Musical Lists

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

A Night With Janis Joplin

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

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)

Music Genre: Blues/Soul


Ain’t Too Proud

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


BKLYN: The Musical

Music/Lyrics/Book: Mark Schoenfeld, Barri McPherson

Musical Type: Contemporary (2004)

Music Genre: Soul/Pop-Rock/Musical Theatre


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


Caroline, or Change

Music: Jeanine Tesori  Lyrics/Book: Tony Kushner

Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)

Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Soul


Dessa Rose

Music: Stephen Flaherty  Lyrics/Book: Lynn Ahrens

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Folk/Soul


Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope

Music/Lyrics: Micki Grant

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)

Music Genre: Pop-Rock/Soul/Gospel


Dreamgirls

Music: Henry Krieger  Lyrics/Book: Tom Eyen

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)

Music Genre: Disco/Gospel/Soul/R&B/Pop


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


Leap of Faith

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2010)

Music Genre: Gospel/Soul/Pop/Rock


Memphis

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2002)

Music Genre: Rock & Roll/Soul/Gospel


Motown: The Musical

Music/Lyrics: Various  Book: Berry Gordy

Musical Type: Contemporary/Jukebox (2013)

Music Genre: R&B/Soul/Pop


Selma

Music/Lyrics/Book: Tommy Butler

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1976)

Music Genre: Soul/Funk


Sister Act

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Music Genre: Musical Theatre/Disco/Gospel/Soul


The Color Purple

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

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Music Genre: Soul/Blues


The Fields of Ambrosia

Music: Martin Silvestri  Lyrics/Book: Joel Higgins

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1993)

Music Genre: Funk/Musical Theatre/Pop/Soul


The Life

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

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)

Music Genre: Jazz/Gospel/Soul


The Wiz

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

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)

Music Genre: Soul/Gospel/Disco


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


Working

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

• Classical

• Country

• Disco

• Folk

Gospel

• Piano-Only

• 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!


Stacy Karyn, Author of Soul 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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