Biography Musicals
The following list includes biography musicals that are based on or partially based on the lives of real people. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
On This Page:
Autobiographical Musicals
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater and Chazz Palminteri
Based On: Chazz Palminteri
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: William Finn and James Lapine
Based On: William Finn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe
Based On: Cameron Crowe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Creators: Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott, and Others
Based On: Sherie Rene Scott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Martin Short, and Daniel Goldfarb
Based On: Martin Short
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Alicia Keys, Kristoffer Diaz, and Others
Based On: Alicia Keys
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher
Based On: Abigail and Shaun Bengson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
Based On: Stephen Sondheim
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Creators: Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Abe Burrows, Marian Bissell, and Richard Bissell
Based On: Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Creators: Boy George, Kevan Frost, John Themis, Richie Stevens, and Charles Busch
Based On: Boy George
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Benjamin Scheuer
Based On: Benjamin Scheuer
Musical Type: Late 20th Century/Contemporary (1990/2001)
Creators: Jonathan Larson
Based On: Jonathan Larson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Drew Gasparini
Based On: Drew Gasparini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews
Based On: Griffin Matthews
Biographical Musicals
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Neil Diamond and Anthony McCarten
Based On: Neil Diamond
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Creators: Edward Kleban, Linda Kline, and Lonny Price
Based On: Edward Kleban
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Janis Joplin, Randy Johnson, and Others
Based On: Janis Joplin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Robert J. Sherman, Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, and Robert B. Sherman
Based On: The Sherman Brothers
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: The Legendary Motown Catalog and Dominique Morisseau
Based On: The Temptations
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Creators: Floyd Mutrux, Colin Escott, and Others
Based On: Florence Greenberg
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1980)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart, and Mark Bramble
Based On: P.T. Barnum
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Douglas McGrath
Based On: Carole King
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Mark Sandrich, Jr. and Sidney Michaels
Based On: Ben Franklin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers
Based On: Andrew Jackson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Creators: Buddy Holly, Alan Janes, and Others
Based On: Buddy Holly
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan
Based On: Charlie Chaplin
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
Creators: André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner
Based On: Coco Chanel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro
Based On: Princess Diana
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Based On: Eva Perón
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Fela Kuti, Bill T. Jones, and Jim Lewis
Based On: Fela Kuti
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Jerome Weidman, and George Abbott
Based On: Fiorello La Guardia
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, and Isobel Lennart
Based On: Fanny Brice
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Creators: George M. Cohan, Mary Cohan, Michael Stewart, John Pascal, and Francine Pascal
Based On: George M. Cohan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Bob Marley and Lee Hall
Based On: Bob Marley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright
Based On: “Big” and “Little” Edie Bouvier Beale
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Based On: Gypsy Rose Lee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Based On: Alexander Hamilton
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman
Based On: The Comedian Harmonists
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
Based On: Imelda Marcos
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
Creators: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, and Jay Presson Allen
Based On: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: Jelly Roll Morton, Luther Henderson, Susan Birkenhead, and George C. Wolfe
Based On: Jelly Roll Morton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: Bob Gaudio, Bob Crewe, Marshall Brickman, and Rick Elice
Based On: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
Creators: Bill Jacob, Patti Jacob, and Melville Shavelson
Based On: Jimmy Walker
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1995)
Creators: Francis Essex, Rob Bettinson, and Others
Based On: Al Jolson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2025)
Creators: Warren Leight, Isaac Oliver, and Others
Based On: Bobby Darin
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Todd Matshikiza, Pat Williams, and Harry Bloom
Based On: Ezekiel Dlamini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer
Based On: Tamara de Lempicka
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty, Gertrude Stein, and Frank Galati
Based On: Gertrude Stein
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Creators: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins, and Others
Based On: Bessie Smith
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Colin Escott, Floyd Mutrux, and Others
Based On: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Lynn Nottage and Others
Based On: Michael Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Berry Gordy and Others
Based On: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Jonathan Christenson
Based On: Edgar Allan Poe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Miami Sound Machine, and Alexander Dinelaris
Based On: Gloria & Emilio Estefan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Based On: Annie Edson Taylor
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Sheldon Harnick, and Sherman Yellen
Based On: King Henry VIII
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Johnny Cash, Bill Meade, and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Based On: Johnny Cash
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: David Pomeranz, David Friedman, and Kathie Lee Gifford
Based On: Aimee Semple McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Eddie Perfect
Based On: Shane Warne
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Henry Krieger and Bill Russell
Based On: Daisy and Violet Hilton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Based On: The six wives of Henry VIII
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara, Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff, and Others
Based On: Donna Summer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Ray Davies and Joe Penhall
Based On: The Kinks
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Peter Allen, Nick Enright, and Martin Sherman
Based On: Peter Allen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Paul Simon and Derek Walcott
Based On: Salvador Agrón
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Rick Elice and Others
Based On: Cher
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Ed Curtis and Others
Based On: Faye Treadwell and The Drifters
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary (1965/2005)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Based On: Thomas John Barnardo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Creators: Stephen Schwartz and Lindsey Ferrentino
Based On: Jackie Siegel
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Creators: Meredith Willson and Richard Morris
Based On: Margaret Brown
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins, and Others
Based On: Tina Turner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright
Based On: Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein