30+ Musicals for People Who Don’t Like Musicals
Last Updated: May 6, 2025
Looking for musicals that might surprise those who don’t usually enjoy them? From unconventional storytelling to unique music genres, these shows offer something different that could change your perspective on musical theatre. Here’s the full list of musicals for people who don’t typically like musicals.
Post Contents:
Musicals If You Like Bluegrass/Country
Musicals If You Like Classical Music
Musicals If You Like Electronic Music
Musicals If You Like Folk Music
Musicals If You Like Pop Music
Musicals If You Like Pop/Rock Music
Musicals If You Like Other Music Genres
Musicals If You Like Bluegrass / Country
Music/Book: Steve Martin Music/Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Music Genres: Bluegrass / Country
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Tina Landau
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
Music Genre: Bluegrass
Music/Lyrics: The Avett Brothers Book: John Logan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music Genres: Bluegrass / Folk
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Mariana Elder
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Music Genres: Bluegrass / Country
Music: Robert Waldman Lyrics/Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
Music Genre: Bluegrass
Musicals If You Like Classical
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music Genres: Classical / Experimental
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Music Genre: Classical
Musicals If You Like Disney
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Lyrics: Tim Rice, Howard Ashman
Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)
Music Genre: Disney
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Roger Allers, Irene Mecchi
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Music Genre: Disney
Music: A.J. Holmes Lyrics: Kaley McMahon Book: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Eric Kahn Gale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genre: Disney
Musicals If You Like Electronic Music
Music/Lyrics: Duncan Sheik Book: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genre: Electronic Pop
Music/Lyrics: Pet Shop Boys Book: Jonathan Harvey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Music Genre: Electronic Pop
Music/Lyrics: David Byrne Music: Fatboy Slim
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genre: Electronic Pop
Musicals If You Like Folk
Music/Lyrics/Book: Anaïs Mitchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genre: Folk
Music/Lyrics/Book: The Bengsons Book: Sarah Gancher
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music Genre: Folk-Punk
Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
Music/Lyrics/Book: Andrew R. Butler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music Genre: Folk
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Music/Lyrics: Darren Clark Lyrics/Book: Jethro Compton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music Genres: Celtic / Folk
Music/Lyrics: Sting Book: Brian Yorkey, John Logan, Lorne Campbell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Music Genres: Celtic / Folk-Rock / Pop
Music/Lyrics: Sara Bareilles Book: Jessie Nelson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music Genres: Country / Folk / Musical Theatre
Musicals If You Like Jazz
Music/Lyrics: Various
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Music Genres: Blues / Jazz
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Craig Carnelia Book: John Guare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genres: Jazz / Musical Theatre
Musicals If You Like Pop
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Music: Dan Gillespie Sells Lyrics/Book: Tom MacRae
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music Genre: Pop
Music/Lyrics/Book: Yve Blake
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music Genre: Pop
Music/Lyrics/Book: Brooke Maxwell, Jacob Richmond
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music Genre: Pop
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music Genre: Pop
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Music Genres: Disco / Jazz / Pop / Rock
Musicals If You Like Pop/Rock
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genre: Pop-Rock
Music/Lyrics/Book: Max Vernon
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music Genres: Disco / Pop-Rock
Musicals If You Like Rap
Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Music Genres: Pop / Rap
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music Genres: Pop / Rap / R&B
Music/Lyrics/Book: Shaina Taub
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music Genres: Musical Theatre / R&B / Rap
Musicals If You Like Rock
Music: Green Day Lyrics/Book: Billie Joe Armstrong Book: Michael Mayer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Music Genre: Punk Rock
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Trask Book: John Cameron Mitchell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music Genre: Glam Rock
Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew Music: Heidi Rodewald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genres: Gospel / Rock
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Larson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Music Genre: Rock
Musicals If You Like Other Genres
Music/Lyrics: Fela Kuti Book: Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music Genre: Afrobeat
Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music Genre: R&B
Music/Lyrics: Boy George Music: Kevan Frost, John Themis, Richie Stevens Book: Charles Busch
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genres: Pop / Pop-Rock / Reggae / Rock
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Shapera
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Music Genre: Steampunk
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Simon Lyrics/Book: Derek Walcott
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music Genres: Doo-Wop / Latin / Pop-Rock
Music: A.R. Rahman, Christopher Nightingale, Värttinä Lyrics/Book: Matthew Warchus, Shaun McKenna
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genre: Celtic
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jeff Wayne Lyrics: Paul Vigrass, Gary Osborne Book: Jerry Wayne, Doreen Wayne
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Music Genres: Steampunk / Rock
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Which of these musicals for people who don’t like musicals is your favorite?
Do you have any other great musicals for people who don’t like musicals to add to the list? We would be excited to hear all about it in the comments below!
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.
