32+ 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
Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Band It’s About: The Temptations
Music/Lyrics: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Cameron Crowe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Band It’s About: Multiple
Music/Lyrics: Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Band It’s About: Fictional Christian Boy Band
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Floyd Mutrux, Colin Escott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Band It’s About: Multiple
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
Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard Oberacker Lyrics/Book: Robert Taylor
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Buddy Holly, Various Book: Alan Janes
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Band It’s About: Buddy Holly and Band
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan Book: Clarke Peters
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Band It’s Based on: Louis Jordan and his band
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Bob Marley Book: Lee Hall
Musical Type: Contemporary (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
Music: Barry Manilow Lyrics/Book: Bruce Sussman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Band It’s About: The Comedian Harmonists
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
Music: Bob Gaudio Lyrics: Bob Crewe Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Band It’s About: The Four Seasons
Music/Lyrics: Helen Park, Max Vernon Book: Jason Kim
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: The Beatles
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Band It’s About: The Beatles
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Band It’s About: Various Bands of the 1950s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová Book: Enda Walsh
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Gloria & Emilio Estefan, Miami Sound Machine Book: Alexander Dinelaris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Band It’s About: Gloria & Emilio Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
Music/Lyrics: Duke Ellington, Various Book: Cheryl L. West
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Chris D’Arienzo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Band It’s About: Various/Fictional
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Gary Clark, John Carney Book: Enda Walsh
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Matthew López, Amber Ruffin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Band It’s About: Fictional All-Female Band
Music/Lyrics: Ray Davies Book: Joe Penhall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Band It’s About: The Kinks
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Paul Kelly
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Band It’s Based on: Various Swing Bands
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Itamar Moses
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Band It’s About: Fictional
Music/Lyrics/Book: Benjamin Scheuer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Band It’s About: Benjamin Scheuer’s Various Bands
Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Band It’s About: A Fictional Marching Band
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Book: Tim Herlihy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Band It’s About: A Fictional Wedding Singer/Band
Music/Lyrics: Queen Book: Ben Elton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Band It’s Based on: Queen/Fictional
Want to stay in the loop with all things related to musical theatre?
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!
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.