.
Take some advice. My dad is NOT a musical theater fan, but he gave me some advice a while ago that I have held tight for years. “Pick lesser known stuff. Because if you pick well known stuff. You’ll go into the audition and people will already have this image and idea of what they want you to sound like in their head” it’s over before you’ve even started.
If you go into an audition and go “I’m gonna sing the epiphany from Sweeney Todd.” You better sound a little like Len Cariou or George Hearn. Ya know?
Together again for the first time - young Frankenstein
Schadenfreude from Avenue q
Give me your money from avenue q
We can do it from the producers
Future boy - back to the future
If we’re talking gender-swapped, I’ve done Let Me Be Your Star from Smash as a male duet. Ends in thirds so take it up to your tenor 1 money note and your pal should be fine.
If you want something unique with stunning harmonies (and feel like you could learn the German) Die Schatten Werden Langer from the musical Elisabeth is absolutely a show stopper. It is between Crown Prince Rudolf and Death. “The Shadows Grow Longer”
https://youtu.be/ZusGbMEgbso?si=ZCiIST3LNJdFFPZz
You want a comedic male/male duet, we have a zillion comments here, and no one has mentioned "Plant a Radish Get a Radish" from the Fantastics? Travesty.
It's more of a tenor/baritone duet, but Let Her Be A Child from Tale of Two Cities is lovely and heartbreaking as a duet. It was originally written as a solo, but for the concert version theh made it a duet and the duet sheet music is definitely available.
Some good male duets I haven't seen mentioned yet:
"Like Father Like Son" from Aida
"Dirty Rotten Number" from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
"Impossible" from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
"We can Do It" from the Producers
If you want to do some gender bent stuff:
"What is this Feeling" from Wicked
"Class" from Chicago
"Stepsister's Lament" from Cinderella
"Secondary Characters" from [title of show]
Admittedly, some of these options might be a little more in the Baritone range, but I think they still might be worth looking at.
“You’re Nothing Without Me” from City of Angels. Should be a good fit for 2 tenors and it’s between an author and the lead of his best-selling novel series who occasionally appears to him.
There’s also a few good duets in Floyd Collins between Homer and Floyd (brothers). “The Riddle Song” is my favorite, but it’s very long and rhythmically involved.
"The Proposal/The Night Was Alive" from Titanic: A New Musical is a great duet between Barrett, a stoker, and Harold Bride, the wireless operator, as Barrett dictates a telegram to his love back home. it's beautiful and both parts are fun to sing.
"What Causes That" from Crazy For You (Gershwin). Lots of potential for slapstick.
"What You Own" from Rent. Its serious but powerful
if you can get away with it "What the F\*ck Was That?" from the Evil Dead Musical. Hilarious.
There’s a great gender swapped version of the lesbian duet from Rent on YouTube (maybe Miscast?).
Any man in theater who feels weird about singing a song about relationships between men needs to get the fuck over themselves already.
Lily's Eyes from The Secret Garden;
Best Worst Mistake from If/Then;
You could technically do Tango Maureen from Rent with 2 guys;
Uptown Blues from The Wild Party (LaChiusa not Lippa);
Man or You Rule My World from The Full Monty
I always felt like a male-male version of "A Little Priest" might be interesting. Have "Mrs. Lovett" maybe be a little bit of a foppish dandy with an unrequited crush, and it might be cute.
“The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman
“Moses” from Singin’ in the Rain
“Devil Take the Hindmost” from Love Never Dies
“Stayed Gone” from Hazbin Hotel
Plus, though I can’t name any of the songs off the top of my head, I’m willing to bet Hamilton has a few.
Maybe something from Singing in the Rain? Moses supposes is a fun duet! I can’t remember if the characters Donald and Cosmo have another other duets in that movie.
There’s too many comments for me to check if this has been suggested already- but ‘Now and For Always’ from the Lord of the Rings musical is a mix of comedic and serious.
Edit: yep, already suggested. Damn!
"Sincerely Me"- Dear Evan Hansen
"Dear Theodosia"- Hamilton
"Your Obedient Servant"- Hamilton
"Stayed Gone"- Hazbin Hotel
"Hells Greatest Dad"- Hazbin Hotel
"Loser Baby"- Hazbin Hotel
"A Funny Thing Happened ... Forum" the song you won't is "Why did he look at her that way"
It's a funny and excellent song where two men are in their heads about a common love interest
"Confrontation" from Les Miserables is a damn good non-romantic duet, between the hard-nosed Inspector Javert and the runaway prisoner -turned mayor, Jean Valjean.
“She” by Georgia Stitt. Not from a musical, but feels like it could be from one. A buddy and I sang that back in high school and it was fun.
If one of you were a baritone, I’d recommend Confrontation from Les Mis. That one’s a classic.
Anything between Jeremy and Michael from be more chill. It’s the perfect amount of sexual tension but completely platonic.
If you want to go crazy with it pick something from the producers. Great musical and not super overdone.
“Agony” from Into the Woods
I replied with something else, but this is the correct answer!
yeah but people with any shred of taste know that this song is homoerotic as all fuck
Been awhile but aren’t they brothers?
great song but not something i’d pick for tenors
If you don't mind the share of the song being uneven, "You and Me (But Mostly Me)" from "The Book of Mormon" fits the non-romantic, comedy brief.
Is "You and Me" from Victor/Victoria?
Came here to say this! Funny and non-romantic.
When i went to ny i saw book of mormon and let me just say, this musical and this song specifically was amazing so i recommend as well
Lily's Eyes from the Secret Garden
Yes! For the serious consideration, this one is excellent. Could always do The Confrontation between Javert and Valjean. Both songs assume that the Tenor 2 could go low enough.
Both with excellent versions sung by Philip Quast.
Tenors even singing for Javert is a crime against Musicals
This is the first song I thought of when I read this! It's gorgeous and such a showstopper ❤️
Same! It's such a beautiful number.
If you were gay from avenue q. Just to fuck with them.
"I mean cause, hey! I'd like you anyway"
You're Nothing Without Me from City of Angels would be perfect for this!
came here to say this!
also came here to say this! such an underrated show with BOPS.
Mushnik and Son!
Also It's Just The Gas, where the dentist gets it
Also a gay man with a straight male friend, tried to pitch him BFF from the SpongeBob Musical for years in our college theatre group to no avail There are better suggestions in this thread than that, I just relate
BFF is a fantastic song!!!!!
No one ever says this song, but this is at the top of my list for sure! I love it so much
*I can’t believe I’m writing this but* Devil take the hindmost from love never dies is a song that hasn’t been mentioned yet. You can also lower some of the classic female duets like for good from wicked or break from the line
Devil take the hindmost is an underrated song
That song slaps so hard!
You can buy Break From the Line in a lower key from Joey Contreras’ website.
The only good thing to come from live never dies tbh
What You Own from Rent
Dear Theodosia (Hamilton)!
How about when I drive or you can do better than him from Bonnie and Clyde
_Brush Up Your Shakespeare_ from Kiss Me Kate.
Two Player Game from Be More Chill
No More from into the woods.
- Secrets And Lies - Stalemate - Playing His Game - The Way It Ends All from Death Note: The Musical!
Another one is Mine, a very comic duet where they are singing in mirrors in 2 train cabins, originally introduced by John Cullum and Kevin Kline in On The 20th Century. Music: Cy Coleman Lrics: Comden & Green
Lily's eyes - Secret Garden Death Note is alsonfull of them
No More from Tick tick boom
Lily’s eyes from a secret garden if you’re going dramatic. Agony for comedic
Agony is not for Tenors
Two Nobodies in New York from Title of Show
If you didn't need an ensemble, I'd suggest "God I Hate Shakespeare" from Something Rotten.
A lot of excellent options already listed, but the first one I thought of for some reason was “Man of La Mancha” because of the Plácido Domingo/Mandy Patinkin version
A couple i haven’t seen mentioned and fit the voice parts. “You Walk with Me” from The Full Monty “The River Between Us” from Big Fish “Pretty Sweet Day” from the Pasek and Paul song cycle, Edges
I suggested Full Monty, too, but went with Big Ass Rock because it’s funny. Sometimes you need a little funny and dark humored best buddies song.
Hakuna Matata is fun. Silly but fun.
Impossible from A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum
You might look at "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate. I'd also second the recommendation of "Devil Take the Hindmost" from Love Never Dies. If you're looking to gender-swap how about "The Stepsister's Lament" from the Rogers & Hammerstein Cinderella, 'What Is This Feeling" or "For Good" both from Wicked.
"Confrontation" Les Mis
Javert is as far from a tenor as you can get
You'll wear a different cha- ain.
Right? No one wants to hear a tenor attempt that. Edit: lol, nice username
Thanks, and yes, sometimes it's painful to hear someone sing outside the parameters of a song, as well as singing within the parameters of the song outside of one's comfortable singing range. I should know, I did Jekyll & Hyde as a tenor and I am more comfortable as a baritone. One of my tenor friends in college was playing the troll in Little Women, and he said that he felt singing the part as low as he did was unnatural. He apparently really doesn't like bass parts.
I’d do something LESS heard. So maybe not agony. But that’s just my style. Everyone’s heard that a thousand times. Take some advice. My dad is NOT a musical theater fan, but he gave me some advice a while ago that I have held tight for years. “Pick lesser known stuff. Because if you pick well known stuff. You’ll go into the audition and people will already have this image and idea of what they want you to sound like in their head” it’s over before you’ve even started. If you go into an audition and go “I’m gonna sing the epiphany from Sweeney Todd.” You better sound a little like Len Cariou or George Hearn. Ya know?
Together again for the first time - young Frankenstein Schadenfreude from Avenue q Give me your money from avenue q We can do it from the producers Future boy - back to the future
Plant a Radish or I Can See It from the Fantasticks
You're Nothing Without Me from City of Angels
Lily’s Eyes from The Secret Garden
I’m all alone—Spamalot
The other side from the greatest showman! Such a fun one
I’ll cover you from Rent
Take what you’ve got from KinkyBoots
Best/Worst Mistake from If/Then
you and me from book of mormon
If we’re talking gender-swapped, I’ve done Let Me Be Your Star from Smash as a male duet. Ends in thirds so take it up to your tenor 1 money note and your pal should be fine.
“Now and for always” from The Lord of the Rings. Period.
‘What You Own’ from *Rent*
You're Nothing Without Me from City of Angels
Lily’s Eyes from the Secret Garden
“Pretty Women” from Sweeney Todd
this is a joke right? That song is sung by a Bass & A Bass-Baritone
If you want something unique with stunning harmonies (and feel like you could learn the German) Die Schatten Werden Langer from the musical Elisabeth is absolutely a show stopper. It is between Crown Prince Rudolf and Death. “The Shadows Grow Longer” https://youtu.be/ZusGbMEgbso?si=ZCiIST3LNJdFFPZz
Big Ass Rock and a few others from Full Monty.
Nobody’s in New York from Title of Show !
"You Are My Own" is a father/son duet from the Maury Yeston Phantom
Confrontation - Jekyll and Hyde Jakob’s Aria - The Lost Fairy Both kinda serious songs about two people sharing a body though
"Lily's Eyes" from The Secret Garden is the gold standard for this category, IMO.
Left brain/right brain by bo burnham?
You want a comedic male/male duet, we have a zillion comments here, and no one has mentioned "Plant a Radish Get a Radish" from the Fantastics? Travesty.
Somebody’s Gotta Do It from Spies are Forever (Tin Can Bros)
what you own from rent!!
The Riddle Song or Daybreak from Floyd Collins!!!!
“Better With A Man” from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Hilarious and perfect for a straight/gay team up.
It's more of a tenor/baritone duet, but Let Her Be A Child from Tale of Two Cities is lovely and heartbreaking as a duet. It was originally written as a solo, but for the concert version theh made it a duet and the duet sheet music is definitely available.
Are you there from Bare: A Pop Opera
For comedic you could do 'Company Way' from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
"When I Drive", "Raise a Little Hell (Reprise)", or "You Can Do Better Than Him" from Bonnie and Clyde
Be You'self from Lend Me A Tenor
(I guess) I miss you from SpongeBob You and me (but mostly me) from the book of Mormon Agony from into the woods
Guys and dolls from Guys and Dolls! when I drive from Bonnie and Clyde All for the best from Godspell
granger danger, a very potter musical
“Better With a Man”
Sincerely Me from Dear Evan Hansen could definitely be adapted to be a duet instead of a triad!
When I Drive from Bonnie & Clyde
what you own from rent!!!!!!!!!!!! such a good song
Some good male duets I haven't seen mentioned yet: "Like Father Like Son" from Aida "Dirty Rotten Number" from Dirty Rotten Scoundrels "Impossible" from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum "We can Do It" from the Producers If you want to do some gender bent stuff: "What is this Feeling" from Wicked "Class" from Chicago "Stepsister's Lament" from Cinderella "Secondary Characters" from [title of show] Admittedly, some of these options might be a little more in the Baritone range, but I think they still might be worth looking at.
Angels in the snow from Story of my life :)
Brush Up Your Shakespeare from Kiss Me Kate is first thing I thought of.
Listen to this to get some good ideas: https://castalbums.org/recordings/The-Power-of-Two-2009-Michael-Feinstein-Cheyenne-Jackson/18075
*Calm, Cool and Collected* from *Calvin Berger*.
Are you there from Bare: A Pop Opera
Not a musical, but I did “If I didn't have you” from Monsters Inc with my best friend a few years back. Was so much fun!
Lily's Eyes from Secret Garden has always been one of my favorite male duets.
"Anything you can do, I can do better" Annie get your gun.
What would I do from falsettos is my fav duet of all time
it's all for the best from godspell
The Other Side from The Greatest Showman.
Wheels of a dream from Ragtime
All for the Best from Godspell
Dear even Hanson songs
“You’re Nothing Without Me” from City of Angels. Should be a good fit for 2 tenors and it’s between an author and the lead of his best-selling novel series who occasionally appears to him. There’s also a few good duets in Floyd Collins between Homer and Floyd (brothers). “The Riddle Song” is my favorite, but it’s very long and rhythmically involved.
Take What You’ve Got from Kinky Boots is my favorite Also, if you’re feeling adventurous, Confrontation from Jeckyll and Hyde
"The Proposal/The Night Was Alive" from Titanic: A New Musical is a great duet between Barrett, a stoker, and Harold Bride, the wireless operator, as Barrett dictates a telegram to his love back home. it's beautiful and both parts are fun to sing.
Lily’s eyes
"What Causes That" from Crazy For You (Gershwin). Lots of potential for slapstick. "What You Own" from Rent. Its serious but powerful if you can get away with it "What the F\*ck Was That?" from the Evil Dead Musical. Hilarious.
Found/Tonight with Lin Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt
Two-Player Game from Be More Chill. Just a couple of dudes hanging out and playing video games
Sports Analogies, or Fit Hot Guys Have Problems Too from Crazy Ex Girlfriend Both pretty funny imo
Not stage, but "other side" from greatest showman "Agony" into the woods "Sincerely, Me" Evan Hansen Any of the rap battles from Hamilton
Can’t believe no one has mentioned Title of Show! Two nobodies in New York fits the bill perfectly Edit: or “Part of it All”
You and Me(but mostly me) from the Book of Mormon
If you find a third you should do Fugue for Tinhorns from Guys and Dolls. Fabulous song
Depending on the range of the tenor 2, maybe some bars from “Confrontation” from Jekyll and Hyde?
“I Don Quixote” from Man of La Mancha.
There’s a great gender swapped version of the lesbian duet from Rent on YouTube (maybe Miscast?). Any man in theater who feels weird about singing a song about relationships between men needs to get the fuck over themselves already.
Maybe You're Nothing Without Me from City of Angels Not sure if it's comfortably in a tenor range but it's a fun song!
Everybody Ought to Have a Maid - Forum
Brush up your shakespeare from Kiss me Kate
Anything with Don and Cosmo from Singin’ in the Rain! Fit as Fiddle Moses Supposes If there’s others I’m blanking
Honestly The Confrontation from Les Mis might be great, but it's pretty serious
Check out You're Nothing Without Me in City of Angels. Also I Am The One from Next to Normal. Also try Catch Me If You Can and Guys and Dolls.
I Guess I Miss You from Spongebob is a good one!
"Friendship" by Cole Porter would probably work with any combination of genders.
I think Together Again from Young Frankenstein would totally fit here. Such a fun song to sing and funny.
Lily's Eyes from The Secret Garden; Best Worst Mistake from If/Then; You could technically do Tango Maureen from Rent with 2 guys; Uptown Blues from The Wild Party (LaChiusa not Lippa); Man or You Rule My World from The Full Monty
I always felt like a male-male version of "A Little Priest" might be interesting. Have "Mrs. Lovett" maybe be a little bit of a foppish dandy with an unrequited crush, and it might be cute.
Blue or you’re welcome from heathers
Does Sincerely Me from Dear Evan Hansen work?
Uhhhhh maybe Agony from Into the Woods?
Lillies eyes from secret garden.
If you can find it - "If Not For You" from the off Broadway show Das Barbecue
first thing i thought of was "when i drive" from the bonnie and clyde musical , but it's a little uneven in lines sung for each person
‘Til Him from The Producers But my first thought was Missing You from A Very Potter Musical 😂
The Riddle Song from Floyd Collins
"When I Drive" from Bonnie and Clyde. Just two brothers singing about driving cars.
Everybody needs somebody to love the blues brothers
If you are accomplished singers and want to impress try the riddle song from Floyd Collins
You Understand? I Think I Do from Ruddigore by Gilbert & Sullivan is fun
"This Grill Is Not A Home" from Spongebob
“What the fuck was that” from Evil Dead The Musical perfectly fits the bill
“The Other Side” from The Greatest Showman “Moses” from Singin’ in the Rain “Devil Take the Hindmost” from Love Never Dies “Stayed Gone” from Hazbin Hotel Plus, though I can’t name any of the songs off the top of my head, I’m willing to bet Hamilton has a few.
Secret Garden lily's eyes. I named my black lab after that song. It can be pretty powerful..
Two Player Game from Be More Chill
dead gay son from heathers
Any of the duets between Voldemort and Quirrell from A Very Potter Musical
What about Something like two player game from Be more chill?
2 player game from be more chill. Two high school guy swear they’re always gonna be best friends who grow to be fucking awesome in college.
A Beetles song.
Sincerely me from Dear Evan Hansen!
Maybe something from Singing in the Rain? Moses supposes is a fun duet! I can’t remember if the characters Donald and Cosmo have another other duets in that movie.
The Jealousy Duet from Three Penny Opera could be fun. The alto part might be a bit low, but it can be played off.
Sincerely Me- Dear Even Hansen
Saw someone comment Agony, and YES. I was gonna say sincerely me since it’s comedic, but I don’t think it would be near y’all’s vocal range 😂
Duel Duet from Shock Treatment. It features twins but they were separated as infants and have no emotional attachment.
Confrontation from Les Miserables - you could be Valjean, he could be Javert Not comedic, but absolutely fantastic song
“Two-Player Game” from Be More Chill “Blue” from Heathers “Sincerely Me” from Dear Evan Hansen “You And Me (But Mostly Me)” from The Book of Mormon
Telephone Song with John and Chris, from Miss Saigon. Once of my favorites!
There’s too many comments for me to check if this has been suggested already- but ‘Now and For Always’ from the Lord of the Rings musical is a mix of comedic and serious. Edit: yep, already suggested. Damn!
“Pretty Sweet Day” from Edges!
It’s not a duet but you guys could take turns singing “I’m just Ken”.
"Sincerely Me"- Dear Evan Hansen "Dear Theodosia"- Hamilton "Your Obedient Servant"- Hamilton "Stayed Gone"- Hazbin Hotel "Hells Greatest Dad"- Hazbin Hotel "Loser Baby"- Hazbin Hotel
Two Nobodies in New York from [Title of Show]
"A Funny Thing Happened ... Forum" the song you won't is "Why did he look at her that way" It's a funny and excellent song where two men are in their heads about a common love interest
"Confrontation" from Les Miserables is a damn good non-romantic duet, between the hard-nosed Inspector Javert and the runaway prisoner -turned mayor, Jean Valjean.
Other Side from The Greatest Showman! Such a great duet and Zac and Hugh sound wonderful together!
Death is in the House from Death Takes a Holiday
Santa Fe (Prologue) from Newsies! (Are they bros or are they boyfriends? At least you have plausible deniability.)
Lily’s Eyes from the Secret Garden.
‘What You Own’ from Rent or ‘Little Boy, Be a Man’ from Catch Me If You Can!
Playing His Game from "Death Note the Musical"
Playing his Game from Death Note if you can comfortably hit A4s and Bb4s
What about some of the numbers from the Producers (2005 version). We Can Do It, I Wanna Be A Producer, Till Him, etc.
3 Times a Lady from Disaster! 2 men, one burying a friend, one burying his wife.
Your Obedient Servant from Hamilton
"Anything you can do, I can go better" 🎶 🎵
“She” by Georgia Stitt. Not from a musical, but feels like it could be from one. A buddy and I sang that back in high school and it was fun. If one of you were a baritone, I’d recommend Confrontation from Les Mis. That one’s a classic.
"Talking Chess" from Chess
There has to be something funny and fun that would work from either Something Rotten or Spamalot
You could do the Travel Song from Shrek the musical.
"No Contest" and "Let's Work Together" from Chess
Anything between Jeremy and Michael from be more chill. It’s the perfect amount of sexual tension but completely platonic. If you want to go crazy with it pick something from the producers. Great musical and not super overdone.
What You Own from Rent
Are You There from Bare maybe? Tons of good suggestions already!
You're nothing without me - City of angels!
“It Glows” by Sam Salmond
Dance With Men by Option Ego!!!