21+ 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 musicals listed below encompass a diverse array of music styles. While not exclusively classified as soul in style, each of these musicals incorporates elements of soul music.
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Soul Musicals
Music/Lyrics: Janis Joplin, Various Book: Randy Johnson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genres: Blues / Rock / Soul
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 / Soul
Music/Lyrics/Book: Mark Schoenfeld, Barri McPherson
Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)
Music Genres: Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / Soul
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joe Iconis Book: Lance Rubin, Jason SweetTooth Williams
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Music Genres: Funk / Musical Theatre / Rap / Rock / Soul
Music: Jeanine Tesori Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Music Genres: Musical Theatre / Soul
Music: Stephen Flaherty Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music Genres: Folk / Musical Theatre / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music Genres: Gospel / Pop-Rock / Soul
Music: Henry Krieger Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / Pop / R&B / Soul
Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics/Book: Gerome Ragni
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Music Genres: Country / Folk-Rock / Soul
Music: Galt MacDermot Lyrics/Book: Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1967)
Music Genres: Folk-Rock / Soul
Music: Trey Anastasio Music/Lyrics: Amanda Green Book: Doug Wright
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Music Genres: Country / Gospel / Rock / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Alicia Keys, Various Book: Kristoffer Diaz
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music Genre: R&B
Music: Helen Miller Lyrics: Eve Merriam
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music Genres: Folk-Rock / Soul
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Janus Cercone, Warren Leight
Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)
Music Genres: Gospel / Pop / Rock / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Will Holt, Linda Hopkins
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music Genres: Blues / Gospel / Jazz / Soul
Music/Lyrics: David Bryan Lyrics/Book: Joe DiPietro
Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)
Music Genres: Gospel / Rock & Roll / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Berry Gordy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2013)
Music Genres: Pop / R&B / Soul
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Bob Merrill
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Music Genres: Blues / Jazz / Pop / Musical Theatre
Music/Lyrics/Book: Eddie Perfect
Musical Type: Contemporary (2008)
Music Genres: Funk / Musical Theatre / Pop-Rock / Soul
Music: David Martin Lyrics/Book: Langston Hughes
Musical Type: Golden Age (1957)
Music Genres: Blues / Calypso / Jazz / Musical Theatre
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: Glenn Slater Book: Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner
Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)
Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / Musical Theatre / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, Stephen Bray Book: Marsha Norman
Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)
Music Genres: Blues / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Ed Curtis
Musical Type: Contemporary (2021)
Music Genres: Pop / Rock & Roll / Soul
Music: Martin Silvestri Lyrics/Book: Joel Higgins
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)
Music Genres: Funk / Musical Theatre / Pop / Soul
Music/Book: Cy Coleman Lyrics/Book: Ira Gasman Book: David Newman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Music Genres: Gospel / Jazz / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Charlie Smalls Book: William F. Brown
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Music Genres: Disco / Gospel / Soul
Music/Lyrics: Various Book: Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, Kees Prins
Musical Type: Contemporary (2018)
Music Genres: R&B / Rock / Soul
Music/Lyrics: PigPen Theatre Co. Book: Rick Elice
Musical Type: Contemporary (2023)
Music Genres: Bluegrass / Blues / Folk
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 Genres: Country / Folk / Latin / Musical Theatre / Pop / Soul
More Musicals by Music Genre
• Country
• Disco
• Folk
• Gospel
• Pop
• Pop/Rock
• Rock
• Soul → You are here!
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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 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.