Rags to Riches Musicals – The Complete List
The following list includes rags to riches musicals featuring characters that rise to success from poverty or obscurity. Additional musical lists are available in the musical database.
Rags to Riches Musicals
Music: Harry Warren Lyrics: Al Dubin, Johnny Mercer Book: Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
Musical Type: 1933 Film/Late 20th Century Musical (1980)
Genre: Comedy
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Chad Beguelin Lyrics: Tim Rice, Howard Ashman
Musical Type: 1992 Film/Contemporary Musical (2011)
Genre: Fairy Tale
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens Book: Terrence McNally
Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)
Genre: Romantic Dramedy
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Martin Charnin Book: Thomas Meehan
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Genre: Dramedy
Music: Richard Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Oscar Hammerstein II Book: Douglas Carter Beane
Musical Type: 1957 Film/Contemporary Musical (2013)
Genre: Fairy Tale
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1976)
Genre: Semi-Biography
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Bob Merrill Book: Isobel Lennart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Semi-Biography
Music: Charles Strouse Lyrics: Lee Adams Book: Clifford Odets, William Gibson
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1964)
Genre: Drama
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Arthur Laurents
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Genre: Dramedy / Semi-Biography
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Biography
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Music/Lyrics: Frank Loesser Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1961)
Genre: Satire
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: George Furth
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1981)
Genre: Dramedy
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Lionel Bart
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Genre: Drama
Music: Mary Rodgers Lyrics/Book: Marshall Barer Book: Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller
Musical Type: Golden Age (1959)
Genre: Comedy / Fairy Tale
Music/Lyrics/Book: Steve Brown Lyrics/Book: Justin Greene
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1998)
Genre: Dramedy
The Rothschilds / Rothschild & Sons
Music: Jerry Bock Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick Book: Sherman Yellen
Musical Type: Late 20th Century (1970)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Meredith Willson Book: Richard Morris
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Genre: Semi-Biography / Western