Musical Lists

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.



Allegiance

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jay Kuo  Book: Marc Acito, Lorenzo Thione

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Genre: Drama


Fiddler on the Roof

Music: Jerry Bock  Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick  Book: Joseph Stein

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)

Genre: Drama


Flower Drum Song

Music: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II  Book: David Henry Hwang, Joseph Fields

Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)

Genre: Romantic Dramedy


Hamilton

Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Genre: Biography


I Remember Mama

Music: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel  Book: Thomas Meehan

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)

Genre: Dramedy


In the Heights

Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda  Book: Quiara Alegría Hudes

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Genre: Dramedy


Miss Saigon

Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg  Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Genre: Drama


Rags

Music: Charles Strouse  Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: Joseph Stein  Revisions: David Thompson

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)

Genre: Drama


Ragtime

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens  Book: Terrence McNally

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Genre: Drama


Real Women Have Curves

Music/Lyrics: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez  Book: Lisa Loomer, Nell Benjamin

Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)

Genre: Dramedy


The Bridges of Madison County

Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown  Book: Marsha Norman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Genre: Romantic Drama


The Grand Tour

Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman  Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)

Genre: Romantic Dramedy


The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz  Book: James Lapine, Peter Parnell

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)

Genre: Drama


The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson  Book: Richard Morris

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)

Genre: Semi-Biography / Western


The Visitor

Music: Tom Kitt  Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey  Book: Kwame Kwei-Armah

Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)

Genre: Drama


Tintypes

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Mel Marvin, Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)

Genre: Revue


Titanic

Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston  Book: Peter Stone

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Genre: Drama


West Side Story

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 ListShe holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.

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