The Bock and Harnick Musicals – A Full List
Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick were a majorly successful Tony Award winning songwriting duo who together created one musical theatre hit after another. And for your convenience, here is our list of the classic and ground-breaking Bock and Harnick musicals, sorted chronologically.
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Bock and Harnick Musicals
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein, Will Glickman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
This was the first collaboration between Bock and Harnick. And, although it was not a major success, it did grab the attention of George Abbott and Hal Prince, who hired them to write the music for Fiorello!
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Jerome Weidman, George Abbott
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Fiorello! debuted on Broadway in 1959 and was a considerably larger success than The Body Beautiful. The show won a Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: George Abbott, Jerome Weidman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Based on the 1959 novel of the same name, Tenderloin tells the story of a reverend who attempts to shut down Manhattan’s red-light district.
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joe Masteroff
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
She Loves Me is one of Bock and Harnick’s most successful musicals and is still often revived today. It also made history as the first Broadway show to be live-streamed!
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Not only was Fiddler on the Roof Bock and Harnick’s most successful musical, but it also remains one of the most successful musicals internationally today. It even held the record for “longest-running Broadway show” for almost 10 years (before Grease took over) and won nine Tony Awards!
Music/Book: Jerry Bock Lyrics/Book: Sheldon Harnick Book: Jerome Coopersmith
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
The Apple Tree is a series of three one-acts that are based on three different sources and all tied together with a central theme. The show premiered on Broadway in 1966.
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
The Rothschilds was the last collaboration between Bock and Harnick. The show earned nine Tony nominations and had a successful Broadway revival in 1990. It was later revised as Rothschild & Sons in 2015.
* Bock and Harnick also contributed songs to the musical Baker Street in 1965.
Musicals by Sheldon Harnick
1952: New Faces of 1952
1958: Portofino
1961: Smiling, the Boy Fell Dead
1973: Pinocchio
1976: Rex
1981: A Christmas Carol
1986: A Wonderful Life
2003: Dragons
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Which of these Bock and Harnick musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of these musicals by Bock and Harnick? Feel free to share in the comments! 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.