Musicals Based on Books
The following list includes musicals based on books, including novels, memoirs, and other literary adaptations. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
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Musicals Based on Out-of-Print Books
Jazz Age Musicals Based on Books
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: Herbert Fields
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Book It’s Based On: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court➝ by Mark Twain
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Libretto: DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward
Musical Type: Opera (1935)
Book It’s Based On: Porgy➝ by DuBose Heyward
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Book It’s Based On: Show Boat➝ by Edna Ferber
Golden Age Musicals Based on Books
Music: Arthur Schwartz Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: George Abbott, Betty Smith
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Book It’s Based On: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn➝ by Betty Smith
Music/Lyrics: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Stephen Sondheim, Dorothy Parker Book: John Caird, Hugh Wheeler, Lillian Hellman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Book It’s Based On: Candide➝ by Voltaire
Music: Georges Bizet Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
Book It’s Based On: Carmen➝ by Prosper Merimee
* This musical is also based on the 1875 opera, Carmen.
Music/Lyrics: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Douglass Wallop
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Book It’s Based On: The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant➝ by Douglass Wallop
Music/Lyrics: George Weiss, Robert Goldman, Glenn Paxton Book: Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Book It’s Based On: Pride and Prejudice➝ by Jane Austen
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: David Henry Hwang, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Book It’s Based On: The Flower Drum Song➝ by C.Y. Lee
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin Book: Joseph Fields, Anita Loos
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Book It’s Based On: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes➝ by Anita Loos
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Book It’s Based On: Gypsy: A Memoir➝ by Gypsy Rose Lee
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics/Book: Maxwell Anderson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Book It’s Based On: Cry, the Beloved Country➝ by Alan Paton
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics/Book: Ogden Nash Book: S.J. Perelman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
Novella It’s Based On: The Tinted Venus➝ by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: John O’Hara
Musical Type: Golden Age (1940)
Book It’s Based On: Pal Joey➝ by John O’Hara
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Book It’s Based On: Sweet Thursday➝ by John Steinbeck
Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Morton DaCosta
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Book It’s Based On: Saratoga Trunk➝ by Edna Ferber
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Abe Burrows, Marian & Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Book It’s Based On: Say, Darling➝ by Richard Bissell
Music: Walter Kent Lyrics: Kim Gannon Book: Sally Benson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Book It’s Based On: Seventeen➝ by Booth Tarkington
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Joshua Logan
Musical Type: Golden Age (1949)
Book It’s Based On: Tales of the South Pacific➝ by James A. Michener
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Book It’s Based On: Anna and the King of Siam➝ by Margaret Landon
Music/Lyrics: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Book It’s Based On: 7 1/2 Cents➝ by Richard Bissell
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Book It’s Based On: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers➝
Music/Lyrics: Ralph Blane Book: Charles O’Neal, Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1952)
Book It’s Based On: Three Wishes for Jamie➝ by Charles O’Neal
Music/Lyrics/Book: Sandy Wilson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Book It’s Based On: Valmouth➝ by Ronald Firbank
1960s Musicals Based on Books
Music/Lyrics: Norman Campbell Lyrics/Book: Donald Harron, Elaine Campbell, Mavor Moore
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Book It’s Based On: Anne of Green Gables➝ by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Joe Masteroff
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Book It’s Based On: Goodbye to Berlin➝ by Christopher Isherwood
* Cabaret is also based on the play I Am a Camera➝
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Book It’s Based On: The Once and Future King➝ by T.H. White
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster Book: Pearl S. Buck, Charles K. Peck, Jr.
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Book It’s Based On: My Indian Family➝ by Hilda Wernher
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Yip Harburg Book: Nunnally Johnson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Book It’s Based On: Buried Alive➝ by Arnold Bennett
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Book It’s Based On: Tevye the Dairyman and the Railroad Stories➝ by Sholem Aleichem
Music/Lyrics/Book: Frank Loesser Book: Lesser Samuels
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Book It’s Based On: Greenwillow➝ by B.J. Chute
Music/Lyrics: David Heneker Book: Beverley Cross
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Book It’s Based On: Kipps➝ by H.G. Wells
Music/Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Nunnally Johnson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Book It’s Based On: The World of Henry Orient➝ by Nora Johnson
* This musical is also based on the movie, The World of Henry Orient➝
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Book It’s Based On: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying➝ by Shepherd Mead
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
Music/Lyrics: Harold Rome Book: Jerome Weidman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Book It’s Based On: I Can Get It for You Wholesale➝ by Jerome Weidman
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Book It’s Based On: Little Me➝ by Patrick Dennis
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Book It’s Based On: Auntie Mame➝ by Patrick Dennis
Music: Mitch Leigh Lyrics: Joe Darion Book: Dale Wasserman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Book It’s Based On: Don Quixote➝ by Miguel De Cervantes
* This musical is also based on the teleplay I, Don Quixote.
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Book It’s Based On: Oliver Twist➝ by Charles Dickens
Music: Cyril Ornadel Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse Book: Wolf Mankowitz
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
Book It’s Based On: The Pickwick Papers➝ by Charles Dickens
Music/Lyrics: Ervin Drake Book: Budd Schulberg, Stuart Schulberg
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Book It’s Based On: What Makes Sammy Run?➝ by Budd Schulberg
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Book It’s Based On: Zorba the Greek➝ by Nikos Kazantzakis
1970s Musicals Based on Books
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Novella It’s Based On: Gigi➝ by Colette
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Dennis Green Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Book It’s Based On: God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater➝
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Book It’s Based On: Mama’s Bank Account➝ by Kathryn Forbes
Music: Claibe Richardson Lyrics/Book: Kenward Elmslie
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Novella It’s Based On: The Grass Harp➝ by Truman Capote
* The musical is also based on the play The Grass Harp➝
Music: Gary William Friedman Lyrics: Will Holt Adaptation: Bob Livingston, Herb Schapiro
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Book It’s Based On: The Me Nobody Knows➝ by Stephen M. Joseph
Music: Robert Waldman Lyrics/Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1975)
Book It’s Based On: The Robber Bridegroom➝ by Eudora Welty
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Book It’s Based On: The Rothschilds: A Family Portrait➝ by Frederic Morton
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jeff Wayne Lyrics: Paul Vigrass, Gary Osborne Book: Jerry Wayne, Doreen Wayne
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Book It’s Based On: The War of the Worlds➝ by H.G. Wells
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Book It’s Based On: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz➝ by L. Frank Baum
Music/Lyrics/Adaptation: Stephen Schwartz Music/Lyrics: Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, James Taylor Adaptation: Nina Faso
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1977)
Book It’s Based On: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day➝ by Studs Terkel
1980s Musicals Based on Books
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1980)
Book It’s Based On: 42nd Street➝ by Bradford Ropes
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Charles Hart
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Book It’s Based On: Aspects of Love➝ by David Garnett
Music/Lyrics: Roger Miller Book: William Hauptman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Book It’s Based On: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn➝ by Mark Twain
Music: Michael Gore Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Lawrence D. Cohen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Book It’s Based On: Carrie➝ by Stephen King
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Book It’s Based On: Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats➝ by T.S. Eliot
Music/Lyrics/Book: John Forster Book: Delia Ephron, Judith Kahan
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Book It’s Based On: How to Eat Like a Child➝ by Delia Ephron
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Book It’s Based On: Just So Stories➝ by Rudyard Kipling
Music/Lyrics: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alan Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Jean-Marc Natel
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1980)
Book It’s Based On: Les Misérables➝ by Victor Hugo
Music: Galt MacDermot Libretto: William Dumaresq
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Book It’s Based On: The Human Comedy➝ by William Saroyan
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Book It’s Based On: The Mystery of Edwin Drood➝ by Charles Dickens
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Charles Hart Lyrics/Book: Richard Stilgoe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1986)
Book It’s Based On: The Phantom of the Opera➝ by Gaston Leroux
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics: Robert Lorick Book: Charles Blackwell
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Book It’s Based On: Nobody’s Family is Going to Change➝ by Louise Fitzhugh
Music/Lyrics: Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg Music: Herbert Stothart Book: L. Frank Baum, John Kane
Musical Type: 1939 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1987)
Book It’s Based On: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz➝ by L. Frank Baum
* This musical is also based on the film, The Wizard of Oz➝
1990s Musicals Based on Books
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens Book: Mike Ockrent
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1994)
Book It’s Based On: A Christmas Carol➝ by Charles Dickens
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Scott Goodman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Book It’s Based On: Bright Lights, Big City➝ by Jay McInerney
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Music: Mel Marvin Lyrics/Book: Timothy Mason
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1994)
Book It’s Based On: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!➝ by Dr. Seuss
Music/Lyrics: Paul Gordon Lyrics/Book: John Caird
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1995)
Book It’s Based On: Jane Eyre➝ by Charlotte Brontë
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Book It’s Based On: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde➝ by Robert Louis Stevenson
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Book It’s Based On: Kiss of the Spider Woman➝ by Manuel Puig
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert Longden, Hereward Kaye
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Book It’s Based On: Moby-Dick or, The Whale➝ by Herman Melville
Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Paul Leigh Book: Claire Luckham
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Book It’s Based On: Moll Flanders➝ by Daniel Defoe
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Book It’s Based On: The Thin Man➝ by Dashiell Hammett
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Book It’s Based On: My Love, My Love: or The Peasant Girl➝ by Rosa Guy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1994)
Book It’s Based On: Fosca➝ by Iginio Ugo Tarchetti
* This musical is also based on the movie, Passione d’Amore➝
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Arthur Kopit
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Book It’s Based On: The Phantom of the Opera➝ by Gaston Leroux
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Book It’s Based On: Ragtime➝ by E.L. Doctorow
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Book It’s Based On: A Christmas Carol➝ by Charles Dickens
* This musical is also based on the movie, Scrooge➝
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Tom Briggs, Louis Mattioli
Musical Type: 1945 Film / Late 20th Century Musical (1996)
Book It’s Based On: State Fair➝ by Phil Strong
* This musical is also based on the movie, State Fair➝
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: James Lapine, Peter Parnell
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Book It’s Based On: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame➝ by Victor Hugo
* This musical is also based on the movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame➝
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Nan Knighton
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Book It’s Based On: The Scarlet Pimpernel➝ by Baroness Orczy
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics/Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1991)
Book It’s Based On: The Secret Garden➝ by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Novella It’s Based On: Whistle Down the Wind➝
* This musical is also based on the movie, Whistle Down the Wind➝
Music/Lyrics/Book: Bernard J. Taylor
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Book It’s Based On: Wuthering Heights➝ by Emily Brontë
2000s Musicals Based on Books
Music: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Brian Crawley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Book It’s Based On: A Little Princess➝ by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jill Santoriello
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: A Tale of Two Cities➝ by Charles Dickens
Music: Robert Reale Lyrics/Book: Willie Reale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Books Based On: The Frog and Toad Collection➝ by Arnold Lobel
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: Anne of Green Gables➝ by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Anthony Stein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Book It’s Based On: The Trip➝ by Ezra Jack Keats
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Book It’s Based On: Catch Me If You Can➝ by Frank W. Abagnale
* This musical is also based on the film, Catch Me If You Can➝
Music: David Evans Lyrics: Douglas J. Cohen Book: Stuart Hample
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Book It’s Based On: Children’s Letters to God➝ by Stuart Hample
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman Adaptations: Jeremy Sams, Ray Roderick
Musical Type: 1968 Film/Contemporary Musical (2002)
Book It’s Based On: Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang➝ by Ian Fleming
* This musical is also based on the film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang➝
Music/Lyrics: Paul Gordon Book: John Caird
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Book It’s Based On: Daddy-Long-Legs➝ by Jean Webster
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Book It’s Based On: Dessa Rose➝ by Sherley A Williams
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Don Black, Christopher Hampton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Book It’s Based On: Dracula➝ by Bram Stoker
Music: Mark Baron Lyrics/Book: Jeffrey Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: Frankenstein➝ by Mary Shelley
Music/Lyrics: Michael John LaChiusa Book: Sybille Pearson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Book It’s Based On: Giant➝ by Edna Ferber
Music: Bree Lowdermilk Lyrics/Book: Kait Kerrigan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Books Based On: Henry and Mudge Series➝
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Book It’s Based On: High Fidelity➝ by Nick Hornby
Music: Joshua Salzman Lyrics: Ryan Cunningham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Book It’s Based On: Pride and Prejudice➝ by Jane Austen
Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Mindi Dickstein Book: Allan Knee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Book It’s Based On: Little Women➝ by Louisa May Alcott
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Books Based On: The Junie B. Jones Books➝
Music/Lyrics: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe Book: Heather Hach
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: Legally Blonde➝ by Amanda Brown
* This musical is also based on the movie, Legally Blonde➝
Music: Michel Legrand Lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer Lyrics/Book: Alain Boublil Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Jonathan Kent
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Book It’s Based On: La Dame aux Camélias➝ by Alexandre Dumas fils
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: 1964 Film/Contemporary Musical (2004)
Book It’s Based On: Mary Poppins➝ by P.L. Travers
* This musical is also based on the movie, Mary Poppins➝
Music/Lyrics: John Gregor Lyrics/Book: Victoria Kann, Elizabeth Kann
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: Pinkalicious➝ by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann
Music/Book: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)➝
Books Based On: The Dr. Seuss Books➝
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Book It’s Based On: Shrek!➝ by William Steig
* This musical is also based on the movie, Shrek➝
Music/Lyrics: David Kirshenbaum Book: Hunter Foster
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Book It’s Based On: Summer of ’42➝ by Herman Raucher
* This musical is also based on the movie, Summer of ’42➝
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Book It’s Based On: The Color Purple➝ by Alice Walker
* This musical is also based on the film, The Color Purple➝
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Jack Murphy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Book It’s Based On: The Count of Monte Cristo➝ by Alexandre Dumas
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Books: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Book It’s Based On: The Glorious Ones➝ by Francine Prose
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Book It’s Based On: The Light in the Piazza➝ by Elizabeth Spencer
Music: A.R. Rahman, Christopher Nightingale, Värttinä Lyrics/Book: Matthew Warchus, Shaun McKenna
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Book It’s Based On: The Lord of the Rings➝ by J.R.R. Tolkien
Music/Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: John Dempsey Lyrics/Book: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Book It’s Based On: Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas➝ by Morgan Llywelyn
Music: Dana P. Rowe Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Book It’s Based On: The Witches of Eastwick➝ by John Updike
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Charlotte Jones
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Book It’s Based On: The Woman in White➝ by Wilkie Collins
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Winnie Holzman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Book It’s Based On: Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West➝ by Gregory Maguire
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics/Book: Jack Murphy Book: Gregory Boyd
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Books Based On: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking Glass➝ by Lewis Carroll
Music: Gipsy Kings, John Cameron Lyrics/Book: Stephen Clark Book: Helen Edmundson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Book It’s Based On: Zorro➝ by Isabel Allende
2010s Musicals Based on Books
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Music/Lyrics: Steven Lutvak Lyrics/Book: Robert L. Freedman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Book It’s Based On: Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal➝ by Roy Horniman
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater Book: Jessie Nelson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Book It’s Based On: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland➝ by Lewis Carroll
Music/Lyrics: Duncan Sheik Book: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: American Psycho➝ by Bret Easton Ellis
Music/Lyrics: Joe Iconis Book: Joe Tracz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: Be More Chill➝ by Ned Vizzini
Music/Lyrics: Elyssa Samsel, Kate Anderson Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Book It’s Based On: Between the Lines➝ by Jodi Picoult
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: John August
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: Big Fish➝ by Daniel Wallace
* This musical is also based on the film, Big Fish➝
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: David Greig
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory➝ by Roald Dahl
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin, Jordan Ross
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: Les Liaisons Dangereuses➝ by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
* This musical is also based on the movie, Cruel Intentions➝
Music/Lyrics: Michael Mahler, Alan Schmuckler Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Books Based On: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series➝
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics: Michael Korie, Amy Powers Book: Michael Weller
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Book It’s Based On: Doctor Zhivago➝ by Boris Pasternak
Music: Brad Alexander Lyrics/Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Books Based On: Dog Man Book Series➝
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma Lyrics/Book: Mo Willems Book: Mr. Warburton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Book It’s Based On: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!➝
Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!”
Music: Deborah Wicks La Puma Lyrics/Book: Mo Willems
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Books Based On: The Elephant & Piggie Books➝
Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch Lyrics/Book: Susan DiLallo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Books Based On: The Fancy Nancy Books➝
Music/Lyrics: Richard Taylor Book: Rachel Wagstaff
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Book It’s Based On: Mrs Harris Goes to Paris➝ by Paul Gallico
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Brian Yorkey Book: Bridget Carpenter
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)➝
Book It’s Based On: Freaky Friday➝ by Mary Rodgers
* This musical is also based on the three Disney films➝.
Music/Lyrics/Book: Gary Kupper Book: Rose Caiola
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Book It’s Based On: Freckleface Strawberry➝ by Julianne Moore
Music: Stuart Brayson Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Bill Oakes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: From Here to Eternity➝ by James Jones
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Lisa Kron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic➝ by Alison Bechdel
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: Alexander Hamilton➝ by Ron Chernow
Music/Lyrics: The Go-Go’s Book: Jeff Whitty, James Magruder
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia➝ by Sir Philip Sidney
Music: Justin Paul Lyrics: Benj Pasek Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Book It’s Based On: James and the Giant Peach➝ by Roald Dahl
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Glenn Slater Book: Ben Elton, Frederick Forsyth
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Book It’s Based On: The Phantom of Manhattan➝ by Frederick Forsyth
Music/Lyrics: Howard Goodall Lyrics/Book: Stephen Clark
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Book It’s Based On: Love Story➝ by Erich Segal
* This musical is also based on the film, Love Story➝
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Dennis Kelly
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Book It’s Based On: Matilda➝ by Roald Dahl
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Book It’s Based On: War and Peace➝ by Leo Tolstoy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rick Hip-Flores
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Book It’s Based On: Peace, Love and Cupcakes➝ by Sheryl and Carrie Berk
Music: Jeffrey Zahn Lyrics/Book: Joe Troiano
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Books Based On: Spookley the Square Pumpkin Series➝
* This musical is also based on the animated special, Spookley: The Square Pumpkin➝
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: David Spencer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz➝ by Mordecai Richler
Music: Doug Besterman Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Book It’s Based On: The Big One-Oh!➝ by Dean Pitchford
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Book It’s Based On: The Bridges of Madison County➝ by Robert James Waller
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Music/Lyrics: Darren Clark Lyrics/Book: Jethro Compton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Short Story Based On: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button➝ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Music/Lyrics: Rob Rokicki Book: Joe Tracz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Book It’s Based On: The Lightning Thief➝ by Rick Riordan
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Jules Feiffer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Book It’s Based On: The Man in the Ceiling➝ by Jules Feiffer
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾
Music/Lyrics: Pippa Cleary Lyrics/Book: Jake Brunger
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾➝ by Sue Townsend
Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Book It’s Based On: The Wind in the Willows➝ by Kenneth Grahame
Music: Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Yip Harburg, Tim Rice Book: Jeremy Sams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Book It’s Based On: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz➝ by L. Frank Baum
* This musical is also based on the film, The Wizard of Oz➝
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Book It’s Based On: Tuck Everlasting➝ by Natalie Babbit
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Book It’s Based On: War Paint➝ by Lindy Woodhead
* This musical is also based on the film, The Powder and the Glory➝
2020s Musicals Based on Books
Music/Lyrics: Clark Baxtresser
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Book It’s Based On: A Christmas Carol➝ by Charles Dickens
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
Music/Lyrics: Miranda Cooper Music: Jennifer Decilveo Lyrics: Chris Bush
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Book It’s Based On: Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World➝ by Kate Pankhurst
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Book It’s Based On: A Death in the Family➝ by James Agee
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Book It’s Based On: Alias Madame Doubtfire➝ by Anne Fine
* This musical is also based on the film, Mrs. Doubtfire➝
Music/Lyrics: Elyssa Samsel, Kate Anderson Book: Jodi Picoult, Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Book It’s Based On: The Book Thief➝ by Markus Zusak
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Shaina Taub, Mark Sonnenblick Book: Kate Wetherhead
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Book It’s Based On: The Devil Wears Prada➝ by Lauren Weisburger
* This musical is also based on the film, The Devil Wears Prada➝
Music: Jason Howland Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Kait Kerrigan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Book It’s Based On: The Great Gatsby➝ by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Music/Lyrics: Nick Butcher Lyrics: Tom Ling Book: Joe White
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Book It’s Based On: The Little Big Things➝ by Henry Fraser
Music/Lyrics: Marc Teitler Book/Lyrics: Nancy Harris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Book It’s Based On: The Magician’s Elephant➝ by Kate DiCamillo
Music/Lyrics: Ingrid Michaelson Book: Bekah Brunstetter
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Book It’s Based On: The Notebook➝ by Nicholas Sparks
Music/Lyrics/Book: Justin Levine Music/Lyrics: Jonathan Clay, Zach Chance Book: Adam Rapp
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Book It’s Based On: The Outsiders➝ by S.E. Hinton
* This musical is also based on the film, The Outsiders➝
Music/Lyrics: Dave Malloy Lyrics/Book: Lucy Kirkwood
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Book It’s Based On: The Witches➝ by Roald Dahl
Music/Lyrics: PigPen Theatre Co. Book: Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Book It’s Based On: Water for Elephants➝ by Sara Gruen
Musicals Based on Out-of-Print Books
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Mel Brooks
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Book It’s Based On: Professor Fodorski by Robert Lewis Taylor
Music: Milton Schafer Lyrics: Ronny Graham Book: A.J. Russell
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Book It’s Based On: The Crime of Giovanni Venturi by Howard Shaw
Music/Lyrics: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Book It’s Based On: Curtains by Peter Stone
Music/Lyrics/Book: Melvin Van Peebles
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
Book It’s Based On: La fête à Harlem by Melvin Van Peebles
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: George Abbott, Robert Russell Revisions: David Thompson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Book It’s Based On: Love is Just Around the Corner by Lester Atwell
Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch Lyrics/Book: John Maclay
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Book It’s Based On: Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium by R.L. Stine
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Sammy Cahn Book: Stephen Longstreet
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
Book It’s Based On: The Sisters Liked Them Handsome by Stephen Longstreet
Music/Lyrics: Harold Arlen Lyrics/Book: Truman Capote
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Novella It’s Based On: House of Flowers by Truman Capote
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Book It’s Based On: The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Romney Brent, Steve Mackes, Michael Whaley
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
Book It’s Based On: Nymph Errant by James Laver
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Otto Harbach
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
Book It’s Based On: Gowns by Roberta by Alice Duer Miller
Music: David Martin Lyrics/Book: Langston Hughes
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Book It’s Based On: Simple Takes a Wife by Langston Hughes
Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Arna Bontemps, Countee Cullen
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Book It’s Based On: God Sends Sunday by Arna Bontemps
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: George Abbott, Jerome Weidman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Book It’s Based On: Tenderloin by Samuel Hopkins Adams
Music: Moose Charlap Lyrics: Norman Gimbel Book: Cy Feuer, Ernest Martin, Dan Cushman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Book It’s Based On: Stay Away, Joe by Dan Cushman
Last Reviewed: May 16, 2025