35+ Musicals Written By Black Artists – The Full List
Last Updated: May 6, 2025
Looking to discover new musicals written by Black artists? These shows celebrate diverse narratives, vibrant cultures, and powerful storytelling, offering a variety of perspectives on the human experience. Explore our full list of musicals where at least one member of the writing team is a Black creator.
Musicals Written by Black Artists
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael R. Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music: Thomas “Fats” Waller Lyrics: Various Concept: Murray Horwitz, Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1978)
Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music/Lyrics: Various
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)
Music/Lyrics: Traditional Book: Langston Hughes
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
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: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Loften Mitchell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant Concept: Vinnette Carroll
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Melvin Van Peebles
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Music/Lyrics: Fela Kuti Book: Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music/Lyrics: Louis Jordan Book: Clarke Peters
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues
Music/Lyrics/Book: Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor, Dan Wheetman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Music: Jelly Roll Morton, Luther Henderson Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead Book: George C. Wolfe
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Music/Lyrics: Todd Matshikiza Lyrics: Pat Williams Book: Harry Bloom
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Lynn Nottage
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music/Lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda Book: David Thompson, Sharon Washington
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew Music: Heidi Rodewald
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music/Lyrics: Duke Ellington, Various Book: Cheryl West
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
Music/Lyrics: Douglas Lyons Music: Greg Borowsky Book: Melvin Tunstall III
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Music: Gary Geld Lyrics/Book: Peter Udell Book: Ossie Davis, Philip Rose
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mbongeni Ngema Additional Songs: Hugh Masekela
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Music/Lyrics: Eubie Blake, Noble Sissle Book: Flournoy Miller, Aubrey Lyles
Musical Type: Jazz Age (1921)
Music: David Martin Lyrics/Book: Langston Hughes
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Matthew López, Amber Ruffin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Johnny Mercer Book: Arna Bontemps, Countee Cullen
Musical Type: Golden Age (1946)
Summer: The Donna Summer Musical
Music/Lyrics: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara, Various Book: Colman Domingo, Robert Cary, Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Simon Lyrics/Book: Derek Walcott
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Ed Curtis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey Book: Kwame Kwei-Armah
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael John LaChiusa Book: George C. Wolfe
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music/Lyrics/Book: Michael R. Jackson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music/Lyrics/Adaptation: Stephen Schwartz Music/Lyrics: Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, James Taylor Adaptation: Nina Faso
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
Want to stay in the loop with all things related to musical theatre?
Which of these musicals written by Black artists is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musicals written by Black artists? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much more!
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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
