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