Pop/Rock Musicals – A Full List of Popular Shows
Whether you’re auditioning for musicals, setting up your rep book, or simply looking for some new musicals to get into, it’s good to get familiar with what’s out there. And that’s why we’ve put together this list of the most notable pop/rock musicals for you below, sorted alphabetically.
The following list is broken down into three categories – “Pop/Rock Jukebox Musicals”, “Pop/Rock Musicals”, and “Pop/Rock Mixed Genre Musicals”. Each category is sorted alphabetically.
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Pop/Rock Jukebox Musicals
& Juliet
Music/Lyrics: Max Martin, Various Book: David West Read
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2019)
Beautiful – The Carole King Musical
Music: Various Lyrics: Various Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Cruel Intentions
Music: Various Book: Roger Kumble, Lindsey Rosin, Jordan Ross
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2015)
Everyday Rapture
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott
Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)
The Bodyguard
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Alexander Dinelaris Jr.
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2012)
Pop/Rock Musicals
13
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown Book: Dan Elish, Robert Horn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Aida
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Tim Rice Book: Woolverton, Falls, Hwang
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Alice by Heart
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater, Jessie Nelson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Bare
Music/Book: Damon Intrabartolo Lyrics/Book: Jon Hartmere
Musical Type: Contemporary
Beetlejuice
Music/Lyrics: Eddie Perfect Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King
Musical Type: Contemporary
Billy Elliot
Music: Elton John Lyrics: Lee Hall Book: Lee Hall
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Carrie
Music: Michael Gore Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Lawrence D. Cohen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1988)
Clinton
Music/Lyrics: Paul Hodge Book: Michael Hodge, Paul Hodge
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Dear Evan Hansen
Music: Justin Paul Lyrics: Benj Pasek Book: Steven Levenson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Diana: The Musical
Music/Lyrics/Book: David Bryan, Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Fame
Music: Steve Margoshes Lyrics: Jacques Levy
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1988)
Flashdance
Music: Robbie Roth Lyrics: Roth, Robert Cary Book: Cary, Tom Hedley
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Footloose
Music: Tom Snow Lyrics: Dean Pitchford Book: Dean Pitchford, Walter Bobbie
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Ghost
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Stewart, Glen Ballard, Bruce Joel Rubin
Musical Type: Contemporary
Glory Days
Music/Lyrics: Nick Blaemire Book: James Gardiner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Heathers
Music/Lyrics/Book: Laurence O’Keefe, Kevin Murphy
Musical Type: Contemporary (1980s style)
High School Musical
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: David Simpatico
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Kinky Boots
Music/Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper Book: Harvey Fierstein
Musical Type: Contemporary
Legally Blonde
Music/Lyrics: Nell Benjamin, Laurence O’Keefe Book: Heather Hach
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Lift
Music/Lyrics: Craig Adams Book: Ian Watson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Lysistrata Jones
Music/Lyrics: Lewis Flinn Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)
Mean Girls
Music: Jeff Richmond Lyrics: Nell Benjamin Book: Tina Fey
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Next to Normal
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics/Book: Brian Yorkey
Musical Type: Contemporary
Polkadots: The Cool Kids Musical
Music/Lyrics: Greg Borowsky, Douglas Lyons Book: Melvin Tunstall III
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Pretty Woman
Music/Lyrics: Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance Book: Garry Marshall, J. F. Lawton
Musical Type: Contemporary
Rocky
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Thomas Meehan, Sylvester Stallone
Musical Type: Contemporary
See Rock City and Other Destinations
Music: Brad Alexander Lyrics/Book: Adam Mathias
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Spring Awakening
Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics/Book: Steven Sater
Musical Type: Contemporary
Starlight Express
Music: Andrew & Alistair Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Stilgoe, Aquilina, Black, Coler, Yazbek
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1980s)
The Wedding Singer
Music: Matthew Sklar Lyrics: Chad Beguelin Book: Beguelin, Tim Herlihy
Musical Type: Contemporary (1980s Style)
We Are the Tigers
Music/Lyrics/Book: Preston Max Allen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Pop/Rock Mixed Genre Musicals
Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Revue (1971)
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Music: Janet Hood Lyrics/Book: Bill Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Song Cycle (1989)
Evita
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970s)
High Fidelity
Music: Tom Kitt Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
The Beautiful Game
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics/Book: Ben Elton
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
The Full Monty
Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)
Xanadu
Music/Lyrics: Jeff Lynne, John Farrar Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!
Which of these pop/rock musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above pop/rock 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 has a TESOL drama certificate, a BA in theatre, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
