
15+ Musicals About Immigration – The Full List
Last Updated: May 6, 2025
From dramas and revues to stories of resilience, many musicals delve into the experience of immigration. These shows offer diverse perspectives on the journeys of those starting a new life in a different country. Here’s a full alphabetical list of musicals about immigration.
Musicals About Immigration
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jay Kuo Book: Marc Acito, Lorenzo Thione
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Drama
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Drama
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: David Henry Hwang, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Genre: Romantic Dramedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Biography
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda Book: Quiara Alegría Hudes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Genre: Dramedy
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Genre: Drama
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Joseph Stein Revisions: David Thompson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Genre: Drama
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez Book: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Genre: Romantic Drama
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Genre: Romantic Dramedy
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: James Lapine, Peter Parnell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson Book: Richard Morris
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Genre: Semi-Biography / Western
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey Book: Kwame Kwei-Armah
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Mel Marvin, Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Genre: Drama
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Genre: Romantic Drama
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Know of any other great musicals about immigration?
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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.
