Musical Lists

Canadian Musicals – The Full List of Major Shows

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

While Canada may not have a large number of mainstream musicals, it has produced several notable shows. Whether a musical was created by a Canadian writer or premiered in the country, you’ll find it listed below. Here’s a full list of Canadian musicals.


The creative teams for the following include at least one Canadian writer or composer.


Anne of Green Gables

Music/Lyrics: Norman Campbell  Lyrics/Book: Donald Harron, Elaine Campbell, Mavor Moore

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)

Where It Premiered: The Charlottetown Festival


Come From Away

Music/Lyrics/Book: Irene Sankoff, David Hein

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Where It Premiered: Sheridan College, Toronto


Evil Dead

Music/Lyrics/Book: George Reinblatt  Music: Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Where It Premiered: The Tranzac Club, Toronto


Nevermore

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Christenson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Where It Premiered: The Catalyst Theater, Alberta


Ride the Cyclone

Music/Lyrics/Book: Brooke Maxwell, Jacob Richmond

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Where It Premiered: Atomic Vaudeville, Victoria, BC


The Drowsy Chaperone

Music/Lyrics: Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison  Book: Bob Martin, Don McKellar

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)

Where It Premiered: The Rivoli, Toronto


The Story of My Life

Music/Lyrics: Neil Bartram  Book: Brian Hill

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Where It Premiered: Canadian Stage Company, Toronto


The Theory of Relativity

Music/Lyrics: Neil Bartram  Book: Brian Hill

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Where It Was Commissioned: The Canadian Music Theatre Project, Toronto


These musicals were not written by Canadians, but they had their premiere in the country.


Camelot

Music: Frederick Loewe  Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)

Where It Premiered: The O’Keefe Centre, Toronto


Ragtime

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens  Book: Terrence McNally

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Where It Premiered: Toronto Centre for the Arts, Toronto


The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics/Book: David Spencer

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Where It Premiered: Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Edmonton


The Lord of the Rings

Music: A.R. Rahman, Christopher Nightingale, Värttinä  Lyrics/Book: Matthew Warchus, Shaun McKenna

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Where It Premiered: Princess of Wales Theatre, Toronto


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Which of these Canadian musicals is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of the above Canadian musicals? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much 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 ListShe holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.

Photo of Stacy Karyn

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