100+ Musicals About Family – The Full List of Shows
Last Updated: June 18, 2025
From heartwarming dramas to comedies and fantasies, there are many musicals that explore the complexities and joys of family life. These shows offer diverse perspectives on family bonds and dynamics. Here’s a full list of musicals about family, sorted by time period.
Post Contents:
Jazz Age Musicals About Family
Golden Age Musicals About Family
Jazz Age Musicals About Family
Music: Noel Gay Lyrics/Book: Douglas Furber, L. Arthur Rose
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
Family Themes: Inheritance, Expectations, Status
Golden Age Musicals About Family
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
Family Themes: Generational Values, Parental Influence
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1945)
Family Themes: Marriage, Fatherhood, Redemption
Music/Lyrics: Marc Blitzstein Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Family Themes: Family Breakdown, Parental Survival
Music/Lyrics/Book: Noël Coward
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Family Themes: Routines, Approval, Expectations
1960s Musicals About Family
Music/Lyrics/Book: James Goldman, John Kander, William Goldman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Family Themes: In-Law Conflict, Wedding Pressure
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart Book: Joan Maitland
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Family Themes: Parent-Child Relationships, Familial Love
Music/Lyrics: David Heneker, John Taylor Book: Hugh Williams, Margaret Vyner, Ray Cooney
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Family Themes: Duty, Expectations
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster Book: Pearl S. Buck, Charles K. Peck, Jr.
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Family Themes: In-Law Tension, Culture
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Family Themes: Parental Control, Traditions
Music/Lyrics: Walter Marks Book: Ernest Kinoy
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Family Themes: Single Fatherhood, Family Love
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
Music/Lyrics: Harold Rome Book: Jerome Weidman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Family Themes: Betrayal, Mother–Son Relationship
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1968)
Family Themes: Sibling Rivalry, Favoritism
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Family Themes: Aunt-Nephew Bond, Chosen Family
Miracle on 34th Street (Here’s Love)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Meredith Willson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Family Themes: Single Parenthood, Finding Family
Music: Ron Grainer Lyrics/Book: Ronald Millar
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Family Themes: Family Opposition, Independence
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Family Themes: Dissatisfaction, Emotional Detachment
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Family Themes: Parental Meddling, Coming of Age
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: N. Richard Nash
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Family Themes: Father–Son Relationships, Nostalgia
1970s Musicals About Family
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Family Themes: Orphanhood, Found Family
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Family Themes: Motherhood, Family Resilience
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Identity
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Family Themes: Father-Son Conflict, Chosen Family
Music: Judd Woldin Lyrics: Robert Brittan Book: Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Family Themes: Generational Struggle, Unity, Resilience
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Legacy
Music: Gary Geld Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell Book: Philip Rose, James Lee Barrett
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Family Themes: Father-Children Bond, Wartime Struggle
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Family Themes: Familial Bonds, Finding Home
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Family Themes: Patriarchal Tension, Family Survival
1980s Musicals About Family
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Sybille Pearson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Family Themes: Expecting Parenthood, Marital Change
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Family Themes: Separated Twins, Class Divide
Music: Polly Pen Lyrics: Peggy Harmon
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Family Themes: Sisterhood, Redemption
Music/Lyrics/Book: John Forster Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Family Themes: Childhood Perspective, Rebellion
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Family Themes: Parenting, Found Family
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Family Themes: Parenthood, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: 1944 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1989)
Family Themes: Family Unity, Traditions
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Family Themes: Legacy, Generational Distance
Music: Galt MacDermot Libretto: William Dumaresq
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Family Themes: Family Bonds, Loss
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Family Themes: Mother-Daughter Tension, Estrangement
1990s Musicals About Family
Music/Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe Book: Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Family Themes: Adoption, Belonging
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Family Themes: Motherhood, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Buttrose, Kathryn Riding
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Family Themes: Brotherhood, Reunion, Inheritance
Music/Book: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Tommy Greenwald
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Family Themes: Loss, Parenting, Grief
Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Book: Catherine Johnson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Family Themes: Single Motherhood, Paternity Mystery
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Family Themes: Adoption, Sacrifice, Tradition
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Family Themes: Generational Change, Identity, Society
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Family Themes: Single Motherhood, Mother-Daughter Relationship
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Roger Allers, Irene Mecchi
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Family Themes: Father–Son Legacy, Coming of Age
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics/Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Family Themes: Grief, Healing, Connection
Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend Book: Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Family Themes: Trauma, Parental Neglect, Dysfunction
2000s Musicals About Family
Music/Lyrics: John Bucchino Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Family Themes: Family Obligation, Wedding Pressure
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Joseph Robinette
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Family Themes: Nostalgia, Parent-Child Dynamics
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Family Themes: Sibling Relationship, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Family Themes: Maternal Control, Repression
Music/Lyrics/Book: Cinco Paul Book: Ken Daurio
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Family Themes: Overprotection, Mother-Son Relationship
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Family Themes: Motherhood, Resilience
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Family Themes: Father-Son Relationship, Dysfunction, Connection
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman Adaptations: Jeremy Sams, Ray Roderick
Musical Type: 1968 Film/Contemporary Musical (2002)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Family Love
Music/Lyrics: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez Book: Lindsay Anderson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Overprotection
Music: Mark Baron Lyrics/Book: Jeffrey Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Family Themes: Failed Parenting, Rejection, Isolation
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Family Themes: Co-Dependence, Mother-Daughter Bond
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Family Themes: Childhood Lens, Parent-Child Dynamics
Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Mindi Dickstein Book: Allan Knee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Family Themes: Sisterhood, Family Support
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: 1964 Film/Contemporary Musical (2004)
Family Themes: Parental Connection, Togetherness
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Family Themes: Mental Health, Loss, Parent-Child Strain
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Family Themes: Parental Pressure, Rebellion
Music/Lyrics: Boy George Music: Kevan Frost, John Themis, Richie Stevens Book: Charles Busch
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Family Themes: Chosen Family
Music/Lyrics: Phil Collins Book: David Henry Hwang
Musical Type: 1999 Film/Contemporary Musical (2006)
Family Themes: Adoption, Belonging
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Family Themes: Parental Expectations, Generational Humor
Music/Book: James Valcq Lyrics/Book: Fred Alley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Family Themes: Found Family, Redemption
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Family Themes: Legacy, Family Business
2010s Musicals About Family
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Chazz Palminteri
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Family Themes: Loyalty, Father-Son, Coming of Age
Music/Lyrics: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Distant Parents, Connection
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music/Lyrics: Steven Lutvak Lyrics/Book: Robert L. Freedman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Family Themes: Legacy, Inheritance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael R. Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Parental Expectations, Identity
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Family Themes: Home, Growth, Identity
Music/Lyrics: Eddie Perfect Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Family Themes: Grief, Loss, Family Bonds
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: David Greig
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family Themes: Parenting, Family Support
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Steven Levenson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Grief, Mother-Son Relationship
Music/Lyrics: Various Lyrics/Book: Nick Blaemire Adaptation: Madeline Smith
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Parent-Child Legacy, Identity
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin Book: Bob Martin, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Family Themes: Father-Son Bond, Belonging
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Music: Dan Gillespie Sells Lyrics/Book: Tom MacRae
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Mother-Son Relationship, Identity
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Richard Greenberg
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Conformity
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Brian Yorkey Book: Bridget Carpenter
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Family Themes: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Empathy
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez Book: Jennifer Lee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Sisterhood, Self-Sacrifice
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Lisa Kron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family Themes: Father-Daughter Relationship, Reflection
Music/Lyrics: Bob Dylan Book: Conor McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Broken Families, Surrogate Bonds
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family Themes: Family Harmony and Routine
Music: Barbara Anselmi Lyrics/Book: Brian Hargrove
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Family Themes: Wedding Pressure, Identity, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Family Themes: Unconventional Family Dynamics, Hope
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Christenson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Family Themes: Grief, Loss
Music/Lyrics: Richard Hawley Book: Chris Bush
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Generational History, Home
Music/Lyrics: Tom Kitt Book: John Logan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Single Parenting, Connection
Music: Doug Besterman Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Sibling Relationships, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael Webborn, Daniel Finn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Loss, Parental Control
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Music/Lyrics: Darren Clark Lyrics/Book: Jethro Compton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Time, Memory
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Greg Pierce
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family Themes: Marriage, Parenting
Music/Lyrics: Sting Book: Brian Yorkey, John Logan, Lorne Campbell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Family Themes: Father-Son Relationships, Generational Duty
Music/Lyrics: Tori Amos Lyrics/Book: Samuel Adamson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Family Themes: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Self-Discovery
Music/Lyrics/Book: Benjamin Scheuer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Family Themes: Loss, Fathers, Coming-of-Age
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kait Kerrigan, Bree Lowdermilk
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Mother-Daughter Expectations, Coming-of-Age
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Jules Feiffer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Father-Son Relationships, Self-Worth
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Philip LaZebnik
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Sibling Rivalry, Faith, Duty
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
Music/Lyrics: Pippa Cleary Lyrics/Book: Jake Brunger
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Family Tension, Growing Up
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jeff Blim Book: Matt Lang, Nick Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Family Themes: Family Bond, Struggle, Parenting
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Family Themes: Parenting, Mortality
Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Barne, Kit Buchan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Weddings, Family Connections
Music/Lyrics: Drew Gasparini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Family Themes: Growing Up, Nostalgia
2020s Musicals About Family
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Family Themes: Marriage, Addiction
Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Family Themes: Mother–Daughter Bond, Identity
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Legacy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Family Themes: Divorce, Parenting
Music/Lyrics: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez Book: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Family Themes: Generational Conflict, Cultural Expectations
Music/Lyrics: Kate Diaz Lyrics/Book: Tina Landau
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Family Themes: Loss, Healing, Resilience
Music/Lyrics/Book: Justin Levine Music/Lyrics: Jonathan Clay, Zach Chance Book: Adam Rapp
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Family Themes: Brotherhood, Found Family
Music/Lyrics: Dave Malloy Lyrics/Book: Lucy Kirkwood
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Family Themes: Intergenerational Bonds
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Family Themes: Generational Trauma and Healing
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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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
