Musical Lists

60+ Rock Musicals – The Full List of Shows

Whether you’re a producer of musical theatre, 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 full list of the best rock musicals for you below!

The following list is broken down into nine categories – “Alternative Rock”, “British Rock”, “Folk Rock”, “Glam Rock”, “Indie Rock”, “Punk Rock”, “Rock”, “Rock & Roll”, and “Rock/Mixed Genre”.

Here’s where you can find the full list of pop/rock musicals (featuring shows like Spring Awakening and Next to Normal).


Please note: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of the following links, we may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.


Alternative Rock Musicals

35mm: A Musical Exhibition

Music/Lyrics/Book: Ryan Scott Oliver

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Music Genre: Alternative Rock


Jagged Little Pill

Music/Lyrics: Alanis Morissette  Music: Glen Ballard, Guy Sigsworth, Michael Farrell  Book: Diablo Cody

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2018)

Music Genre: Alternative Rock


Murder Ballad

Music/Lyrics: Juliana Nash  Lyrics/Book: Julia Jordan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Music Genre: Alternative Rock


British Rock Musicals

All the Fun of the Fair

Music/Lyrics: David Essex  Book: Jon Conway

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2008)

Music Genre: British Rock


Blood Brothers

Music/Lyrics/Book: Willy Russell

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1983)

Music Genre: British Rock


Let It Be

Music/Lyrics: The Beatles

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Music Genre: British Rock


Sunny Afternoon

Music/Lyrics: Ray Davies  Book: Joe Penhall

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2014)

Music Genre: British Rock


The Who’s Tommy

Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend  Book: Des McAnuff

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)

Music Genre: 1960s British Rock


We Will Rock You

Music/Lyrics: Queen  Book: Ben Elton

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2002)

Music Genre: British Rock


Folk Rock Musicals

Canterbury Tales

Music: John Hawkins, Richard Hill  Lyrics/Book: Nevill Coghill  Book: Martin Starkie

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Girl From the North Country

Music/Lyrics: Bob Dylan  Book: Conor McPherson

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Hair

Music: Galt MacDermot  Lyrics/Book: Gerome Ragni, James Rado

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Jesus Christ Superstar

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Tim Rice

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Light Years

Music/Lyrics/Book: Robbie Schaefer

Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Once

Music/Lyrics: Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová  Book: Enda Walsh

Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Salvation

Music/Lyrics/Book: Peter Link, C.C. Courtney

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1969)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


The Last Sweet Days of Isaac

Music: Nancy Ford  Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


The Lion

Music/Lyrics/Book: Benjamin Scheuer

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Music Genre: Folk-Rock


Two Gentlemen of Verona

Music: Galt MacDermot  Lyrics/Book: John Guare  Book: Mel Shapiro

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Your Own Thing

Music/Lyrics: Hal Hester, Danny Apolinar  Book: Donald Driver

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1968)

Music Genre: Folk Rock


Glam Rock Musicals

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Trask  Book: John Cameron Mitchell

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)

Music Genre: Glam Rock


Rock of Ages

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Chris D’Arienzo

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2005)

Music Genre: Glam Rock


Indie Rock Musicals

Lizard Boy

Music/Lyrics/Book: Justin Huertas

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Music Genre: Indie Rock


Punk Rock Musicals

American Idiot

Music: Green Day  Lyrics/Book: Billie Joe Armstrong  Book: Michael Mayer

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2009)

Music Genre: Punk Rock


Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

Music/Lyrics: Michael Friedman  Book: Alex Timbers

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Music Genre: Punk Rock


Home Street Home

Music/Lyrics/Book: Fat Mike, Jeff Marx, Soma Snakeoil, David Goldsmith

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Music Genre: Punk Rock


Rock Musicals

Bat Out of Hell

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Steinman

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)

Music Genre: Rock


Bright Lights, Big City

Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Scott Goodman

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)

Music Genre: Rock


Brooklyn Crush

Music/Lyrics/Book: David Eric Davis  Book: Sam Forman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Music Genre: Rock


Death Note

Music: Frank Wildhorn  Lyrics: Jack Murphy  Book: Ivan Menchell

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Music Genre: Rock


Evil Dead

Music/Lyrics/Book: George Reinblatt  Music: Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Music Genre: Rock


Fly by Night

Music/Lyrics/Book: Kim Rosenstock, Will Connolly, Michael Mitnick

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Music Genre: Rock


Gettin’ the Band Back Together

Music/Lyrics: Mark Allen  Book: Ken Davenport, The Grundleshotz

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Music Genre: Rock


Head Over Heels

Music/Lyrics: The Go-Go’s  Book: Jeff Whitty, James Magruder

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2015)

Music Genre: Rock


Jasper in Deadland

Music/Lyrics: Ryan Scott Oliver  Book: Hunter Foster

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Music Genre: Rock


Lazarus

Music/Lyrics: David Bowie  Book: Enda Walsh

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Music Genre: Rock


Lizzie

Music/Lyrics: Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt  Music/Lyrics/Book: Tim Maner

Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)

Music Genre: Rock


Love in Hate Nation

Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Music Genre: Rock


Love’s Labour’s Lost

Music/Lyrics: Michael Friedman  Book: Alex Timbers

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Music Genre: Rock


Movin’ Out

Music/Lyrics: Billy Joel

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2002)

Music Genre: Rock


Rent

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Larson

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)

Music Genre: Rock


School of Rock

Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book:  Julian Fellowes

Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)

Music Genre: Rock


Sing Street

Music/Lyrics: Gary Clark, John Carney  Book: Enda Walsh

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Music Genre: Rock


Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Music/Lyrics: Bono, The Edge  Book: Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Music Genre: Rock


The Lightning Thief

Music/Lyrics: Rob Rokicki  Book: Joe Tracz

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Music Genre: Rock


The Rocky Horror Show

Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard O’Brien

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)

Music Genre: Rock


The Toxic Avenger

Music/Lyrics: David Bryan  Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Music Genre: Rock


Things to Ruin

Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Music Genre: Rock


Rock & Roll Musicals

A Bronx Tale

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book: Chazz Palminteri

Musical Type: Contemporary (2016)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


A Slice of Saturday Night

Music/Lyrics/Book: The Heather Brothers

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


All Shook Up

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Joe DiPietro

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2005)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Baby It’s You!

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Floyd Mutrux, Colin Escott

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2009)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Music/Lyrics: Buddy Holly, Various  Book: Alan Janes

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1989)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Cry-Baby

Music/Lyrics: Adam Schlesinger, David Javerbaum  Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Grease

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genre: 1950s Rock & Roll


Hairspray

Music/Lyrics: Marc Shaiman  Lyrics: Scott Wittman  Book: Mark O’Donnell, Thomas Meehan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Music Genre: 1960s Rock & Roll


Happy Days

Music/Lyrics: Paul Williams  Book: Garry Marshall

Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Jersey Boys

Music: Bob Gaudio  Lyrics: Bob Crewe  Book: Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2004)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Leader of the Pack

Music/Lyrics: Ellie Greenwich & Friends  Book: Anne Beatts

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1984)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Memphis

Music/Lyrics: David Bryan  Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Music Genre: 1950s Rock & Roll/Soul/Gospel


Million Dollar Quartet

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Colin Escott, Floyd Mutrux

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2006)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Return to the Forbidden Planet

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Bob Carlton

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Jukebox (1983)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Smokey Joe’s Cafe

Music/Lyrics: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1994)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Zombie Prom

Music: Dana P. Rowe  Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll


Rock/Mixed Genres

Almost Famous

Music/Lyrics: Tom Kitt  Lyrics/Book: Cameron Crowe

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Music Genre: Rock (Classic, Folk, Psychedelic)/Musical Theatre


Bat Boy

Music/Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe  Book: Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Music Genre: Rock/Mixed


Bonnie & Clyde

Music: Frank Wildhorn  Lyrics: Don Black  Book: Ivan Menchell

Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)

Music Genre: Country/Rock


Broadway Bounty Hunter

Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis  Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Soul/Funk/Rock/Rap


Cambodian Rock Band

Music/Lyrics: Dengue Fever  Book: Lauren Yee

Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)

Music Genre: Rock/Mixed


Chess

Music: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus  Lyrics: Tim Rice  Book: Richard Nelson

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)

Music Genre: Rock/Mixed


Contact

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: John Weidman

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1999)

Music Genre: Jazz/Classical/Rock & Roll


Escape to Margaritaville

Music/Lyrics: Jimmy Buffett  Book: Greg Garcia, Mike O’Malley

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)

Music Genre: Country/Tropical Rock


Hands on a Hardbody

Music: Trey Anastasio  Music/Lyrics: Amanda Green   Book: Doug Wright

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Music Genre: Country/Rock/Soul/Gospel


Inner City

Music: Helen Miller  Lyrics: Eve Merriam

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genre: Folk Rock/Soul


Jerry Springer: The Opera

Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard Thomas, Stewart Lee

Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)

Music Genre: Rock Opera


Nevermore

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Christenson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Music Genre: Steampunk/Rock


Passing Strange

Music/Lyrics/Book: Stew  Music: Heidi Rodewald

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Music Genre: Rock/Mixed


Reefer Madness

Music/Book: Dan Studney  Lyrics/Book: Kevin Murphy

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)

Music Genre: Rock/Musical Theatre/Jazz


Say My Name!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Rob Gathercole

Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)

Music Genre: Rock/Country/Rap/Jazz/Musical Theatre


Taboo

Music/Lyrics: Boy George  Music: Kevan Frost, John Themis, Richie Stevens  Book: Mark Davies Markham, Charles Busch

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Pop/Rock/Reggae


Tanz der Vampire

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Steinman  Lyrics/Book: Michael Kunze  Book: David Ives

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Music Genre: Rock/Epic/Musical Theatre


The Fix

Music: Dana P. Rowe  Lyrics/Book: John Dempsey

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)

Music Genre: Rock/Musical Theatre/Gospel


The Last Ship

Music/Lyrics: Sting  Book: Lorne Campbell, John Logan, Brian Yorkey

Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)

Music Genre: Folk Rock/Pop/Celtic


Tick, Tick … BOOM!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jonathan Larson

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary/Contemporary (1990/2001)

Music Genre: Rock/Mixed


Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2018)

Music Genre: Rock/R&B/Soul


Other blog posts you might like:

Folk Musicals

• Jukebox Musicals

• Musicals About New York City

• Musicals Based on Movies

• Pop Musicals

• Pop/Rock Musicals


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Which of these rock musicals is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of the above 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!


Stacy Karyn, Author of Rock 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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.


 

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