19 Definitive R&B Musicals – The Full List of Shows
Looking for musicals that capture the smooth and soulful sound of R&B music? While few musicals feature exclusively R&B in their scores, many blend its influence with other genres like disco, gospel, and pop. Here’s the full list of R&B musicals, sorted alphabetically.
R&B Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Rap
Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)
Music Genres: R&B / Soul
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Music/Lyrics: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genres: Pop-Rock / R&B / Soul
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Music Genres: Blues / Disco / Gospel / Pop / R&B / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman Lyrics: Scott Wittman Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Soul / Rock & Roll
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Music Genres: Pop / Rap / R&B
Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music Genres: Hip-Hop / R&B / Soul
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Music Genres: Doo-Wop / Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / R&B
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genres: Gospel / R&B / Rock & Roll / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Lynn Nottage
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music Genre: Pop / R&B / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Soul
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / Musical Theatre / R&B / Soul
Music: Various Lyrics/Book: Gerard Alessandrini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Music Genres: Pop / Rap / R&B
Music/Lyrics/Book: Shaina Taub
Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)
Music Genres: Musical Theatre / R&B / Rap
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 Genres: Disco / Pop / R&B
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Alexander Dinelaris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Music Genres: Disco / Pop / Pop-Rock / R&B
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Ed Curtis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Rock & Roll / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / R&B / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music Genres: R&B / Rock / Soul
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Which of these R&B musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above R&B 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 and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
