Musical Lists

Musicals of the 1930s – The Full List of Shows

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

The musicals of the 1930s embraced happy endings, simple plots, and show-stopping dance numbers. Comedy, jazz music, and revue-style shows were among the era’s popular trends, marking the end of the “Jazz Age” in musical theatre. Here’s the full list of musicals that premiered during this decade.

And here’s Theatre Trip’s playlist of Jazz Age Musical Theatre Songs➝.


Post Contents:

1930 Musicals

1931 Musicals

1932 Musicals

1933 Musicals

1934 Musicals

1935 Musicals

1936 Musicals

1937 Musicals

1938 Musicals



Fine and Dandy

Music: Kay Swift  Lyrics: Paul James  Book: Donald Ogden Stewart

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1930)


Girl Crazy

Music: George Gershwin  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin  Book: Guy Bolton, John McGowan

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1930)


The New Yorkers

Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter  Book: Herbert Fields

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1930)



Of Thee I Sing

Music: George Gershwin  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin  Book: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1931)


The Band Wagon

Music: Arthur Schwartz  Lyrics/Book: Howard Dietz  Book: George S. Kaufman

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1931)



Face the Music

Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Moss Hart

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)


Through the Years

Music: Vincent Youmans  Lyrics: Edward Heyman  Book: Brian Hooker

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)



As Thousands Cheer

Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin  Book: Moss Hart

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)


Let ‘Em Eat Cake

Music: George Gershwin  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin  Book: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)


Nymph Errant

Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter  Book: Romney Brent, Steve Mackes, Michael Whaley

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)


Pardon My English

Music: George Gershwin  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin  Book: Herbert Fields, Morrie Ryskind

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)


Roberta

Music: Jerome Kern  Lyrics/Book: Otto Harbach

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)



Anything Goes

Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter  Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)


Life Begins at 8:40

Music: Harold Arlen  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin, Yip Harburg

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)



Jumbo

Music: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics: Lorenz Hart  Book: Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1935)


Porgy and Bess

Music: George Gershwin  Lyrics: Ira Gershwin  LibrettoDuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward

Musical Type: Opera (1935)



On Your Toes

Music/Book: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart  Book: George Abbott

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1936)



Babes in Arms

Music/Book: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)


Me and My Girl

Music: Noel Gay  Lyrics/Book: Douglas Furber, L. Arthur Rose

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)


Pins and Needles

Music/Lyrics/Book: Harold Rome  Book: Arthur Arent, Marc Blitzstein, Emmanuel Eisenberg, Charles Friedman, David Gregory, Arnold Horwitt, John La Touche, Joseph Schrank

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)



Knickerbocker Holiday

Music: Kurt Weill  Lyrics/Book: Maxwell Anderson

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)


The Boys from Syracuse

Music: Richard Rodgers  Lyrics: Lorenz Hart  Book: George Abbott

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)


The Cradle Will Rock

Music/Lyrics/Book: Marc Blitzstein

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)


You Never Know

Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter  Book: Rowland Leigh

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1938)



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Which of these musicals of the 1930s is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of these 1930s musicals? Feel free to share 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!


Author: Stacy Karyn

Stacy Karyn is the founder of Theatre Trip, author of The Thespian’s Bucket List, and creator of The Cast Album ListShe holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.

Photo of Stacy Karyn

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