31+ Musicals Set in California – A Full List
Whether you’re doing some research, putting on a show, or simply looking for new musicals to get into, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. And that’s why we’ve put together this list for you! A full list of musicals set in California are included below.
This list is broken down into two categories – “Musicals Fully Set in California” and “Musicals Partially Set in California”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Musicals Fully Set in California
Music/Lyrics: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard Book: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Where It’s Set: Hill Valley, California
Music/Lyrics/Book: Cinco Paul Book: Ken Daurio
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Where It’s Set: California
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: David Zippel Book: Larry Gelbart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California
Music/Lyrics: Benj Pasek, Justin Paul Book: Peter Duchan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Where It’s Set: San Francisco, California
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: David Henry Hwang, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
Where It’s Set: San Francisco, California
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Martin Charnin, Raymond Jessel Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Where It’s Set: San Francisco, California
Music/Lyrics/Book: Karey Kirkpatrick Music/Lyrics: Wayne Kirkpatrick Book: John O’Farrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Where It’s Set: San Francisco, California
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Where It’s Set: California
Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew Music: Heidi Rodewald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
Where It’s Set: Monterey, California
Music/Lyrics: Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance Book: Garry Marshall, J.F. Lawton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood/Los Angeles, California
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Chris D’Arienzo
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2005)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music/Lyrics: Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed Book: Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Musical Type: 1952 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1983)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Where It’s Set: Santa Rosa, California
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Don Black, Christopher Hampton
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kirsten Childs
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California
Music: Galt MacDermot Libretto: William Dumaresq
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Where It’s Set: California
Music/Lyrics/Book: Frank Loesser
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Where It’s Set: San Francisco, California
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Lynne, John Farrar Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California
Musicals Partially Set in California
3 Guys Naked from the Waist Down
Music: Michael Rupert Lyrics/Book: Jerry Colker
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Where It’s Set: Los Angeles, California/NYC
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Music: Frank Lazarus, Various Lyrics/Book: Dick Vosburgh
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/Ukraine
Music/Lyrics: Robert Creighton, Cristopher McGovern Book: Peter Colley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music/Lyrics: Michael John La Chiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Where It’s Set: Washington D.C., California, Maine
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Where It’s Set: New Mexico/California
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Where It’s Set: California/Florida/NYC
Music: David Pomeranz, David Friedman Lyrics/Book: Kathie Lee Gifford
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Where It’s Set: Canada/China/California
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Matthew López, Amber Ruffin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Where It’s Set: San Diego, California/Mexico/Chicago
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Richard Maltby Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music: Paul Katz Lyrics/Book: Michael Colby
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/Iowa
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music/Lyrics: David Heneker Lyrics/Book: Warner Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music/Lyrics: Ervin Drake Book: Budd Schulberg, Stuart Schulberg
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Where It’s Set: Hollywood, California/NYC
Music: Joseph Zellnik Lyrics/Book: David Zellnik
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Where It’s Set: Midwest USA/San Francisco, California
Music: Gipsy Kings, John Cameron Lyrics/Book: Stephen Clark Book: Helen Edmundson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Where It’s Set: California/Spain
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Which of these musicals set in California is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals set in California? 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.