15+ Piano Musicals Written for a Single Keyboard
Are you looking for a musical that’s intended to be performed with just a single pianist? These types of shows are great options for smaller theatre companies or those with limited resources. Piano musicals are also perfect for digital productions.
The following list is broken down into two categories – “Musicals Intended for a Single Piano” and “Piano Heavy Musicals”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Musicals Intended for a Single Piano
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Music: Frank Lazarus, Various Lyrics/Book: Dick Vosburgh
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Cast Size: 8
Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert J. Sherman Music/Lyrics: Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Cast Size: 5
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Cast Size: 5
Music/Lyrics: William Finn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Cast Size: 5+
Music/Lyrics/Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Cast Size: 2
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Cast Size: 4
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Cast Size: Flexible
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Concept: Rob Ruggiero
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 5
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Concept: Craig Lucas, Norman Rene
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)
Cast Size: 2
Music/Book: Joe Kinosian Lyrics/Book: Kellen Blair
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Cast Size: 2
Music/Lyrics: Adam Gwon
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics: Tom Wilson Weinberg
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1987)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics: Steve Schalchlin Lyrics: John Bettis, Marie Cain Book: Jim Brochu
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Cast Size: 5
The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)
Music/Book: Eric Rockwell Lyrics/Book: Joanne Bogart
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Cast Size: 4+
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen Book: Hunter Bell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Cast Size: 4 + 1 Pianist
Music: Dick Gallagher Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark Waldrop Concept: Howard Crabtree
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Cast Size: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Howard Crabtree, Charles Cantanese, Mark Waldrop, Dick Gallagher, Phillip George, Peter Morris
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Cast Size: 9
Piano-Heavy Musicals
The following musicals are very piano heavy and usually only require a few additional instruments for full orchestration.
Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane Book: John Cecil Holm
Musical Type: Golden Age (1941)
Cast Size: 25+
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn Book: James Lapine
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Stuart Ross
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Cast Size: 4
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Cast Size: 4
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Music: Jimmy Roberts Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Cast Size: 4
Music: Brad Ross Lyrics: Ellen Greenfield, Hal Hackady
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)
Cast Size: 3
Music/Lyrics: Howard Goodall Lyrics/Book: Stephen Clark
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Cast Size: 5
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Cast Size: 6
Music: Marvin Laird Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Cast Size: 7
Music/Lyrics: Jon Kaplan, Al Kaplan Book: Hunter Bell
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Cast Size: 9
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music/Lyrics: William Finn Book: Rachel Sheinkin
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Cast Size: 9
Music: Harvey Schmidt Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Cast Size: 8
Music: Steven M. Alper Lyrics: Sarah Knapp Book: Mark Harelik
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Cast Size: 4
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Which of these piano musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above piano musicals? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and 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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.