75+ Musicals for Small Casts – A Full List of Shows
Putting on a musical requires many resources – money, space, time, and of course available actors. But the good news is that you can still put on an amazing musical, regardless of your cast size. And this also happens to be the perfect year to try out a small-cast musical in the digital space!
So here’s a full list of musicals for small casts. All of the below musicals have six roles or less, and are listed from the smallest cast size to the largest.
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Contents:
* Here’s where you can find a list of 2-Person Musicals!
Musicals for a Cast of 3
3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down
Music: Michael Rupert Lyrics/Book: Jerry Colker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Number of Roles: 3
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Number of Roles: 3
Music: Brad Ross Lyrics: Ellen Greenfield, Hal Hackady
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Number of Roles: 3
Music/Lyrics/Book: Justin Huertas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Number of Roles: 3
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Number of Roles: 3
Music/Lyrics/Book: Adam Wachter
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Number of Roles: 3
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Larson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (1990/2001)
Number of Roles: 3
Music/Lyrics: David Kirshenbaum Book: Jack Heifner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 3
Music: Howard Marren Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Book: Jeffrey Sweet
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Number of Roles: 3
Musicals for a Cast of 4
Music/Lyrics: Various Concept: Sheldon Epps
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Barry Wyner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 4+
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Nick Blaemire Book: James Gardiner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael Roberts Concept: Eric Krebs
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Number of Roles: 4
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Music: Jimmy Roberts Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Number of Roles: 4
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics: Various Book: Dick Vosburgh
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt Music/Lyrics/Book: Tim Maner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Juliana Nash Lyrics/Book: Julia Jordan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Number of Roles: 4
Music: Joshua Salzman Lyrics/Book: Ryan Cunningham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Douglas J. Cohen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen Book: Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Adam Gwon
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Number of Roles: 4
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
Music/Lyrics: Douglas Lyons Music: Greg Borowsky Book: Melvin Tunstall III
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Number of Roles: 4
Music: Keith Herrmann Lyrics/Book: Barry Harman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Tom Wilson Weinberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Number of Roles: 4
Music: Steven M. Alper Lyrics: Sarah Knapp Book: Mark Harelik
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Number of Roles: 4
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Greg Pierce
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kait Kerrigan, Bree Lowdermilk
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1999)
Number of Roles: 4
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Number of Roles: 4
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2016)
Number of Roles: 4
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Music/Book: Eric Rockwell Lyrics/Book: Joanne Bogart
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Number of Roles: 4+
Music/Lyrics: Tom Lehrer Adaptation: Cameron Mackintosh, Robin Ray
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Number of Roles: 4
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2016)
Number of Roles: 4
Musicals for a Cast of 5
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Concept: Walter Bobbie
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Nick Blaemire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Joshua Schmidt Lyrics: Jan Levy Tranen Book: Austin Pendleton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert J. Sherman Music/Lyrics: Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Robert Reale Lyrics/Book: Willie Reale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Thomas “Fats” Waller Lyrics: Various Concept: Murray Horwitz, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Gary Adler, Michael Patrick Walker Book: Kevin Del Aguila
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Number of Roles: 5
Anything Can Happen in the Theater
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Concept: Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Bruce Brown Book: Merridy Eastman, Jonathan Gavin, Richard Glover, Wendy Harmer, Sheridan Jobbins, James Millar, Debra Oswald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Fatboy Slim Music/Lyrics: David Byrne
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Grace McLean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Concept: Rob Ruggiero
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Various Concept: Vernel Bagneris
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jerry Herman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Phillip George, David Lowenstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 5
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Music/Lyrics: David Nehls Book: Betsy Kelso
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Steve Schalchlin Lyrics: John Bettis, Marie Cain Book: Jim Brochu
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Jimmy Roberts Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Concept: Scott Ellis, Susan Stroman, David Thompson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Mel Marvin, Gary Pearle, Mary Kyte
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen Book: Hunter Bell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 5
Music/Lyrics: Drew Gasparini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Number of Roles: 5
Music: Dick Gallagher Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark Waldrop Concept: Howard Crabtree
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Number of Roles: 5
Musicals for a Cast of 6
Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Gallagher
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Dengue Fever Book: Lauren Yee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: David Friedman Lyrics/Book: Peter Kellogg
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Number of Roles: 6+
Falling in Love with Mr. Dellamort
Music/Lyrics: Paul Doust Lyrics/Book: Jack Feldstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Danny Abosch Lyrics/Book: Susan DiLallo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan Book: Clarke Peters
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Elise Marra
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Number of Roles: 6
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Music: George Stiles Lyrics/Book: Anthony Drewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: The Bengsons Book: Sarah Gancher
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: Joshua Salzman Lyrics: Ryan Cunningham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Number of Roles: 6
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris
Music/Lyrics: Jacques Brel Book: Eric Blau, Mort Shuman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robbie Schaefer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jordan Wolfe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel, Jim Wann
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Number of Roles: 6
Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of the Future
Music/Lyrics/Book: Andrew R. Butler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: David Pomeranz, David Friedman Lyrics/Book: Kathie Lee Gifford
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Concept: Michael Scheman, David Stern
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Jules Feiffer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jeff Blim Book: Matt Lang, Nick Lang
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Number of Roles: 6
Music: William Patrick Harrison Lyrics/Book: Maryhee Yoon, Cara Baldwin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Number of Roles: 6
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Rowland Leigh, Paul Lazarus
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)
Number of Roles: 6
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Music/Lyrics/Book: Clark Gesner Additional Songs: Andrew Lippa
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Number of Roles: 6
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Know any other good musicals for small casts?
Or have you ever been a part of one of the above musicals for small casts? Feel free to share in the comments! 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.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is a GREAT small cast show, featuring 4 performers ( 2 M, 2 W). Can be expanded, but 4 works great.
You are SO right, Jane! I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change was actually one of the first cast recordings that I bought a physical CD for, and I can still remember singing along to it in my car so many years ago. I just added it to the list. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
My heart skipped a little when I read your shout out! Thanks.