Detective Musicals – The Complete List
The following list includes 15+ detective musicals, focusing on mystery, investigation, and detective characters. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
Detective Musicals
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Fred Ebb Book: Norman L. Martin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
The Detective: Detective Callahan
Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Rachel Axler, Kait Kerrigan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
The Detective: Detective Case
Music/Lyrics: Duncan Sheik Book: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
The Detective: Donald Kimball
Music/Lyrics: Marian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel Book: Jerome Coopersmith Additional Songs: Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
The Detective: Sherlock Holmes
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Larry Gelbart
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
The Detective: Stone
Music/Lyrics: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
The Detective: Lieutenant Frank Cioffi
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics: Jack Murphy Book: Ivan Menchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
The Detective: L
Music/Lyrics: Dave Stewart, Glen Ballard Lyrics/Book: Bruce Joel Rubin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
The Detective: Detective Beiderman
Music/Book: Joe Kinosian Lyrics/Book: Kellen Blair
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
The Wannabe Detective: Marcus Moscowicz
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Blim Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
The Detective: Detective Shapiro
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
The Detective: Nick
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
The Detective: Detective Starnes
Music: Albert Hague Lyrics/Book: Dorothy Fields Book: Herbert Fields, Sidney Sheldon, David Shaw
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
The Detective: Inspector White
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
The Detective: Sherlock Holmes
Music/Lyrics/Book: James McDonald, David Vos, Robert Gerlach Music: Ed Linderman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
The Detective: Miss Tweed
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
The Detective: Dick Datchery
Related Pages
Last Reviewed: October 31, 2025