21+ Musicals About Bands – The Full List of Shows

Whether you’re doing some research, putting on a show, or simply looking for 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 for you. A full list of musicals about bands are listed below, sorted alphabetically!


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.


Musicals About Bands

Ain’t Too Proud

Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog  Book: Dominique Morisseau

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)

Band It’s About: The Temptations


Altar Boyz

Music/Lyrics: Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker  Book: Kevin Del Aguila

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Band It’s About: Fictional Christian Boy Band


Band Geeks

Music: Mark Allen  Music/Lyrics: Gaby Alter  Music/Lyrics/Book: Tommy Newman  Book: Gordon Greenberg

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Band It’s About: High School Marching Band


Bandstand

Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard Oberacker  Lyrics/Book: Robert Taylor

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Brooklyn Crush

Music/Lyrics/Book: David Eric Davis  Book: Sam Forman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Music/Lyrics: Buddy Holly, Various  Book: Alan Janes

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1989)

Band It’s About: Buddy Holly and Band


Cambodian Rock Band

Music/Lyrics: Dengue Fever  Book: Lauren Yee

Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Dreamgirls

Music: Henry Krieger  Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)

Band It’s About: R&B Bands of the 1960s/70s


Five Guys Named Moe

Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan  Book: Clarke Peters

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1990)

Band It’s Based on: Louis Jordan and his band


Get Up, Stand Up!

Music/Lyrics: Bob Marley  Book: Lee Hall

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2021)

Band It’s About: Bob Marley and the Wailers


Gettin’ the Band Back Together

Music/Lyrics: Mark Allen  Book: Ken Davenport, The Grundleshotz

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Band It’s About: Fictional


I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road

Music: Nancy Ford  Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Jersey Boys

Music: Bob Gaudio  Lyrics: Bob Crewe  Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2004)

Band It’s About: The Four Seasons


Motown: The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Berry Gordy

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)

Band It’s About: Various Bands of the 1950s-1980s


Once

Music/Lyrics: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová  Book: Enda Walsh

Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)

Band It’s About: Fictional


On Your Feet!

Music/Lyrics: Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Miami Sound Machine  Book: Alexander Dinelaris

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2015)

Band It’s About: Gloria & Emilio Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine


Play On!

Music/Lyrics: Duke Ellington, Various  Book: Cheryl L. West

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Rock of Ages

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Chris D’Arienzo

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2005)

Band It’s About: Various/Fictional


School of Rock

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book: Julian Fellowes

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Sing Street

Music/Lyrics: Gary Clark, John Carney  Book: Enda Walsh

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Band It’s About: Fictional


Sugar

Music: Jule Styne  Lyrics: Bob Merrill  Book: Peter Stone

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)

Band It’s About: Fictional All-Female Band


Swing!

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Paul Kelly

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1999)

Band It’s Based on: Various Swing Bands


The Band’s Visit

Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek  Book: Itamar Moses

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Band It’s About: Fictional


The Music Man

Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson

Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)

Band It’s About: A Fictional Marching Band


The Wedding Singer

Music: Matthew Sklar  Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin  Book: Tim Herlihy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Band It’s About: A Fictional Wedding Singer/Band


We Will Rock You

Music/Lyrics: Queen  Book: Ben Elton

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2002)

Band It’s Based on: Queen/Fictional


Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!

Sign up for Theatre Thursday.


Which of these musicals about bands is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals about bands? 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!


Stacy Karyn, author of Musicals about Bands.
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.


 

Leave a Reply

Skip to content