Musicals Set in the 1950s – 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 1950s.
The following list is broken down into three categories – “Musicals Fully Set in the 1950s”, “Musicals Partially Set in the 1950s”, and “Musicals Set Around the 1950s”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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.
Musicals Fully Set in the 1950s
Music/Lyrics: John Bucchino Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Dan Shapiro Book: Guy Bolton, Eddie Davis
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Buddy Holly, Various Book: Alan Janes
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: André Previn Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Adam Schlesinger, David Javerbaum Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Lyrics/Book: Rupert Holmes
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Douglass Wallop
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Richard Greenberg
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: David Henry Hwang, Joseph Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams Book: Garry Marshall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Marguerite Monnot Lyrics/Book: Alexandre Breffort
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics/Book: E.Y. Harburg Book: Fred Saidy
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Justin Paul Lyrics: Benj Pasek Book: Timothy Allen McDonald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Gene De Paul Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Norman Panama, Melvin Frank
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Colin Escott, Floyd Mutrux
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener, George Weiss Book: Joseph Stein, Will Glickman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Joseph Dougherty
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans Book: Al Morgan, José Ferrer
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Dwight Taylor, Reginald Lawrence
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Albert Hague Lyrics: Arnold Horwitt Book: Joseph Stein, Will Glickman
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Judd Woldin Lyrics: Robert Brittan Book: Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Julian Slade Lyrics/Book: Dorothy Reynolds
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Abe Burrows, Marian & Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: George S. Kaufman, Leueen MacGrath, Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1955)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Craig Carnelia Book: John Guare
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: David Spencer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Richard Adler, Jerry Ross Book: George Abbott, Richard Bissell
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mel Brooks Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: 1967 Film/Contemporary Musical (2001)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Hy Kraft
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Sandy Wilson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Jim Steinman Book: Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: David Ives, Paul Blake
Musical Type: 1954 Film/Contemporary Musical (2000)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Music: Dana P. Rowe Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
When It’s Set: The 1950s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1950s
Music/Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: Linda Kline, Lonny Price
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music/Book: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Charles Hart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
When It’s Set: 1940s-1960s
Music/Lyrics: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard Book: Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
When It’s Set: 1980s/1950s
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Patrik Komljenović
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1960s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Christopher Curtis Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1890s/1910s/1930s/1950s
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Richard Nelson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
When It’s Set: 1950s/1980s
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1950s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1960s
Music/Lyrics: Bob Marley Book: Lee Hall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: Michael John LaChiusa Book: Sybille Pearson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1950s
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
When It’s Set: 1910s-1960s
Music/Book: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Tom Greenwald
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1990s
Music: Taliep Petersen Lyrics/Book: David Kramer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
When It’s Set: 1950s/1990s
Music/Lyrics: Todd Matshikiza Lyrics: Pat Williams Book: Harry Bloom
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
When It’s Set: 1940s-1950s
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Frank Galati
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
When It’s Set: 1910s/1950s
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
When It’s Set: 1850s/1940s/1950s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1962)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1950s
Music: Kurt Weill Lyrics: Various Book: Alfred Uhry
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
When It’s Set: 1920s-1950s
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music: Jason Robert Brown Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
When It’s Set: 1940s/1950s/1990s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
When It’s Set: Medieval/1950s/2000s
Music/Lyrics: Clark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers Book: Corey Lubowich, Joey Richter, Brian Rosenthal
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1960s
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Don Black, Christopher Hampton
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1991)
When It’s Set: 1940s-1950s
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Mariana Elder
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1960s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Simon Lyrics/Book: Derek Walcott
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1960s
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1960s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend Book: Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: 1940s-1960s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1960s
Musicals Set Around the 1950s
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
When It’s Set: Around the 1950s
Music: Gary Geld Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell Book: Ossie Davis, Philip Rose
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
When It’s Set: Around the 1950s/1960s
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: Around the 1950s
More Musicals by Setting
• Musicals Set in the 1950s → You are here!
Want to stay in the loop with all things related to musical theatre?
Which of these musicals set in the 1950s is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals set in the 1950s? 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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.