41 of the Most Classic Musicals of All Time
Whether you’re auditioning for musicals, setting up your rep book, or simply looking for some new musicals to get into, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. And that’s why we’ve put together this list of the most classic musicals of all time for you below, sorted alphabetically.
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42nd Street
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1980)
A Chorus Line
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: James Kirkwood Jr., Nicholas Dante
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Allegro
Music: Richard Rodgers Book/Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
Annie
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Annie Get Your Gun
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Dorothy Fields, Herbert Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Anything Goes
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
Babes in Arms
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
Bye Bye Birdie
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Cabaret
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Joe Masteroff
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Camelot
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Carousel
Music: Richard Rodgers Book/Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1945)
Damn Yankees
Music: Richard Adler Lyrics: Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Douglass Wallop
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Fiddler on the Roof
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Funny Girl
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Isobel Lennart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin Book: Joseph Fields, Anita Loos
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Grease
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Guys and Dolls
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
Gypsy
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Hello, Dolly!
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Jesus Christ Superstar
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1968)
Kiss Me, Kate
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Bella & Samuel Spewack
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Mary Poppins
Music/Lyrics: The Sherman Brothers, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age/Contemporary (2004)
Meet Me in St. Louis
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: 1944 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1989)
My Fair Lady
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Oklahoma!
Music: Richard Rodgers Book/Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
Oliver!
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
On the Town
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1944)
Once Upon a Mattress
Music: Mary Rodgers Lyrics: Marshall Barer Book: Thompson, Barer, Fuller
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Peter Pan
Music: Styne, Charlap, Rittman Lyrics: Comden, Green, Leigh Book: Barrie
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Pippin
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson, Bob Fosse
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Show Boat
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Singin’ in the Rain
Music: Nacio Herb Brown Lyrics: Arthur Freed Book: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Musical Type: Golden Age/Pre-Contemporary (1952/1983)
South Pacific
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Joshua Logan
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Sweet Charity
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
The King and I
Music: Richard Rodgers Book/Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
The Music Man
Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson Book: Franklin Lacey, Wilson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
The Sound of Music
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
The Wizard of Oz
Music: Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart Lyrics: E.Y. Harburg Book: John Kane
Musical Type: Jazz Age/Pre-Contemporary (1939/1987)
West Side Story
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Other blog posts you might like:
• Rodgers and Hammerstein Musicals
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Which of these classic musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the classic 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
