Musical Lists

Two-Person Musicals – The Full List of Shows

Last Updated: May 6, 2025

Looking for an intimate musical for a cast of two? These two-person shows (often called two-handers) provide space for rich storytelling and character work with minimal resources. From bold pieces to minimalistic productions, here’s the full list of two-person musicals.



A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Lyrics/Book: Betty Comden, Adolph Green  Music: Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne, André Previn, Saul Chaplin, Roger Eden, Morton Gould

Musical Type: Golden Age (1958)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


Daddy Long Legs

Music/Lyrics: Paul Gordon  Book: John Caird

Musical Type: Contemporary (2009)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


Ernest Shackleton Loves Me

Music: Brendan Milburn  Lyrics: Valerie Vigoda  Book: Joe DiPietro

Musical Type: Contemporary (2017)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


Goblin Market

Music: Polly Pen  Lyrics: Peggy Harmon

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1985)

Cast Size: 2F


Gutenberg! The Musical!

Music/Lyrics/Book: Scott Brown, Anthony King

Musical Type: Contemporary (2005)

Cast Size: 2 Any Gender


Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Trask  Book: John Cameron Mitchell

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)

Cast Size: 2 Any Gender


I Do! I Do!

Music: Harvey Schmidt  Lyrics/Book: Tom Jones 

Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


John & Jen

Music/Book: Andrew Lippa  Lyrics/Book: Tommy Greenwald

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1995)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


Marry Me a Little

Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim  Concept: Craig Lucas, Norman René

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary Revue (1980)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


Murder for Two

Music/Book: Joe Kinosian  Lyrics/Book: Kellen Blair

Musical Type: Contemporary (2011)

Cast Size: 2 Any Gender


The Last Five Years

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jason Robert Brown

Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


The Last Sweet Days of Isaac

Music: Nancy Ford  Lyrics/Book: Gretchen Cryer

Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1970)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


The Story of My Life

Music/Lyrics: Neil Bartram  Book: Brian Hill

Musical Type: Contemporary (2006)

Cast Size: 2M


Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Music/Lyrics/Book: Jim Barne, Kit Buchan

Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)

Cast Size: 1F, 1M


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Which of these two-person musicals is your favorite?

Or have you ever played a role in any of these two-handers? 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.

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