Musicals About Musicals and Theatre
The following list includes musicals about musicals and theatre, featuring metamusicals that reference or comment on theatre itself. Additional lists are available in the musical database.
On This Page:
Musicals That Break the Fourth Wall
Musicals About Musicals
These metamusicals feature musical theatre or a fictional musical in the plot.
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1980)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1975)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: Linda Kline, Lonny Price
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Genre: Biography
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael R. Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Anything Can Happen in the Theater
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Concept: Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Book: Barry Manilow Lyrics/Book: Bruce Sussman, Jack Feldman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Music/Lyrics: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Mystery
Music: Jim Wise Lyrics/Book: George Haimsohn, Robin Miller
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music: Brad Alexander Lyrics/Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Moss Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
Music: Various Lyrics/Book: Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Type: Series (1980s-2020s)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music/Lyrics: George M. Cohan Lyrics: Mary Cohan Book: Michael Stewart, John Pascal, Francine Pascal
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Genre: Biography
Music/Lyrics/Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: David Simpatico
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: William Finn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics: Various
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Concept: Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Bella Spewack, Samuel Spewack
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics: Various Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Genre: Drama
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Genre: Autobiography / Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert Longden, Hereward Kaye
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Nicky Ager Lyrics/Book: Debbie Isitt
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jerry Herman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: David Thompson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Revue
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Genre: Dark Comedy
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Abe Burrows, Marian & Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Genre: Autobiography / Comedy / Spoof
Music/Lyrics: Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed Book: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Musical Type: 1952 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1983)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Rick Elice, Bob Martin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2025)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: David Henry Hwang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Comedy
Music: John Du Prez Music/Lyrics/Book: Eric Idle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music: Various Lyrics/Book: Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Genre: Comedy / Parody
Music/Lyrics: Lisa Lambert, Greg Morrison Book: Bob Martin, Don McKellar
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Blim Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Genre: Comedy / Horror
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Music/Book: Eric Rockwell Lyrics/Book: Joanne Bogart
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes
Music: Michael Kooman Lyrics/Book: Christopher Dimond
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Book: Bob Martin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Genre: Revue
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Larson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century/Contemporary (1990/2001)
Genre: Autobiography
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen Book: Hunter Bell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Robert Horn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart Book: Harvey Orkin, Julian Woolford
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Dick Gallagher Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark Waldrop Concept: Howard Crabtree
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Howard Crabtree, Charles Cantanese, Mark Waldrop, Dick Gallagher, Phillip George, Peter Morris
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Genre: Autobiography / Comedy
Musicals About Theatre
These musicals feature theatre in the plot or intertwine a play within the musical’s narrative.
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Genre: Historical
Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Rachel Axler, Kait Kerrigan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Genre: Mystery
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Genre: Drama
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Joe Iconis Book: Joe Tracz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Science Fiction
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music/Book: David Evans Lyrics/Book: Winnie Holzman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1987)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mark Schoenfeld, Barri McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Woody Allen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Genre: Comedy
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Ken Ludwig
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Julia Mattison, Noel Carey Book: Marco Pennette
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Genre: Comedy / Fantasy
Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”
Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma Lyrics/Book: Mo Willems
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Steve Margoshes Lyrics: Jacques Levy Book: José Fernandez
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Martin Short, Daniel Goldfarb
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Autobiography / Comedy / Spoof
Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch Lyrics/Book: Susan DiLallo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Gary Barlow, Eliot Kennedy Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Allan Knee, James Graham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Drama / Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Genre: Drama / Fantasy
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Isobel Lennart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Biography / Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch Lyrics/Book: John Maclay
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Genre: Comedy / Horror
Music/Lyrics: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz Book: Arnold Schulman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Robert Wright, George Forrest Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert J. Sherman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Mitch Leigh Lyrics: Joe Darion Book: Dale Wasserman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Arthur Kopit
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Genre: Drama
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Genre: Drama
Music: Doug Besterman Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Nathan Lane
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Genre: Fantasy / Satire
Music: Sigmund Romberg Lyrics: Leo Robin Book: Jerome Chodorov, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Books: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Genre: Drama / Romance
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Charles Hart Lyrics/Book: Richard Stilgoe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1986)
Genre: Drama / Mystery / Romance / Thriller
Music: Vernon Duke Lyrics: Ogden Nash, Sammy Cahn Sketches: Charles Sherman, Peter DeVries
Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)
Genre: Revue
Musicals That Break the 4th Wall
These shows feature audience engagement or directly acknowledge that they are musicals.
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Fred Ebb Book: Norman L. Martin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Genre: Comedy
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Genre: Comedy
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music/Lyrics: Steven Lutvak Lyrics/Book: Robert L. Freedman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Comedy / Mystery
Music/Lyrics: Clark Baxtresser
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx Book: Jeff Whitty
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Comedy / Parody
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Alan Ayckbourn
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1975)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Biography / Historical
Music: Brendan Milburn Lyrics: Valerie Vigoda Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy / Romance
Music/Lyrics/Book: George Reinblatt Music: Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Comedy / Fantasy / Horror / Parody
Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan Book: Clarke Peters
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Genre: Comedy
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: George Abbott, Robert RussellRevisions: David Thompson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Genre: Drama / Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Genre: Comedy / Fantasy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Anaïs Mitchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Genre: Mythic Fantasy
Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics/Book: Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music/Lyrics: David Byrne Music: Fatboy Slim
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Genre: Biography
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: David Ives
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Satire
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Gordon Greenberg, Chad Hodge
Musical Type: 1942 Film / Contemporary Musical (2014)
Genre: Comedy / Romance
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Juliana Nash Lyrics/Book: Julia Jordan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Drama / Romance / Thriller
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Moose Charlap, Jule Styne Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: J.M. Barrie
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
Genre: Dark Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Return to the Forbidden Planet
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Bob Carlton
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Genre: Science Fiction
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Western
Music/Lyrics: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally Book: Robert Horn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Genre: Biography / Historical
Music: John Du Prez Music/Lyrics/Book: Eric Idle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Genre: Comedy / Spoof
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Don Black, Christopher Hampton
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Genre: Horror / Thriller
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: Rachel Sheinkin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Albert Hague Lyrics/Book: Allan Sherman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Nathan Lane
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Genre: Fantasy / Satire
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Music/Lyrics: David Nehls Book: Betsy Kelso
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Genre: Mystery
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jeff Blim Book: Matt Lang, Nick Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Genre: Comedy / Parody / Western
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Genre: Comedy
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Mel Marvin, Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Genre: Historical
Music/Lyrics: Mark Hollmann Lyrics/Book: Greg Kotis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Genre: Comedy / Satire
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Last Reviewed: May 20, 2025