Musicals Set in the 1930s – The Full List of Shows
Whether you’re auditioning for musicals, setting up your rep book, or simply looking for some 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! Here’s the full list of musicals set in the 1930s.
The following list is broken down into two categories – “Musicals Fully Set in the 1930s” and “Musicals Partially Set in the 1930s”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Musicals Fully Set in the 1930s
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics: Tom Jones Book: N. Richard Nash
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Music: Frank Lazarus, Various Lyrics/Book: Dick Vosburgh
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Thomas “Fats” Waller Lyrics: Various Concept: Murray Horwitz, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Moss Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Various Concept: Sheldon Epps
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Joe Masteroff
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Ken Ludwig
Musical Type: Jazz Age/Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Jim Wise Lyrics/Book: George Haimsohn, Robin Miller
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Sandy Wilson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Moss Hart
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1932)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: George Abbott, Robert Russell, David Thompson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Guy Bolton, John McGowan
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1930)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Bob Dylan Book: Conor McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Larry Grossman Lyrics: Ellen Fitzhugh Book: Fay Kanin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Jo Swerling, Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Hilliard Book: Ben Hecht
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Book: Arthur Kopit
Musical Type: 1956 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1997)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
I Can Get It for You Wholesale
Music/Lyrics: Harold Rome Book: Jerome Weidman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Brad Carroll Lyrics/Book: Peter Sham
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Noel Gay Lyrics/Book: Douglas Furber, L. Arthur Rose
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1937)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr. Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Romney Brent, Steve Mackes, Michael Whaley
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1931)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Book: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Lorenz Hart Book: George Abbott
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1936)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Lorenz Hart Book: John O’Hara
Musical Type: Golden Age (1940)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Book: Herbert Fields, Morrie Ryskind
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: George Gershwin Lyrics: Ira Gershwin Libretto: DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward
Musical Type: Opera (1935)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Book: Dan Studney Lyrics/Book: Kevin Murphy
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Jerome Kern Lyrics/Book: Otto Harbach
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Joe Masteroff
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1963)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Bill Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Matthew López, Amber Ruffin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics/Book: James McDonald, David Vos, Robert Gerlach Music: Ed Linderman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: David Thompson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Joseph Stein
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb Book: David Thompson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg Music: Herbert Stothart Book: L. Frank Baum, John Kane
Musical Type: 1939 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1987)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Matthew White, Howard Jacques
Musical Type: 1935 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Henry Mancini, Frank Wildhorn Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse Book: Blake Edwards
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Joseph Fields, Jerome Chodorov
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: The 1930s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1930s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
When It’s Set: 1900s-1940s
Music/Lyrics: Various
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Patrik Komljenović
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1960s
Music: Frank Wildhorn Lyrics: Don Black Book: Ivan Menchell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1930s
Music/Book: Steve Martin Music/Lyrics: Edie Brickell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1940s
Music: Various Book: Loften Mitchell Concept: Rosetta LeNoire
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
When It’s Set: 1920s/1930s/1940s/1970s
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman Book: A.J. Carothers
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
When It’s Set: 1930s/1990s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Christopher Curtis Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1890s/1910s/1930s/1950s
Music: Lucy Simon Lyrics: Michael Korie, Amy Powers Book: Michael Weller
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1950s
Music/Lyrics: Harold Rome Book: S.N. Behrman, Joshua Logan
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1930s
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Jerome Weidman, George Abbott
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music/Lyrics: George M. Cohan Lyrics: Mary Cohan Book: Michael Stewart, John Pascal, Francine Pascal
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music/Lyrics: Michael John LaChiusa Book: Sybille Pearson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1950s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1930s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1960s
Music: Barry Manilow Lyrics/Book: Bruce Sussman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1930s
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
When It’s Set: 1890s-1940s
Music: Jelly Roll Morton, Luther Henderson Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Book: George C. Wolfe
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: 1890s-1940s
Music/Lyrics: Bill Jacob, Patti Jacob Book: Melville Shavelson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1930s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1950s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin, Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Anita Loos, Joseph Fields, Kenny Solms, Gail Parent
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1940s
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics: Various Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1950s
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Gertrude Stein Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1890s-1930s
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1940s
Music: George Fenton, Simon Chamberlain Lyrics: Don Black Book: Terry Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1940s
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
When It’s Set: 1890s-1930s
Music: David Pomeranz, David Friedman Lyrics/Book: Kathie Lee Gifford
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1940s
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Music/Lyrics: Carol Hall Book: Larry L. King, Peter Masterson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: 1930s/1970s
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
When It’s Set: 1900s-1930s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1930s
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1960s
More Musicals by Setting
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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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.