Musicals of the 1980s – A Complete Ordered List
The musicals of the 1980s were a bit bigger and more epic than the shows of the previous decade. A few of the popular trends at the time included dramatic plots, Andrew Lloyd Webber shows, love stories, shows set in the 1800s, and continued cultural diversity.
The 1980s mark the middle of the pre-contemporary musical theatre time period. And the most notable musicals of the decade are included below.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.
1980 Musicals
42nd Street (1980)
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Barnum (1980)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Michael Stewart Book: Mark Bramble
Blues in the Night (1980)
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1980)
Les Misérables (1980)
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alan Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel Book: Schönberg, Boublil
Marry Me a Little (1980)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
The Biograph Girl (1980)
Music/Lyrics/Book: David Heneker, Warner Brown
Tomfoolery (1980)
Music/Lyrics: Tom Lehrer Book: Cameron Mackintosh
1981 Musicals
Bring Back Birdie (1981)
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Michael Stewart
Cats (1981)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
Dreamgirls (1981)
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
March of the Falsettos (1981)
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Pump Boys and Dinettes (1981)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Foley, Hardwick, Monk, Morgan, Schimmel, Wann
Woman of the Year (1981)
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Peter Stone
1982 Musicals
A Doll’s Life (1982)
Music: Larry Grossman Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Is There Life After High School? (1982)
Music/Lyrics: Craig Carnelia Book: Jeffrey Kindley
Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Nine (1982)
Music/Lyrics: Maury Yeston Book: Arthur Kopit
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982)
Music: De Paul, Kasha, Hirschhorn Lyrics: Mercer, Kasha, Hirschhorn Book: Kasha, Landay
Song and Dance (1982)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Richard Maltby Jr.
1983 Musicals
Baby (1983)
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr., Book: Sybille Pearson
Blood Brothers (1983)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Dance a Little Closer (1983)
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Doonesbury (1983)
Music: Elizabeth Swados Lyrics/Book: Gary Trudeau
La Cage aux Folles (1983)
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Harvey Fierstein
My One and Only (1983)
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Peter Stone, Timothy S. Mayer
Return to the Forbidden Planet (1983)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Bob Carlton
Singin’ in the Rain (1983)
Music: Nacio Herb Brown Lyrics: Arthur Freed Book: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
The Human Comedy (1983)
Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics/Book: William Dumaresq
The Tap Dance Kid (1983)
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics: Robert Lorick Book: Charles Blackwell
1984 Musicals
Chess (1984)
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice, Ulvaeus Book: Richard Nelson, Rice
Diamonds (1984)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Various
Just So (1984)
Music: George Stiles Book/Lyrics: Anthony Drewe
Leader of the Pack (1984)
Music/Lyrics: Ellie Greenwich Lyrics: Barry, Spector, Morton, Kent, Foley Book: Anne Beatts
Starlight Express (1984)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alistair Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Various
Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
The Rink (1984)
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Terrence McNally
What About Luv? (1984)
Music: Howard Marren Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Book: Jeffrey Sweet
1985 Musicals
Beehive (1985)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Gallagher
Big River (1985)
Music/Lyrics: Roger Miller Book: William Hauptman
Black and Blue (1985)
Music: W.C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Big Maybelle
Grind (1985)
Music: Larry Grossman Lyrics: Ellen Fitzhugh Book: Fay Kanin
Mayor (1985)
Music/Lyrics: Charles Strouse Book: Warren Leight
Nunsense (1985)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
1986 Musicals
Hot Mikado (1986)
Music: Rob Bowman Lyrics/Book: David H. Bell
Into the Woods (1986)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Lapine
Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood (1986)
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics: Various Book: Dick Vosburgh
Rags (1986)
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Joseph Stein, David Thompson
Smile (1986)
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
The Phantom of the Opera (1986)
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe Book: Stilgoe, Webber
1987 Musicals
Late Nite Comic (1987)
Music/Lyrics: Brian Gari Book: Allan Knee
No Way to Treat a Lady (1987)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Douglas J. Cohen
Romance/Romance (1987)
Music: Keith Herrmann Lyrics/Book: Barry Harman
Sarafina! (1987)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mbongeni Ngema Music/Lyrics: Hugh Masakela
Ten Percent Revue (1987)
Music/Lyrics: Tom Wilson Weinberg
The Wizard of Oz (1987)
Music: Harold Arlen, Herbert Stothart Lyrics: E.Y. Harburg Book: John Kane
1988 Musicals
Carrie (1988)
Music: Michael Gore Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Lawrence D. Cohen
Fame (1988)
Music: Steve Margoshes Lyrics: Jacques Levy
Legs Diamond (1988)
Music/Lyrics: Peter Allen Book: Harvey Fierstein, Charles Suppon
Lucky Stiff (1988)
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
1989 Musicals
Aspects of Love (1989)
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Charles Hart
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Buddy Holly, Various
City of Angels (1989)
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Larry Gelbart
Closer Than Ever (1989)
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby Jr.
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens (1989)
Music: Janet Hood Lyrics/Book: Bill Russell
Forever Plaid (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Grand Hotel (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Robert Wright, George Forrest, Maury Yeston Book: Luther Davis
Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Various
Meet Me in St. Louis (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: Hugh Wheeler
Miss Saigon (1989)
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby Jr. Book: Boublil, Schönberg
Sherlock Holmes – The Musical (1989)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Leslie Bricusse
The Baker’s Wife (1989)
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Joseph Stein
Other Decades
• Golden Age Musicals (1940 – 1959)
• Post-Golden Age Musicals (1960 – 1969)
• Musicals of the 1980s → You are here!
Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!
Which of these musicals of the 1980s is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of these 1980s musicals? Feel free to share 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.
