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! Here’s the full list of musicals set in the 1970s.
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
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: David Thompson, Norman L. Martin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Dolly Parton Book: Patricia Resnick
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: James Kirkwood, Nicholas Dante
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin, Various Book: Randy Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: David Essex Book: Jon Conway
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2008)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Cameron Crowe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Billy Goldenberg Lyrics: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman Book: Jerome Kass
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Dengue Fever Book: Lauren Yee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Jack Plotnick, Seth Rudetsky
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2011)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Fela Kuti Book: Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Douglas J. Cohen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew Music: Heidi Rodewald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Thomas Meehan, Sylvester Stallone
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Elizabeth Swados
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mbongeni Ngema Music/Lyrics: Hugh Masekela
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Bee Gees Book: Nan Knighton, Arlene Phillips, Paul Nicholas, Robert Stigwood
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1998)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: George Keating, Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: Michael Bennett
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Max Vernon
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics: Carole Bayer Sager Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Music: Jeffrey Lunden Lyrics/Book: Arthur Perlman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: The 1970s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1970s
Music/Lyrics: Edward Kleban Book: Linda Kline, Lonny Price
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Jay Kuo Book: Marc Acito, Lorenzo Thione
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
When It’s Set: 1940s-2000s
Music/Lyrics: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
When It’s Set: 1970s/1990s
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Music/Lyrics: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2013)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1980s
Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Richard Nelson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
When It’s Set: 1970s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: Michael John La Chiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
When It’s Set: 1970s/1980s/2000s
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Lisa Kron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
When It’s Set: 1970s-2010s
Music/Lyrics: Bob Marley Book: Lee Hall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1930s-1970s
Music/Book: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Tom Greenwald
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1990s
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Music/Lyrics: Michael Jackson, Various Book: Lynn Nottage
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2022)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Phillip George, David Lowenstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Music/Lyrics: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabra, Various Book: Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1980s
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Ben Elton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
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: Peter Allen Book: Nick Enright, Martin Sherman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary Jukebox (1998)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kirsten Childs
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Simon Lyrics/Book: Derek Walcott
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary Jukebox (2018)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2016)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2018)
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s
Music/Lyrics: David Kirshenbaum Book: Jack Heifner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
When It’s Set: 1960s-1970s
More Musicals by Setting
• Musicals set in the 1970s → You are here!
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Which of these musicals set in the 1970s is your favorite?
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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.