Musicals About Family – The Complete List
Last Updated: June 18, 2025
The following list includes 100+ musicals about family, focusing on familial relationships and generational dynamics. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
On This Page:
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: George Weiss, Robert Goldman, Glenn Paxton Book: Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Family Themes: Mothers, Siblings
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: Post-Golden Age (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: Late 20th Century (1976)
Family Themes: Orphanhood, Found Family
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Family Themes: Motherhood, Family Resilience
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Identity
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
Family Themes: Father-Son Conflict, Chosen Family
Music: Judd Woldin Lyrics: Robert Brittan Book: Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Family Themes: Generational Struggle, Unity, Resilience
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Family Themes: Fatherhood, Legacy
Music: Gary Geld Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell Book: Philip Rose, James Lee Barrett
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Family Themes: Father-Children Bond, Wartime Struggle
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Family Themes: Familial Bonds, Finding Home
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Family Themes: Patriarchal Tension, Family Survival
1980s Musicals About Family
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Sybille Pearson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Family Themes: Expecting Parenthood, Marital Change
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Family Themes: Separated Twins, Class Divide
Music: Polly Pen Lyrics: Peggy Harmon
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Family Themes: Sisterhood, Redemption
Music/Lyrics/Book: John Forster Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Family Themes: Childhood Perspective, Rebellion
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1986)
Family Themes: Parenting, Found Family
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Family Themes: Parenthood, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: 1944 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1989)
Family Themes: Family Unity, Traditions
Sunday in the Park with George
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Family Themes: Legacy, Generational Distance
Music: Galt MacDermot Libretto: William Dumaresq
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Family Themes: Family Bonds, Loss
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Family Themes: Mother-Daughter Tension, Estrangement
1990s Musicals About Family
Music/Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe Book: Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Family Themes: Adoption, Belonging
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Family Themes: Marital Strain, Fatherhood
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Tina Landau
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1994)
Family Themes: Deep Bonds, Loss, Love
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Family Themes: Motherhood, Acceptance
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Buttrose, Kathryn Riding
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Family Themes: Brotherhood, Reunion, Inheritance
Music/Book: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Tommy Greenwald
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1995)
Family Themes: Loss, Parenting, Grief
Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Book: Catherine Johnson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Family Themes: Single Motherhood, Paternity Mystery
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Family Themes: Adoption, Sacrifice, Tradition
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Family Themes: Generational Change, Identity, Society
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Family Themes: Single Motherhood, Mother-Daughter Relationship
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Roger Allers, Irene Mecchi
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Family Themes: Father–Son Legacy, Coming of Age
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics/Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Family Themes: Grief, Healing, Connection
Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend Book: Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (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
Music/Lyrics: Elyssa Samsel, Kate Anderson Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Family Themes: Mother/Daughter Relationships, Divorce
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