21+ of the Most Amazingly Weird Musicals
Weirdness is subjective, which makes this list different from a lot of Theatre Trip’s other blog posts. Here, I’m defining ‘weird’ as musicals that are unusual, surprising, or defy traditional storytelling. But remember—weird doesn’t mean bad! In fact, some of my favorite musicals are on this list. From rock opera and zombies, to cannibalism and award-winning cult classics, here’s a list of what I consider to be truly weird musicals.
Weird Musicals
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant
Music/Lyrics/Book: Kyle Jarrow
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Satire
Music/Lyrics/Book: Joshua Schmidt Lyrics/Book: Jason Loewith
Musical Type: Contemporary (2007)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: John Weidman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1990)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics: Laurence O’Keefe Book: Keythe Farley, Brian Flemming
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1997)
Genre: Comedic Horror
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics: T.S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn, Richard Stilgoe
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1981)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Gerald Jay Markoe Lyrics: Michael Colby
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Genre: Melodrama
Music: Robb Stewart Lyrics/Book: Neville Phillips, Robin Chancellor
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
Genre: Melodrama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Melvin Van Peebles
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: James Goldman
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1966)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics/Book: George Reinblatt Music: Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris
Musical Type: Contemporary (2003)
Genre: Comedic Horror / Parody
Music: Sammy Fain Lyrics/Book: Yip Harburg Book: Fred Saidy
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Genre: Fairy Tale / Satire
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2014)
Genre: Song Cycle
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Trask Book: John Cameron Mitchell
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1998)
Genre: Drama
Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard Thomas, Stewart Lee
Musical Type: Contemporary (2001)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics/Book: Howard Ashman
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1982)
Genre: Comedic Horror
Music/Lyrics/Book: Dave Malloy
Musical Type: Contemporary (2019)
Genre: Avant-Garde
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz Book: Roger O. Hirson
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1972)
Genre: Dramedy
Music: Jule Styne Lyrics/Book: Bob Merrill
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Genre: Dark Comedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Brooke Maxwell, Jacob Richmond
Musical Type: Contemporary (2015)
Genre: Dark Comedy / Horror
Music/Lyrics/Book: Julian Slade Lyrics/Book: Dorothy Reynolds
Musical Type: Golden Age (1954)
Genre: Fantasy
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Alistair Lloyd Webber Lyrics: Richard Stilgoe, David Yazbek, Nick Coler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1984)
Genre: Fantasy
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Hugh Wheeler
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1979)
Genre: Horror
Music/Lyrics/Book: Paul Shapera
Musical Type: Contemporary (2012)
Genre: Science Fiction
Music/Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim Book: Burt Shevelove, Nathan Lane
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1974)
Genre: Fantasy / Satire
Music: Claibe Richardson Lyrics/Book: Kenward Elmslie
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1971)
Genre: Dramedy
Music/Lyrics/Book: Richard O’Brien
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Genre: Comedic Horror / Spoof
Music/Lyrics/Book: Pete Townshend Book: Des McAnuff
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Genre: Drama
Music: Alan Menken Lyrics: David Spencer Book: Alan Brennert
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1992)
Genre: Science Fiction
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Which of these weird musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of the above weird 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 List. She holds a BA in theatre and a TESOL drama certificate, with experience working and interning in Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.
