Musicals Written By Black Artists – The Complete List

Musicals Written by Black Artists

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A Strange Loop

Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael R. Jackson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

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Ain’t Misbehavin’

Music: Thomas “Fats” Waller  Lyrics: Various  Concept: Murray Horwitz, Richard Maltby, Jr.

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1978)

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Ain’t Too Proud

Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog  Book: Dominique Morisseau

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

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Black and Blue

Music/Lyrics: Various

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1985)

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Black Nativity

Music/Lyrics: Traditional  Book: Langston Hughes

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)

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Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk

Music: Daryl Waters, Zane Mark  Music/Lyrics: Ann Duquesnay  Lyrics: George C. Wolfe  Lyrics/Book: Reg E. Gaines

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1995)

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Bubbling Brown Sugar

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Loften Mitchell

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)

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Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope

Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant  Concept: Vinnette Carroll

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1971)

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Don’t Play Us Cheap

Music/Lyrics/Book: Melvin Van Peebles

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1972)

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Fela!

Music/Lyrics: Fela Kuti  Book: Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

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Five Guys Named Moe

Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan  Book: Clarke Peters

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1990)

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Hell’s Kitchen

Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various  Book: Kristoffer Diaz

Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)

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It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues

Music/Lyrics/Book: Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor, Dan Wheetman

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1999)

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Jelly’s Last Jam

Music: Jelly Roll Morton, Luther Henderson  Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead  Book: George C. Wolfe

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1992)

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King Kong

Music/Lyrics: Todd Matshikiza  Lyrics: Pat Williams  Book: Harry Bloom

Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)

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Me and Bessie

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1974)

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MJ The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Lynn Nottage

Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)

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Motown: The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Berry Gordy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

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New York, New York

Music/Lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb  Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda  Book: David Thompson, Sharon Washington

Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)

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Passing Strange

Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew  Music: Heidi Rodewald

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

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Play On!

Music/Lyrics: Duke Ellington, Various  Book: Cheryl West

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1996)

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Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical

Music/Lyrics: Douglas Lyons  Music: Greg Borowsky  Book: Melvin Tunstall III

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

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Purlie

Music: Gary Geld  Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell  Book: Ossie Davis, Philip Rose

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)

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Sarafina!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Mbongeni Ngema  Additional Songs: Hugh Masekela

Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1987)

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Shuffle Along

Music/Lyrics: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle  Book: Flournoy Miller, Aubrey Lyles

Musical Type: Jazz Age (1921)