80+ Musicals With Female Leads – The Full List
In honor of International Women’s Day this year, I decided to put together a list of musicals with female leads. The following list is broken down into a few categories – “Musicals With a Female Lead”, “Musicals with Multiple Female Leads”, and “All-Female Musicals”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
For the purposes of this list, I’m selecting musicals that have very prominent female leads. Nearly every musical has some sort of a female lead, so I’m featuring the musicals where women carry the show (and not in conjunction with a leading male).
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Musicals With a Female Lead
Music: Andrew Lippa Lyrics/Book: Brian Crawley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Female Lead: Sara Crewe
Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin, Various Book: Randy Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Female Lead: Janis Joplin
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, David Henry Hwang
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Female Lead: Aida
Music/Lyrics: Daniel Messé Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Craig Lucas
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Female Lead: Amélie Poulain
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Female Lead: Anya / Princess Anastasia
Music/Lyrics: Norman Campbell Lyrics/Book: Donald Harron, Elaine Campbell, Mavor Moore
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Female Lead: Anne Shirley
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Female Lead: Anne Shirley
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Female Lead: Annie
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Dorothy Fields, Herbert Fields
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Female Lead: Annie Oakley
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1934)
Female Lead: Reno Sweeney
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Female Lead: Margo Channing
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Music/Lyrics: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Female Lead: Carole King
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Female Lead: Annie Golden
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics: Paul Francis Webster Adaptation: Ronald Hanmer, Phil Park
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Female Lead: Calamity Jane
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin Book: Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
Musical Type: Golden Age (1950)
Female Lead: Sally Adams
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Abe Burrows
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Female Lead: La Môme Pistache
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Female Lead: Caroline Thibodeaux
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
Female Lead: Sheri Rene Scott
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Female Lead: Eva Perón
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Female Lead: Hope Springfield
Music/Lyrics/Book: Yve Blake
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Female Lead: Edna
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Richard Greenberg
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Female Lead: Cathy Whitaker
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: George Abbott, Robert Russell, David Thompson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1965)
Female Lead: Flora Meszaros
Music/Lyrics: Richard Taylor Book: Rachel Wagstaff
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Female Lead: Mrs Ada Harris
Music/Lyrics/Book: Gary Kupper Book: Rose Caiola
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Female Lead: Strawberry
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Isobel Lennart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Female Lead: Fanny Brice
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Female Lead: Georgina Franklin
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Michael Stewart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Female Lead: Dolly Gallagher Levi
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Female Lead: Elizabeth
I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Music: Nancy Ford Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Female Lead: Heather
Music: Zina Goldrich Lyrics/Book: Marcy Heisler
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Female Lead: Junie B. Jones
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Female Lead: Kimberly Akimbo
Music/Lyrics: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe Book: Heather Hach
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Female Lead: Elle Woods
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Leo Robin, Adolph Green, Betty Comden Book: Anita Loos, Joseph Fields, Kenny Solms, Gail Parent
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Female Lead: Lorelei Lee
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Book: Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Female Lead: Mame Dennis
Music/Lyrics: Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, George Stiles, Anthony Drewe Book: Julian Fellowes
Musical Type: 1964 Film/Contemporary Musical (2004)
Female Lead: Mary Poppins
Music/Lyrics: Tim Minchin Book: Dennis Kelly
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Female Lead: Matilda Wormwood
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Romney Brent, Steve Mackes, Michael Whaley
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1933)
Female Lead: Evangeline Edwards
Music/Lyrics: Cole Porter Book: Herbert Fields, B.G. DeSylva
Musical Type: Golden Age (1940)
Female Lead: Hattie Maloney
Music: Jerome Kern, Victor Herbert Lyrics: Clifford Grey, B.G. De Sylva, P.G. Wodehouse, Anne Caldwell Book: Guy Bolton
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1920)
Female Lead: Sally
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Female Lead: Deloris Van Cartier
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
Female Lead: Michelle “Mike” Mayer
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Alexander Dinelaris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Female Lead: Rachel Marron
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Female Lead: Celie
Music/Lyrics: Tori Amos Lyrics/Book: Samuel Adamson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Female Lead: Althea
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Glenn Slater Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: 1989 Film/Contemporary Musical (2007)
Female Lead: Ariel
Music/Book: Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics: John Dempsey Lyrics/Book: Alain Boublil, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Female Lead: Grace (Grania) O’Malley
Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson Book: Richard Morris
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Female Lead: Molly Tobin
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Dick Scanlan Book: Richard Morris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Female Lead: Millie Dillmount
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen Book: Claudia Shear, Tim Federle
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Female Lead: Winnie Foster
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Brian Crawley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Female Lead: Violet
Music/Lyrics: Sara Bareilles Book: Jessie Nelson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Female Lead: Jenna Hunterson
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: N. Richard Nash
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Female Lead: Wildcat “Wildy” Jackson
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Peter Stone
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Female Lead: Tess Harding
Musicals With Multiple Female Leads
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Pre-Contemporary Musical (1980)
Female Leads: Dorothy and Peggy
Music/Lyrics: Dolly Parton Book: Patricia Resnick
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Female Leads: Violet, Doralee, and Judy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Female Leads: Fay and Cora
Music: Michael Gore Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Lawrence D. Cohen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1988)
Female Leads: Carrie and Margaret
Music: John Kander Lyrics/Book: Fred Ebb Book: Bob Fosse
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1975)
Female Leads: Velma and Roxie
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Female Leads: Effie, Deena and Lorrell
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Brian Yorkey Book: Bridget Carpenter
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Female Leads: Ellie and Katherine
Music/Lyrics: Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez Book: Jennifer Lee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Female Leads: Anna and Elsa
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Female Leads: Edith and Edie
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Female Leads: Rose, June, and Louise
Music/Lyrics: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus Book: Catherine Johnson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Female Leads: Sophie and Donna
Music: Jeff Richmond Lyrics: Nell Benjamin Book: Tina Fey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Female Leads: Cady and Regina
Music: George Fenton, Simon Chamberlain Lyrics: Don Black Book: Terry Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Female Leads: Laura, Vivian, & Maureen
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Bill Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Female Leads: Violet and Daisy
Music: Marvin Hamlisch Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1986)
Female Leads: Robin and Doria
Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Dorothy Fields Book: Neil Simon
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Female Leads: Charity, Helene, and Nickie
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Female Leads: Star, Lady, and Babe
Music/Book: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Ira Gasman Book: David Newman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Female Leads: Queen, Sonja, and Mary
Music: John Kander Lyrics: Fred Ebb Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Female Leads: Anna and Angel
Music: Scott Frankel Lyrics: Michael Korie Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Female Leads: Helena and Elizabeth
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Winnie Holzman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Female Leads: Elphaba and Galinda
Music: Leonard Bernstein Lyrics: Betty Comden, Adolph Green Book: Joseph Fields, Jerome Chodorov
Musical Type: Golden Age (1953)
Female Leads: Ruth and Eileen
Musicals With an All-Female Cast
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Larry Gallagher
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Cast Size: 6
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 10
Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World
Music/Lyrics: Miranda Cooper Music: Jennifer Decilveo Lyrics: Chris Bush
Lyrics: Chris Bush, Miranda Cooper
Cast Size: 5+
Music/Lyrics: Michael John La Chiusa
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics: Jerry Herman Concept: Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Cast Size: 3
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Cast Size: 5
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Phillip George, David Lowenstein
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Toby Marlow, Lucy Moss
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Cast Size: 6
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Richard Maltby Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Cast Size: 1
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Cast Size: 1
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Cast Size: 4
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Cast Size: 4
The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics: David Kirshenbaum Book: Jack Heifner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 3
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Roger Bean
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Cast Size: 4
* Here’s where you can find a full list of musicals with an all-female writing team!
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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 holds a BA in theatre, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.