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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A Chorus Line
Cast Size: 24+
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
All American
Cast Size: 12+
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
Why It’s Good for College: About college football
American Idiot
Cast Size: 7+
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2009)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Bajour
Cast Size: 6+
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Why It’s Good for College: About an NYU student
Bubble Boy
Cast Size: 10
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
Cast Size: 20+
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1989)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Cry-Baby
Cast Size: 12+
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Dogfight
Cast Size: 9+
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Edges
Cast Size: 4
Musical Type: Contemporary/Song Cycle (2005)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Glory Days
Cast Size: 4
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Good News!
Cast Size: 15
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1927)
Why It’s Good for College: Set at fictional “Tait College”
Hair
Cast Size: 20+
Musical Type: Post Golden Age (1967)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Legally Blonde
Cast Size: 10+
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Why It’s Good for College: Set at Harvard Law School
Lizard Boy
Cast Size: 3
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Lysistrata Jones
Cast Size: 12+
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Why It’s Good for College: About college basketball
Rent
Cast Size: 13+
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
The Book of Mormon
Cast Size: 10+
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
The Mad Ones
Cast Size: 4
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
The Theory of Relativity
Cast Size: 8, 13, or 16
Musical Type: Contemporary/Song Cycle (2014)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Tick, Tick… BOOM!
Cast Size: 3
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (1990/2001)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
West Side Story
Cast Size: 15+
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Why It’s Good for College: Features young adults
Where’s Charley?
Cast Size: 12+
Musical Type: Golden Age (1948)
Why It’s Good for College: Set at Oxford University
Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!
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 like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and more!
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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
