101+ Comedic Musicals – The Full List
Whether you’re a musical theatre producer or simply looking for the funniest musicals ever, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. Comedy is an art form and there are loads of funny musicals to choose from. And that’s why we’ve put together this list of comedic musicals for you below, sorted by time period.
By the way, I will also be making specific lists for dramedies, parodies, dark comedies, and romantic comedies in the future. The following shows fall into the generic genre of “comedic musicals” and will have you roaring with laughter!
And here’s Theatre Trip’s matching Spotify playlist – “Laugh Out Loud Musicals”➝.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
Contents:
Comedic Pre-Jazz Age Musicals
Music: Arthur Sullivan Lyrics: W.S. Gilbert
Musical Type: Opera (1879)
Comedic Jazz Age Musicals
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1980)
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: Herbert Fields
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
Music: Ray Henderson Lyrics/Book: B.G. DeSylva Lyrics: Lew Brown Book: Laurence Schwab
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1924)
Music: Vincent Youmans Lyrics: Irving Caesar Lyrics/Book: Otto Harbach Book: Frank Mandel
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1925)
Music/Lyrics: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle Book: F.E. Miller, Aubrey Lyles, George C. Wolfe
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1921)
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: George Grossmith, P.G. Wodehouse
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1922)
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1925)
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics: Schuyler Green Book: Philip Bartholomae, Guy Bolton
Musical Type: Pre-Jazz Age (1915)
Comedic Golden Age Musicals
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Dan Shapiro Book: Guy Bolton, Eddie Davis
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: John Cecil Holm
Musical Type: Golden Age (1941)
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart
Musical Type: Golden Age (1942)
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Music/Lyrics: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Douglass Wallop
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin Book: Joseph Fields, Anita Loos
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Music: Leroy Anderson Lyrics: Joan Ford Lyrics/Book: Jean Kerr, Walter Kerr
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Hilliard Book: Ben Hecht
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Sammy Cahn Book: Stephen Longstreet
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rick Besoyan
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1944)
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener, George Weiss Book: Joseph Stein, Will Glickman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Music/Lyrics: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans Book: Al Morgan, José Ferrer
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1944)
Music: Mary Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Marshall Barer Book: Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Music: Albert Hague Lyrics: Arnold Horwitt Book: Joseph Stein, Will Glickman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Herbert Fields, Dorothy Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Sandy Wilson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Music: Sigmund Romberg Lyrics: Leo Robin Book: Jerome Chodorov, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Music/Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Hy Kraft
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Joseph Fields, Jerome Chodorov
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Comedic 1960s Musicals
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)
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Mel Brooks
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Music: Milton Schafer Lyrics: Ronny Graham Book: A.J. Russell
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Music/Lyrics: David Heneker, John Taylor Book: Hugh Williams, Margaret Vyner, Ray Cooney
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Music: Jim Wise Lyrics/Book: George Haimsohn, Robin Miller
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Sandy Wilson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Garson Kanin
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Music: Lee Pockriss Lyrics/Book: Anne Croswell
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Music: Elmer Bernstein Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Max Shulman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Music/Lyrics: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans Book: Abram S. Ginnes
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Noël Coward
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Music: James Van Heusen Lyrics: Sammy Cahn Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Music: Mary Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Larry Siegel Lyrics: Marshall Barer, Steven Vinaver Book: Stan Hart Additional Song: Stephen Sondheim
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Music: Lee Pockriss Lyrics: Anne Croswell Book: David Shaw
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Music: James Van Heusen Lyrics: Sammy Cahn Book: Roger O. Hirson, Ketti Frings
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Music/Lyrics: Hal Hester, Danny Apolinar Book: Donald Driver
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Comedic 1970s Musicals
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: David Thompson, Norman L. Martin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Music: Frank Lazarus, Various Lyrics/Book: Dick Vosburgh
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams Book: Alan Parker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Alan Ayckbourn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin, Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Anita Loos, Joseph Fields, Kenny Solms, Gail Parent
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Music: Larry Grossman Lyrics: Hal Hackady Book: Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, Michael Grace
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Music/Lyrics: Carol Hall Book: Larry L. King, Peter Masterson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard O’Brien
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics/Book: John Guare Book: Mel Shapiro
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Comedic 1980s Musicals
3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down
Music: Michael Rupert Lyrics/Book: Jerry Colker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Music: Elizabeth Swados Lyrics/Book: Garry Trudeau
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Music: Rob Bowman Lyrics/Book: David H. Bell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Music/Lyrics: Tom Lehrer Adaptation: Cameron Mackintosh, Robin Ray
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Comedic 1990s Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Buttrose, Kathryn Riding
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Music: Jimmy Roberts Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert Longden, Hereward Kaye
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Joseph Dougherty
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Robert Schrock
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Music/Lyrics: Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison Book: Bob Martin, Don McKellar
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Music: Dick Gallagher Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark Waldrop Concept: Howard Crabtree
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Music: Dana P. Rowe Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Comedic 2000s Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Dolly Parton Book: Patricia Resnick
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx Book: Jeff Whitty
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Cinco Paul Book: Ken Daurio
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music/Lyrics: Adam Schlesinger, David Javerbaum Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Jeffrey Lane
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Martin Short, Daniel Goldfarb
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams Book: Garry Marshall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Music/Lyrics: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe Book: Heather Hach
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Music: John Du Prez Music/Lyrics/Book: Eric Idle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: Rachel Sheinkin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Music/Lyrics: David Nehls Book: Betsy Kelso
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: 1967 Film/Contemporary Musical (2001)
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Book: Tim Herlihy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen Book: Hunter Bell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music/Lyrics: Mark Hollmann Lyrics/Book: Greg Kotis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Comedic 2010s Musicals
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music/Lyrics: Steven Lutvak Lyrics/Book: Robert L. Freedman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Music/Lyrics: Eddie Perfect Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Anthony Drewe Book: Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Blim Book: Matt Lang, Nick Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Woody Allen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jack Plotnick, Seth Rudetsky
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin Book: Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Music/Lyrics: Jimmy Buffett Book: Greg Garcia, Mike O’Malley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music/Lyrics: The Go-Go’s Book: Jeff Whitty, James Magruder
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Andrew Bergman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music: Brad Carroll Lyrics/Book: Peter Sham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Music/Lyrics: Lewis Flinn Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Music: Jeff Richmond Lyrics: Nell Benjamin Book: Tina Fey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music/Lyrics: Nicky Ager Lyrics/Book: Debbie Isitt
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Whitehouse, Jim Sullivan Music: John Sullivan, Chas Hodges
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music/Lyrics: Clark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers Book: Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, Brian Rosenthal
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Blim Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes
Music: Michael Kooman Lyrics/Book: Christopher Dimond
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Kyle Jarrow
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Robert Horn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Comedic 2020s Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Clark Baxtresser
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Music/Lyrics: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard Book: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Chris Miller, Nathan Tysen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Keith Harrison, Laura Schein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music/Lyrics: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally Book: Robert Horn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Matthew López, Amber Ruffin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
The Great British Bake Off Musical
Music/Lyrics: Pippa Cleary Lyrics/Book: Jake Brunger
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Other blog posts you might like:
• Musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein
• How to Get Cheap Theatre Tickets
Want to stay in the loop with all things related to musical theatre?
Which of these comedic musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musical comedies? 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.