Musicals With Female Leads
The following list includes musicals with female leads, featuring one or more primary roles written for women. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
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Musicals With a Female Lead
These musicals feature a female protagonist who drives the central plot of the show.
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: Andrew Lippa and Brian Crawley
Female Lead: Sara Crewe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Janis Joplin, Randy Johnson, and Others
Female Lead: Janis Joplin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Elton John, Tim Rice, Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang
Female Lead: Aida
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Daniel Messé, Nathan Tysen, and Craig Lucas
Female Lead: Amélie Poulain
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens, and Terrence McNally
Female Lead: Anya / Princess Anastasia
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: Norman Campbell, Donald Harron, Elaine Campbell, and Mavor Moore
Female Lead: Anne Shirley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer
Female Lead: Anne Shirley
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Creators: Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, and Thomas Meehan
Female Lead: Annie
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Creators: Irving Berlin, Dorothy Fields, and Herbert Fields
Female Lead: Annie Oakley
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
Creators: Cole Porter, Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse
Female Lead: Reno Sweeney
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Creators: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green
Female Lead: Margo Channing
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, and Douglas McGrath
Female Lead: Carole King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Howard Goodall, Charles Hart, Gurinder Chadha, and Paul Mayeda Berges
Female Lead: Jess
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Female Lead: Bernarda Alba
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Elyssa Samsel, Kate Anderson, and Timothy Allen McDonald
Female Lead: Delilah McPhee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson
Female Lead: Brooklyn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: David Foster, Susan Birkenhead, and Bob Martin
Female Lead: Betty Boop
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin, and Jason SweetTooth Williams
Female Lead: Annie Golden
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Creators: Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster
Female Lead: Calamity Jane
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
Creators: Irving Berlin, Howard Lindsay, and Russel Crouse
Female Lead: Sally Adams
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Creators: Cole Porter and Abe Burrows
Female Lead: La Môme Pistache
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori and Tony Kushner
Female Lead: Caroline Thibodeaux
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)
Creators: André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner
Female Lead: Coco Chanel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler
Female Lead: Edwina Spoonapple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: David Bryan and Joe DiPietro
Female Lead: Princess Diana
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Female Lead: Leona Samish
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Creators: Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott, and Others
Female Lead: Sheri Rene Scott
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Female Lead: Eva Perón
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green
Female Lead: Hope Springfield
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Creators: Danny Abosch and Susan DiLallo
Female Lead: Nancy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Creators: Yve Blake
Female Lead: Edna
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Miranda Cooper, Jennifer Decilveo, and Chris Bush
Female Lead: Jade
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, Richard Greenberg
Female Lead: Cathy Whitaker
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Robbie Roth, Robert Cary, and Tom Hedley
Female Lead: Alexandra Owens
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, George Abbott, Robert Russell, and David Thompson
Female Lead: Flora Meszaros
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff
Female Lead: Mrs Ada Harris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Gary Kupper and Rose Caiola
Female Lead: Strawberry
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, and Isobel Lennart
Female Lead: Fanny Brice
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Creators: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden, and Arthur Laurents
Female Lead: Georgina Franklin
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Creators: Bob Merrill
Female Lead: Hannah Schuler
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart
Female Lead: Dolly Gallagher Levi
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Alicia Keys, Kristoffer Diaz, and Others
Female Lead: Ali
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey
Female Lead: Elizabeth
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)
Creators: Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer
Female Lead: Heather
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Alanis Morissette, Glen Ballard, Guy Sigsworth, Michael Farrell, and Diablo Cody
Female Lead: Mary Jane Healy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler
Female Lead: Junie B. Jones
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire
Female Lead: Kimberly Akimbo
Musical Type: Golden Age (1941)
Creators: Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin, and Moss Hart
Female Lead: Liza Elliott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe, and Heather Hach
Female Lead: Elle Woods
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer
Female Lead: Tamara de Lempicka
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Creators: Jule Styne, Leo Robin, Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Anita Loos, Joseph Fields, Kenny Solms, and Gail Parent
Female Lead: Lorelei Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Creators: Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee
Female Lead: Mame Dennis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Creators: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe, and Julian Fellowes
Female Lead: Mary Poppins
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Creators: Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly
Female Lead: Matilda Wormwood
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)
Creators: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins, and Others
Female Lead: Bessie Smith
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
Creators: Cole Porter, Romney Brent, Steve Mackes, and Michael Whaley
Female Lead: Evangeline Edwards
Musical Type: Golden Age (1940)
Creators: Cole Porter, Herbert Fields, and Buddy DeSylva
Female Lead: Hattie Maloney
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Creators: Rick Hip-Flores
Female Lead: Kylie Carson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Female Lead: Anna Edson Taylor
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Creators: Joy Huerta, Benjamin Velez, Lisa Loomer, and Nell Benjamin
Female Lead: Ana García
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Creators: Kate Diaz and Tina Landau
Female Lead: Jesse
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: Marvin Laird and Joel Paley
Female Lead: Tina Denmark
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1920)
Creators: Jerome Kern, Clifford Grey, Guy Bolton, Victor Herbert, Anne Caldwell, Buddy DeSylva, and P.G. Wodehouse
Female Lead: Sally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: David Pomeranz, David Friedman, and Kathie Lee Gifford
Female Lead: Aimee Semple McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Alan Menken, Glenn Slater, Cheri Steinkellner, and Bill Steinkellner
Female Lead: Deloris Van Cartier
Musical Type: Contemporary (2025)
Creators: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Rick Elice, and Bob Martin
Female Lead: Ivy Lynn
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1982)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black, and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Female Lead: The Girl
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Creators: Steve Brown and Justin Greene
Female Lead: Viv Nicholson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Creators: Anna K. Jacobs and Michael R. Jackson
Female Lead: Dawn O’Keefe
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1979)
Creators: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black
Female Lead: The Girl
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1977)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb and George Furth
Female Lead: Michelle “Mike” Mayer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Creators: Alexander Dinelaris and Others
Female Lead: Rachel Marron
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray, and Marsha Norman
Female Lead: Celie
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson
Female Lead: Althea
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Creators: Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater, and Doug Wright
Female Lead: Ariel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Claude-Michel Schönberg, John Dempsey, Alain Boublil, and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Female Lead: Grace (Grania) O’Malley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Creators: Stephen Schwartz and Lindsey Ferrentino
Female Lead: Jackie
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Creators: James Valcq and Fred Alley
Female Lead: Percy Talbott
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Creators: Meredith Willson and Richard Morris
Female Lead: Molly Tobin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori, Dick Scanlan, and Richard Morris
Female Lead: Millie Dillmount
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins, and Others
Female Lead: Tina Turner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Creators: William Patrick Harrison, Maryhee Yoon, and Cara Baldwin
Female Lead: Iva Toguri
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Chris Miller, Nathan Tysen, Claudia Shear, and Tim Federle
Female Lead: Winnie Foster
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley
Female Lead: Violet
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson
Female Lead: Jenna Hunterson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh, and N. Richard Nash
Female Lead: Wildcat “Wildy” Jackson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: Jeffrey Lunden and Arthur Perlman
Female Lead: Emily Stilson
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Peter Stone
Female Lead: Tess Harding
Musicals with Female Co-Leads
These musicals feature two or more female characters who share the focus as co-leads.
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1980)
Creators: Harry Warren, Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer, Michael Stewart, and Mark Bramble
Female Leads: Dorothy and Peggy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Creators: Dolly Parton and Patricia Resnick
Female Leads: Violet, Doralee, and Judy
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Creators: Stephen Sondheim and Arthur Laurents
Female Leads: Fay and Cora
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Larry Gallagher and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1988)
Creators: Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford, and Lawrence D. Cohen
Female Leads: Carrie and Margaret
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1975)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse
Female Leads: Velma and Roxie
Musical Type: Contemporary (2024)
Creators: Julia Mattison, Noel Carey, and Marco Pennette
Female Leads: Madeline and Helen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Creators: Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Female Leads: Dessa and Ruth
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Creators: Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen
Female Leads: Effie, Deena and Lorrell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: Michael John La Chiusa
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1993)
Creators: Michael John LaChiusa
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Tom Kitt, Brian Yorkey, and Bridget Carpenter
Female Leads: Ellie and Katherine
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and Jennifer Lee
Female Leads: Anna and Elsa
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Polly Pen and Peggy Harmon
Female Leads: Laura and Lizzie
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright
Female Leads: Edith and Edie
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Creators: Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents
Female Leads: Rose, June, and Louise
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Jerry Herman, Larry Alford, and Wayne Cilento
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Creators: Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt, and Tim Maner
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Creators: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, and Catherine Johnson
Female Leads: Sophie and Donna
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin, and Tina Fey
Female Leads: Cady and Regina
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Creators: George Fenton, Simon Chamberlain, Don Black, and Terry Johnson
Female Leads: Laura, Vivian, and Maureen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)
Creators: Dan Goggin
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)
Creators: Dan Goggin
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: Phillip George, David Lowenstein, and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1997)
Creators: Henry Krieger and Bill Russell
Female Leads: Violet and Daisy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1986)
Creators: Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman
Female Leads: Robin and Doria
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Shaina Taub
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Creators: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara, Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff, and Others
Female Leads: Diva, Disco, and Duckling Donna
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, and Neil Simon
Female Leads: Charity, Helene, and Nickie
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Creators: Rick Elice and Others
Female Leads: Star, Lady, and Babe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Creators: Elton John, Shaina Taub, Mark Sonnenblick, and Kate Wetherhead
Female Leads: Miranda and Andy
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)
Creators: Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman, and David Newman
Female Leads: Queen, Sonja, and Mary
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)
Creators: Roger Bean and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Creators: Roger Bean and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Roger Bean and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1984)
Creators: John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally
Female Leads: Anna and Angel
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Creators: David Kirshenbaum and Jack Heifner
Female Leads: Mary, Joanne, and Kathy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright
Female Leads: Helena and Elizabeth
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Creators: Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman
Female Leads: Elphaba and Galinda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Creators: Roger Bean and Others
Female Leads: Multiple
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Creators: Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Joseph Fields, and Jerome Chodorov
Female Leads: Ruth and Eileen