100+ Musicals Based on Plays – The Full List of Shows
These musicals based on plays are adapted from non-musical stage shows, transforming existing dramatic works into musical theatre. The list includes direct musical adaptations as well as shows that heavily rework the characters or stories of the original plays.
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On This Page:
Pre-Golden Age Musicals (1910s–1930s)
Golden/Post-Golden Age Musicals (1940s–1960s)
Late 20th Century Musicals (1970s–1990s)
Contemporary Musicals (2000s–Current)
Pre–Golden Age Musicals
Musical Type: Pre-Jazz Age (1919)
Creators: Harry Tierney, Joseph McCarthy, James Montgomery, Joseph Stein, and Hugh Wheeler
Based On: Irene O’Dare by James Montgomery
Musical Type: Pre-Jazz Age (1917)
Creators: Jerome Kern, Guy Bolton, and P. G. Wodehouse
Based On: The College Widow by George Ade
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1925)
Creators: Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar, Otto Harbach, and Frank Mandel
Based On: My Lady Friends by Emil Nyitray and Frank Mandel
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1926)
Creators: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Guy Bolton, and P.G. Wodehouse
Based On: La Presidente by Maurice Hanniquin and Pierre Veber
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1921)
Creators: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyles
Based On: The Mayor of Dixie by Flournoy Miller and Aubrey Lyles
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, and George Abbott
Based On: The Comedy of Errors➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)
Creators: Vincent Youmans, Edward Heyman, and Brian Hooker
Based On: Smilin’ Through➝ by Allan Langdon Martin
Musical Type: Pre-Jazz Age (1915)
Creators: Jerome Kern, Schuyler Green, Philip Bartholomae, and Guy Bolton
Based On: Over Night by Philip Bartholomae
Golden/Post–Golden Age Musicals
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Creators: Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones, and N. Richard Nash
Based On: The Rainmaker➝ by N. Richard Nash
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove, and Larry Gelbart
Based On: The works of Plautus
Musical Type: Golden Age (1944)
Creators: Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg, Sig Herzig, and Fred Saidy
Based On: Bloomer Girl by Lilith and Daniel Lewis James
Musical Type: Golden Age (1942)
Creators: Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Based On: The Warrior’s Husband➝ by Julien Thompson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff
Based On: I Am a Camera➝ by John Van Druten
* Also based on the book, Goodbye to Berlin➝ by Christopher Isherwood.
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
Creators: Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee
Based On: The Madwoman of Chaillot➝ by Jean Giraudoux
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Based On: The Time of the Cuckoo➝ by Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Creators: Lee Pockriss and Anne Croswell
Based On: The Importance of Being Earnest➝ by Oscar Wilde
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, Clifford Odets, and William Gibson
Based On: Golden Boy➝ by Clifford Odets
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart
Based On: The Matchmaker➝ by Thorton Wilder
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray
Based On: Blithe Spirit➝ by Noël Coward
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Creators: Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
Based On: The Fourposter➝ by Jan de Hartog
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein
Based On: Juno and the Paycock➝ by Sean O’Casey
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Creators: Cole Porter, Bella Spewack, and Samuel Spewack
Based On: The Taming of the Shrew➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Creators: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, and Abram S. Ginnes
Based On: Three Men on a Horse➝ by John Cecil Holm and George Abbott
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Laurie Johnson, Lionel Bart, and Bernard Miles
Based On: The Coffee-House Politician➝ by Henry Fielding
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Creators: Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner
Based On: Pygmalion➝ by George Bernard Shaw
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Creators: Bob Merrill and George Abbott
Based On: Anna Christie➝ by Eugene O’Neill
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
Creators: Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Based On: Green Grow the Lilacs➝ by Lynn Riggs
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner
Based On: Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
Creators: Cole Porter, Dwight Taylor, and Reginald Lawrence
Based On: Amphitryon➝ by Plautus
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Creators: Moose Charlap, Jule Styne, Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and J.M. Barrie
Based On: Peter Pan➝ by J.M. Barrie
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Ron Grainer and Ronald Millar
Based On: The Barretts of Wimpole Street➝ by Rudolf Besier
* Also based on the unproduced musical, The Third Kiss.
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955) / Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and Julius J. Epstein
Based On: Front Porch in Flatbush by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Creators: Victor Young, Stella Unger, and Victor Wolfson
Based On: Seventh Heaven➝ by Austin Strong
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Creators: Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joe Masteroff
Based On: Parfumerie by Miklós László
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: James Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn, and Peter Stone
Based On: Dream Girl➝ by Elmer Rice
Musical Type: Opera (1947)
Creators: Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes, and Elmer Rice
Based On: Street Scene➝ by Elmer Rice
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Bob Merrill, Joseph Stein, and Robert Russell
Based On: Ah, Wilderness!➝ by Eugene O’Neill
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Creators: Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
Based On: Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Creators: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz, Fay Kanin, and Michael Kanin
Based On: Seven plays by Arthur Schnitzler
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Creators: Noël Coward and Harry Kurnitz
Based On: The Sleeping Prince➝ by Terence Rattigan
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and N. Richard Nash
Based On: The Happy Time➝ by Samuel A. Taylor
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Creators: Frank Loesser
Based On: They Knew What They Wanted➝ by Sidney Howard
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Creators: James Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn, Roger O. Hirson, and Ketti Frings
Based On: Hobson’s Choice➝ by Harold Brighouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Based On: Romeo and Juliet➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Creators: Frank Loesser and George Abbott
Based On: Charley’s Aunt➝ by Brandon Thomas
Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)
Creators: Harold Rome, Arthur Kober, and Joshua Logan
Based On: Having Wonderful Time by Arthur Kober
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Joseph Fields, and Jerome Chodorov
Based On: My Sister Eileen➝ by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Creators: Hal Hester, Danny Apolinar, and Donald Driver
Based On: Twelfth Night➝ by William Shakespeare
Late 20th Century Musicals
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Norman L. Martin
Based On: Breath of Spring➝ by Peter Coke
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Creators: Frank Lazarus, Dick Vosburgh, and Others
Based On: The Bear➝ by Anton Chekhov
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Creators: Michael J. Lewis and Anthony Burgess
Based On: Cyrano de Bergerac➝ by Edmond Rostand
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Charles Strouse and Alan Jay Lerner
Based On: Idiot’s Delight➝ by Robert E. Sherwood
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Creators: Robert Wright, George Forrest, Maury Yeston and Luther Davis
Based On: Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1994)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Based On: La Ronde➝ by Arthur Schnitzler
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1977)
Creators: Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart
Based On: Viens chez moi, j’habite chez une copine by Luis Rego
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein
Based On: La Cage aux Folles by Jean Poiret
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Based On: Medea➝ by Euripides
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
Based On: Merrily We Roll Along➝ by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Michael Valenti and Donald Driver
Based On: The Comedy of Errors➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green
Based On: Twentieth Century by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
* Also based on the film, Twentieth Century➝
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, and Willis Hall
Based On: Peter Pan➝ by J.M. Barrie
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Creators: Cheryl West, Duke Ellington, and Others
Based On: Twelfth Night➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Creators: Gary Geld, Peter Udell, Ossie Davis, and Philip Rose
Based On: Purlie Victorious➝ by Ossie Davis
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Creators: Judd Woldin, Robert Brittan, Robert Nemiroff, and Charlotte Zaltzberg
Based On: A Raisin in the Sun➝ by Lorraine Hansberry
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Bob Carlton and Others
Based On: The Tempest➝ by William Shakespeare
* Also based on the film, Forbidden Planet➝
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1987)
Creators: Keith Herrmann and Barry Harman
Based On: Le pain de ménage by Jules Renard
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields and Michael Bennett
Based On: Two for the Seesaw➝ by William Gibson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler
Based On: Sweeney Todd➝ by Christopher Bond
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove, and Nathan Lane
Based On: The Frogs➝ by Aristophanes
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Jerry Herman, Michael Stewart, and Mark Bramble
Based On: Jacobowsky and the Colonel by S.N. Behrman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie
Based On: The Grass Harp➝ by Truman Capote
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Jeffrey Stock, Susan Birkenhead, and James Magruder
Based On: Le Triomphe de l’Amour by Pierre de Marivaux
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Martin Charnin, and Peter Stone
Based On: The Flowering Peach➝ by Clifford Odets
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: Galt MacDermot, John Guare, and Mel Shapiro
Based On: Two Gentlemen of Verona➝ by William Shakespeare
Contemporary Musicals
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Max Martin and David West Read
Based On: Romeo and Juliet➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Chazz Palminteri
Based On: A Bronx Tale➝ by Chazz Palminteri
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein
Based On: The Catered Affair by Paddy Chayefsky
* Also based on the film, The Catered Affair➝
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Joshua Schmidt, Jan Levy Tranen, and Austin Pendleton
Based On: Candida➝ by George Bernard Shaw
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Joshua Schmidt and Jason Loewith
Based On: The Adding Machine➝ by Elmer Rice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Based On: The House of Bernarda Alba➝ by Federico Garcia Lorca
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Barry Wyner
Based On: Cyrano de Bergerac➝ by Edmond Rostand
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Maury Yeston, Peter Stone, and Thomas Meehan
Based On: La Morte in Vacanza by Alberto Casella
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: David Friedman and Peter Kellogg
Based On: Measure for Measure➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Creators: Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen
Based On: A Midsummer Night’s Dream➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire
Based On: Kimberly Akimbo➝ by David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, and Frank Galati
Based On: A Death in the Family➝ by James Agee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Brad Carroll and Peter Sham
Based On: Lend Me a Tenor➝ by Ken Ludwig
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers
Based On: Love’s Labour’s Lost➝ by William Shakespeare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Lewis Flinn and Douglas Carter Beane
Based On: Lysistrata➝ by Aristophanes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez, Lisa Loomer, and Nell Benjamin
Based On: Real Women Have Curves➝ by Josefina López
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Creators: Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones
Based On: Roadside by Lynn Riggs
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater
Based On: Spring Awakening➝ by Frank Wedekind
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin
Based On: C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E by The Farm
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally
Based On: The Visit➝ by Friedrich Durrenmatt
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Shaina Taub and Kwame Kwei-Armah
Based On: Twelfth Night➝ by William Shakespeare