Musicals Set in the 1980s – The Full List of Shows
With economic shifts and the rise of pop culture icons, musicals set in the 1980s reflect the decade’s energy, excess, and larger-than-life personalities. These shows capture the bold and ambitious spirit of the era. Here’s the full list of musicals set in the 1980s.
On This Page:
Musicals Fully Set in the 1980s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1980s
Musicals Fully Set in the 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Michael Rupert and Jerry Colker
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Duncan Sheik and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: Elton John and Lee Hall
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Creators: Paul Scott Goodman
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Elizabeth Swados and Garry Trudeau
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Ben Adams and Chris Wilkins
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Creators: William Finn and James Lapine
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Creators: Steve Margoshes, Jacques Levy, and José Fernandez
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Robbie Roth, Robert Cary, and Tom Hedley
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Stephen Trask and John Cameron Mitchell
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Charles Strouse and Warren Leight
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Michael Valenti and Donald Driver
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Paul Whitehouse, Jim Sullivan, John Sullivan, and Chas Hodges
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Creators: Madness and Tim Firth
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, Garry Marshall, and J.F. Lawton
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez, Lisa Loomer, and Nell Benjamin
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: Chris D’Arienzo and Others
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Gary Clark, John Carney, and Enda Walsh
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1986)
Creators: Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Creators: Boy George, Kevan Frost, John Themis, Richie Stevens, and Charles Busch
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Huey Lewis and the News, Jonathan A. Abrams, Tyler Mitchell, and Others
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Sting, Brian Yorkey, John Logan, and Lorne Campbell
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman, and David Newman
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2026)
Creators: The Rescues, David Hornsby, Chris Hoch
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Henry Krieger, Robert Lorick, and Charles Blackwell
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, and Tim Herlihy
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Julianne Wick Davis and Dan Collins
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: David Yazbek and Jeffrey Lane
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Jeff Lynne, John Farrar, and Douglas Carter Beane
When It’s Set: The 1980s
Musicals Partially Set in the 1980s
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 (2020)
Creators: Alan Silvestri, Glen Ballard, and Bob Gale
When It’s Set: 1950s, 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1983)
Creators: Willy Russell
When It’s Set: 1960s-1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Buena Vista Social Club and Marco Ramirez
When It’s Set: 1950s-1990s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Creators: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Tim Rice, Richard Nelson, and Danny Strong
When It’s Set: 1950s, 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro
When It’s Set: 1980s-1990s
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 (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: 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: Late 20th Century (1996)
Creators: Jonathan Larson
When It’s Set: 1980s-1990s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1987)
Creators: Keith Herrmann and Barry Harman
When It’s Set: 1800s, 1980s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Richard Hawley and Chris Bush
When It’s Set: 1960s, 1980s, 2010s
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: Late 20th Century (1984)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine
When It’s Set: 1800s, 1980s
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Peter Allen, Nick Enright, and Martin Sherman
When It’s Set: 1960s-1990s
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 (2005)
Creators: David Nehls and Betsy Kelso
When It’s Set: 1980s, 2000s
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins, and Others
When It’s Set: 1950s-1980s