Musicals Set in the 1970s – A Full List
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! The most notable musicals set in the 1970s are included below.
The following list is broken down into two categories – “Musicals Fully Set in the 1970s” and “Musicals Partially Set in the 1970s”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Musicals Fully Set in the 1970s
70, Girls, 70
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Fred Ebb Book: Norman L. Martin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
9 to 5
Music/Lyrics: Dolly Parton Book: Patricia Resnick
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
A Chorus Line
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: James Kirkwood Jr., Nicholas Dante
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
A Night with Janis Joplin
Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin Book: Randy Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Ain’t Too Proud
Music/Lyrics: The Temptations Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2017)
All the Fun of the Fair
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jon Conway
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2008)
Applause
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Ballroom
Music: Billy Goldenberg Lyrics: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman Book: Jerome Kass
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Becoming Nancy
Music: George Stiles Lyrics: Anthony Drewe Book: Elliot Davis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Cambodian Rock Band
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lauren Yee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Disaster!
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jack Plotnick, Seth Rudetsky
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2011)
Disco Inferno
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jai Sepple
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2004)
Fela!
Music/Lyrics: Fela Kuti Book: Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Follies
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
I Love My Wife
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
In Trousers
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
March of the Falsettos
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Miss Saigon
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby Jr. Book: Boublil, Schönberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
No Way to Treat a Lady
Music/Lyrics/Book: Douglas J. Cohen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Passing Strange
Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew, Heidi Rodewald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Rocky
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Thomas Meehan, Sylvester Stallone
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Runaways
Music/Lyrics/Book: Elizabeth Swados
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Sarafina!
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mbongeni Ngema Music/Lyrics: Hugh Masakela
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Saturday Night Fever
Music/Lyrics: BeeGees, Others Book: Knighton, Phillips, Nicholas, Stigwood
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1998)
Schoolhouse Rock Live!
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Keating, Ferguson, Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Seesaw
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: Michael Bennett
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Sister Act
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri & Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
The Last Sweet Days of Isaac
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
The View UpStairs
Music/Lyrics/Book: Max Vernon
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
They’re Playing Our Song
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Musicals Partially Set in the 1970s
A Class Act
Music/Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: Linda Kline, Lonny Price
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Ain’t Too Proud
Music: The Temptations Lyrics: The Temptations Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)
Allegiance
Music/Lyrics: Jay Kuo Book: Marc Acito, Jay Kuo
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Amélie
Music: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Daniel Messé, Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2013)
Blood Brothers
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
Boogie Nights
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jon Conway
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1998)
Chess
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice, Ulvaeus Book: Richard Nelson, Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Dreamgirls
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Falsettos
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Fun Home
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Lisa Kron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Grey Gardens
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
John & Jen
Music/Book: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Tom Greenwald
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Merrily We Roll Along
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
MJ: The Musical
Music/Lyrics: Michael Jackson, Various Book: Lynn Nottage
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2022)
Motown: The Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Shout! The Mod Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Phillip George, David Lowenstein
Musical Type: Contemporary/Revue (2006)
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)
The Beautiful Game
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Ben Elton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Music/Lyrics: Carol Hall Book: Larry L. King, Peter Masterson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
The Boy From Oz
Music/Lyrics: Peter Allen Book: Nick Enright, Martin Sherman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary Jukebox (1998)
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kirsten Childs
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
The Cher Show
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2018)
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On
Music: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2016)
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2018)
Vanities
Music/Lyrics: David Kirshenbaum Book: Jack Heifner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
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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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
