Musical Lists

21+ Soul Musicals – The Full List of Shows

Last Updated: May 8, 2025

Looking for musicals that feature soul music? From shows blending styles like R&B, gospel, or funk, to those deeply rooted in the genre, the following productions incorporate soul music into their scores. Here is the full list of soul musicals.



A Night With Janis Joplin

Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin, Various  Book: Randy Johnson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Music Genres: Blues / Rock / Soul


Ain’t Too Proud

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


BKLYN: The Musical

Music/Lyrics/Book: Mark Schoenfeld, Barri McPherson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Music Genres: Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / Soul


Broadway Bounty Hunter

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

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


Caroline, or Change

Music: Jeanine Tesori  Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Music Genres: Blues / Musical Theatre / Soul


Dessa Rose

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Music Genres: Folk / Musical Theatre / Soul


Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope

Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant  Concept: Vinnette Carroll

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genres: Gospel / Pop-Rock / Soul


Dreamgirls

Music: Henry Krieger  Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)

Music Genres: Blues / Disco / Gospel / Pop / R&B / Soul


Dude

Music: Galt MacDermot  Lyrics/Book: Gerome Ragni

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)

Music Genres: Country / Folk-Rock / Soul


Hair

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

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)

Music Genres: Folk-Rock / Soul


Hairspray

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


Hands on a Hardbody

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)

Music Genres: Country / Gospel / Rock / Soul


Hell’s Kitchen

Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various  Book: Kristoffer Diaz

Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)

Music Genres: Hip-Hop / R&B / Soul


Inner City

Music: Helen Miller  Lyrics: Eve Merriam

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genres: Folk-Rock / Soul


Leap of Faith

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book: Janus Cercone, Warren Leight

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Music Genres: Gospel / Pop / Rock / Soul


Me and Bessie

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)

Music Genres: Blues / Gospel / Jazz / Soul


Memphis

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Music Genres: Gospel / R&B / Rock & Roll / Soul


MJ The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Lynn Nottage

Musical Type: Contemporary (2022)

Music Genre: Pop / R&B / Soul


Motown: The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Berry Gordy

Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)

Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Soul


Shane Warne

Music/Lyrics/Book: Eddie Perfect

Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)

Music Genres: Funk / Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / Soul


Sister Act

Music: Alan Menken  Lyrics: Glenn Slater  Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / Musical Theatre / R&B / Soul


The Color Purple

Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray  Book: Marsha Norman

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Music Genres: Blues / Soul


The Drifters Girl

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Ed Curtis

Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)

Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Rock & Roll / Soul


The Fields of Ambrosia

Music: Martin Silvestri  Lyrics/Book: Joel Higgins

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)

Music Genres: Funk / Musical Theatre / Pop / Soul


The Full Monty

Music/Lyrics: David Yazbek  Book: Terrence McNally

Musical Type: Contemporary (2000)

Music Genres: Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / Soul


The Life

Music/Book: Cy Coleman  Lyrics/Book: Ira Gasman  Book: David Newman

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)

Music Genres: Gospel / Jazz / Soul


The Wiz

Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls  Book: William F. Brown

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)

Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / R&B / Soul


Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)

Music Genres: R&B / Rock / Soul


Working

Music/Lyrics/Adaptation: Stephen Schwartz  Music/Lyrics: Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, James Taylor  Adaptation: Nina Faso

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)

Music Genres: Country / Folk / Latin / Musical Theatre / Pop / Soul



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Which of these soul musicals is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of the above soul musicals? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you enjoy exploring these lists, check out the musical database, where you can discover musicals organized by composer, theme, setting, and much 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 ListShe holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.

Photo of Stacy Karyn

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