Musicals Set in the 1970s – The Full List of Shows
Marked by social movements, shifting norms, and the rise of disco and rock, musicals set in the 1970s explore themes of freedom, identity, and ambition. These shows bring to life a decade of reinvention. Here’s the full list of musicals set in the 1970s.
On This Page:
Musicals Fully Set in the 1970s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1970s
Musicals Fully Set in the 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Norman L. Martin
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1975)
Creators: Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban, James Kirkwood, and Nicholas Dante
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Janis Joplin, Randy Johnson, and Others
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: David Essex and Jon Conway
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Tom Kitt and Cameron Crowe
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Creators: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Billy Goldenberg, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Jerome Kass
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Jack Plotnick, Seth Rudetsky, and Others
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)
Creators: Melvin Van Peebles
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Fela Kuti, Bill T. Jones, and Jim Lewis
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1977)
Creators: Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Creators: William Finn
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: William Finn
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1989)
Creators: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, and Richard Maltby, Jr.
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, Thomas Meehan, and Sylvester Stallone
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Elizabeth Swados
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1987)
Creators: Mbongeni Ngema and Hugh Masekela
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Bee Gees, Nan Knighton, Arlene Phillips, Paul Nicholas, and Robert Stigwood
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Creators: George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall, and Others
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1973)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields and Michael Bennett
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Cheri Steinkellner, and Bill Steinkellner
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1977)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb and George Furth
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Marvin Hamlisch, Carole Bayer Sager, and Neil Simon
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: Jeffrey Lunden and Arthur Perlman
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Neil Diamond and Anthony McCarten
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Creators: Edward Kleban, Linda Kline, and Lonny Price
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: The Legendary Motown Catalog and Dominique Morisseau
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Daniel Messé, Nathan Tysen, and Craig Lucas
When It’s Set: 1970s, 1990s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Douglas McGrath
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Willy Russell
When It’s Set: 1960s-1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Creators: Loften Mitchell and Others
When It’s Set: 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Buena Vista Social Club and Marco Ramirez
When It’s Set: 1950s-1990s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: William Finn and James Lapine
When It’s Set: 1970s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
When It’s Set: 1970s, 1980s, 2000s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron
When It’s Set: 1970s, 1980s, Present
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Bob Marley and Lee Hall
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright
When It’s Set: 1940s, 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
When It’s Set: 1930s-1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1995)
Creators: Andrew Lippa and Tommy Greenwald
When It’s Set: 1950s-1990s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and George Furth
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Berry Gordy and Others
When It’s Set: 1930s, 1950s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, Miami Sound Machine, and Alexander Dinelaris
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Phillip George, David Lowenstein, and Others
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Shaina Taub
When It’s Set: 1910s, 1920s, 1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara, Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff, and Others
When It’s Set: 1960s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Carol Hall, Larry L. King, and Peter Masterson
When It’s Set: 1930s, 1970s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Peter Allen, Nick Enright, and Martin Sherman
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Paul Simon and Derek Walcott
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Rick Elice and Others
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Darren Clark and Jethro Compton
When It’s Set: 1910s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Roger Bean and Others
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Ingrid Michaelson and Bekah Brunstetter
When It’s Set: 1960s, 1970s, 2020s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Max Vernon
When It’s Set: 1970s, 2010s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins, and Others
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: David Kirshenbaum and Jack Heifner
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s