Musical Lists

15+ Piano Musicals 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


A Spoonful of Sherman

Music/Lyrics/Book: Robert J. Sherman  Music/Lyrics: Al Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Cast Size: 5


Closer Than Ever

Music: David Shire  Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr.

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Cast Size: 5


Elegies: A Song Cycle

Music/Lyrics: William Finn

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Cast Size: 5+


Gutenberg! The Musical!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 2


In Trousers

Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)

Cast Size: 4


Legacy – Two Song Cycles

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens

Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)

Cast Size: Flexible


Make Me a Song

Music/Lyrics: William Finn  Concept: Rob Ruggiero

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 5


Marry Me a Little

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim  Concept: Craig Lucas, Norman René

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980)

Cast Size: 2


Murder for Two

Music/Book: Joe Kinosian  Lyrics/Book: Kellen Blair

Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)

Cast Size: 2


Ordinary Days

Music/Lyrics: Adam Gwon

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Cast Size: 4


Side by Side by Sondheim

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)

Cast Size: 4


The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)

Music/Book: Eric Rockwell  Lyrics/Book: Joanne Bogart

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Cast Size: 4+


[title of show]

Music/Lyrics: Jeff Bowen  Book: Hunter Bell

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 4 + 1 Pianist


When Pigs Fly

Music: Dick Gallagher  Book/Lyrics/Concept: Mark Waldrop  Concept: Howard Crabtree

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Cast Size: 5


Whoop-Dee-Doo!

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.


Best Foot Forward

Music/Lyrics: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane  Book: John Cecil Holm

Musical Type: Golden Age (1941)

Cast Size: 25+


Falsettoland

Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn  Book: James Lapine

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)

Cast Size: 7


Falsettos

Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn  Book: James Lapine

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)

Cast Size: 7


Forever Plaid

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Stuart Ross

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Cast Size: 4


Ghost Quartet

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


John & Jen

Music/Book: Andrew Lippa  Lyrics/Book: Tommy Greenwald

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)

Cast Size: 2


Little by Little

Music: Brad Ross  Lyrics: Ellen Greenfield, Hal Hackady

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)

Cast Size: 3


Love Story

Music/Lyrics: Howard Goodall  Lyrics/Book: Stephen Clark

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Cast Size: 7


March of the Falsettos

Music/Lyrics/Book: William Finn

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)

Cast Size: 5


Nunsense

Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)

Cast Size: 5


Nunsense II

Music/Lyrics/Book: Dan Goggin

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)

Cast Size: 5


Preludes

Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Cast Size: 6


Ruthless!

Music: Marvin Laird  Lyrics/Book: Joel Paley

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)

Cast Size: 7


Silence!

Music/Lyrics: Jon Kaplan, Al Kaplan  Book: Hunter Bell

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 10


The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music/Lyrics: William Finn  Book: Rachel Sheinkin

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 9


The Fantasticks

Music: Harvey Schmidt  Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)

Cast Size: 8


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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 enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much more!


Stacy Karyn, Author of Piano Musicals.
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.


 

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