33+ Musicals Based on Shakespeare – The Full List of Shows
These musicals based on Shakespeare are adapted from or inspired by his stage plays. The list includes shows that either reimagine or reference Shakespeare’s work through comedy, tragedy, romance, and everything in between.
On This Page:
Musicals That Reference Shakespeare
Musicals Based on Shakespeare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Max Martin and David West Read
Based On: Romeo and Juliet
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: Joe DiPietro and Others
Based On: Shakespearean Comedies
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: David Friedman and Peter Kellogg
Based On: Measure for Measure
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Creators: Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen
Based On: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Creators: Cole Porter, Bella Spewack, and Samuel Spewack
Based On: The Taming of the Shrew
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers
Based On: Love’s Labour’s Lost
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Michael Valenti and Donald Driver
Based On: The Comedy of Errors
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)
Creators: Cheryl West, Duke Ellington, and Others
Based On: Twelfth Night
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Bob Carlton and Others
Based On: The Tempest
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, and George Abbott
Based On: The Comedy of Errors
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Elton John, Tim Rice, Roger Allers, and Irene Mecchi
Loosely Based On: Hamlet
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Shaina Taub and Kwame Kwei-Armah
Based On: Twelfth Night
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: Galt MacDermot, John Guare, and Mel Shapiro
Based On: Two Gentlemen of Verona
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Matt Sax and Eric Rosen
Loosely Based On: Othello
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Based On: Romeo and Juliet
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Creators: Hal Hester, Danny Apolinar, and Donald Driver
Based On: Twelfth Night
Musicals That Reference Shakespeare
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
Creators: Cole Porter, Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse
Shakespeare Reference: “You’re the Top”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Creators: Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere
Shakespeare References: “Pilgrim’s Hands”, “Queen Mab”
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Richard Wilbur, John La Touche, Stephen Sondheim, Dorothy Parker, John Caird, Hugh Wheeler, and Lillian Hellman
Shakespeare Reference: “Words, Words, Words”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Creators: William Finn
Shakespeare Reference: “Joe Papp”
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Creators: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, and James Rado
Shakespeare Reference: “What a Piece of Work Is Man”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Shakespeare Reference: “Take a Break”
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Creators: Robert Wright, George Forrest, and Peter Stone
Shakespeare References: “Apology”, “Elena”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe, and Heather Hach
Shakespeare Reference: “Find My Way”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly
Shakespeare Reference: “Telly”
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Creators: Robert Schrock and Others
Shakespeare Reference: “Gratuitous”
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Dan Studney and Kevin Murphy
Shakespeare Reference: “Romeo and Juliet”
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden
Shakespeare Reference: “Make ‘Em Laugh”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and John O’Farrell
Shakespeare Reference: “God, I Hate Shakespeare”
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove, and Nathan Lane
Shakespeare Reference: “Fear No More”
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Creators: Meredith Willson
Shakespeare References: “My White Knight”, “Piano Lesson”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlan, and Richard Morris
Shakespeare References: “Gimme, Gimme”, “They Don’t Know”
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell
Shakespeare Reference: “Die Vampire, Die!”
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Joseph Fields, and Jerome Chodorov
Shakespeare Reference: “What a Waste”