Musical Theatre Song Cycles – A Full List of Shows
A musical song cycle is a group of songs that are designed to be performed together without the incorporation of a traditional plot. The songs are usually connected by some sort of theme. Musical theatre song cycles differ a bit from musical revues – which generally showcase a group of songs that are connected by a specific time period or composer.
This list is broken down into two categories – “Musical Song Cycles” and “Song Cycle Mixes” (shows that might be a mix of genres – like a song cycle/revue, for example).
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Musical Song Cycles
Music/Lyrics/Book: Ryan Scott Oliver
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Connecting Theme: The human experience
Music/Lyrics: William Finn
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Connecting Theme: Remembrance of departed friends
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Music: Janet Hood Lyrics/Book: Bill Russell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Connecting Theme: Lives lost to AIDS
Music: Chris Miller Lyrics: Nathan Tysen
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Connecting Theme: A journey across America
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Connecting Theme: Love, death and whiskey
Is There Life After High School?
Music/Lyrics: Craig Carnelia Book: Jeffrey Kindley
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Connecting Theme: High school experiences
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2020)
Connecting Theme: Unpredictable times and NYC
Music/Lyrics: Adam Guettel
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Connecting Theme: Faith, spirituality, and enlightenment
See Rock City and Other Destinations
Music: Brad Alexander Lyrics/Book: Adam Mathias
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Connecting Theme: Connections made at USA tourist destinations
Music/Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)
Connecting Theme: Self-discovery
Music/Lyrics: Neil Bartram Book: Brian Hill
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Connecting Theme: The interconnectedness of humans
Music/Lyrics: Drew Gasparini
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Connecting Theme: The realities of growing up
Song Cycle Mixes
The following shows are more of a mix between song cycles and other genres (musicals, revues, etc.). Some may consider the following to be “song cycles” while may not.
Music: David Shire Lyrics: Richard Maltby, Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1989)
Connecting Theme: Modern-day love struggles
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Music: Jimmy Roberts Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1996)
Connecting Theme: Dating and relationships
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black, Richard Maltby Jr.
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Connecting Theme: Love and life in NYC
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Don Black
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Connecting Theme: Love and life in NYC
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Connecting Theme: Humans in need of commotion
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Which of these song cycles is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above musical song cycles? 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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.