Musical Lists

21+ Amazing Musicals for College Productions

Are you searching for a musical that’s perfect for your college students? And something that they will get excited about performing too? If so, you’re probably looking for something that will feature your talent, fit the budget, and all while impressing your audience. Here’s a list of some of the best musicals for college productions, sorted alphabetically.


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Musicals for College Productions

A Chorus Line

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 26


All American

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)

Why It’s Good for College: About college football

Cast Size: 12+


American Idiot

Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 10+


Bajour

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)

Why It’s Good for College: About an NYU student

Cast Size: 20+


Bubble Boy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 10+


Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 20+


Cry-Baby

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 12+


Dogfight

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 10+


Glory Days

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 4


Good News!

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)

Why It’s Good for College: Set at fictional “Tait College”

Cast Size: 15+


Hair

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 20+


Leave It to Jane

Musical Type: Pre-Jazz Age (1917)

Why It’s Good for College: Set at a college

Cast Size: 20+


Legally Blonde

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Why It’s Good for College: Set at Harvard Law School

Cast Size: 15+


Lizard Boy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 3


Love’s Labour’s Lost

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Why It’s Good for College: Academic/Features young adults

Cast Size: 17+


Lysistrata Jones

Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)

Why It’s Good for College: About college basketball

Cast Size: 12+


Rent

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 13+


The Mad Ones

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 4


The Theory of Relativity

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 8, 13, or 16


Tick, Tick… BOOM!

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (1990/2001)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 3


West Side Story

Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)

Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults

Cast Size: 20+


Where’s Charley?

Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)

Why It’s Good for College: Set at Oxford University

Cast Size: 12+


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Which of these musicals for college is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals for college productions? Feel free to tell us all about it in the comments below! And if you enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much more!


Stacy Karyn, Author of Musicals for College.
Author: Stacy Karyn

Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album List. She 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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