30 Beautiful Musicals That Will Leave You in Awe
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and musicals are no exception. However, there are some musicals that stand out to me for their seamless blend of music and story, emotional lyrics, and captivating nature. Here are 30 of the most beautiful musicals that, in my opinion, are not to be missed.
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Beautiful Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater Book: Jessie Nelson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Dramedy
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Book: Steve Martin Music/Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Genre: Drama
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1945)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Irene Sankoff, David Hein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Peter Stone, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics: Michael Korie, Amy Powers Book: Michael Weller
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Genre: Drama
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Tina Landau
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Genre: Tragedy
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Biography
Music/Lyrics/Book: Anaïs Mitchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Mythic Fantasy
Music/Lyrics/Book: The Bengsons Book: Sarah Gancher
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Paul Gordon Lyrics/Book: John Caird
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Music/Lyrics: Robert Wright, George Forrest Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová Book: Enda Walsh
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Genre: Romance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Abstract
Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
Music/Lyrics/Book: Andrew R. Butler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Genre: Science Fiction
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Shapera
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Science Fiction
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Music: A.R. Rahman, Christopher Nightingale, Värttinä Lyrics/Book: Matthew Warchus, Shaun McKenna
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Sigmund Romberg Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II, Frank Mandel, Laurence Schwab
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Genre: Adventure
Music: Vincent Youmans Lyrics: Edward Heyman Book: Brian Hooker
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)
Genre: Romance
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Which of these beautiful musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the beautiful musicals above? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and more!
Author: Stacy Karyn
Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.