21+ Notable Soul Musicals – The Full List of Shows
Whether you’re producing a show, 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 soul musicals for you below, sorted alphabetically.
The following musicals showcase a wide range of music styles. I wouldn’t classify any of the following musicals as purely soul in style, but they all feature at least some elements of soul music in them.
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Soul Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin, Various Book: Randy Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Music Genre: Blues/Soul
Music/Lyrics: The Legendary Motown Catalog Book: Dominique Morisseau
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2017)
Music Genre: R&B/Soul
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Music/Lyrics: Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil Book: Douglas McGrath
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Music Genre: Pop/Rock/Soul
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mark Schoenfeld, Barri McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Music Genre: Soul/Pop-Rock/Musical Theatre
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Soul/Funk/Rock/Rap
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Soul
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Folk/Soul
Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music Genre: Pop-Rock/Soul/Gospel
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Music Genre: Disco/Gospel/Soul/R&B/Pop
Music: Trey Anastasio Music/Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Music Genre: Country/Rock/Soul/Gospel
Music: Helen Miller Lyrics: Eve Merriam
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music Genre: Folk Rock/Soul
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Janus Cercone, Warren Leight
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Music Genre: Gospel/Soul/Pop/Rock
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genre: Rock & Roll/Soul/Gospel
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)
Music Genre: R&B/Soul/Pop
Music/Lyrics/Book: Tommy Butler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)
Music Genre: Soul/Funk
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Disco/Gospel/Soul
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music Genre: Soul/Blues
Music: Martin Silvestri Lyrics/Book: Joel Higgins
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Music Genre: Funk/Musical Theatre/Pop/Soul
Music/Book: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Ira Gasman Book: David Newman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Music Genre: Jazz/Gospel/Soul
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music Genre: Soul/Gospel/Disco
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2018)
Music Genre: Rock/R&B/Soul
Songs: Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, James Taylor Songs/Adaptation: Stephen Schwartz Adaptation: Nina Faso
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1977)
Music Genre: Country/Soul/Pop/Folk/Latin/Musical Theatre
More Musicals by Music Genre
• Country
• Disco
• Folk
• Gospel
• Pop
• Pop/Rock
• Rock
• Soul → You are here!
Want a weekly list of stagey surprises?!
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 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.