With the Tony Awards last week and the widespread success of Hamilton, Broadway has been in the public spotlight more than ever. While Hamilton has been groundbreaking in many ways, there’s still a noticeable gap in the number of composers and lyricists on Broadway that are women. Prior to the 1991 premiere of “The Secret Garden” (that you can read more about below) there had only been six other female composers on Broadway. In total.
Here’s a list of some Broadway musicals with either female composers or lyricists that everyone should know.
1. "Ragtime" – Music by Lynn Ahrens
"Ragtime" is based on the 1975 novel “Ragtime” by E. L. Doctorow that tells the story of three groups in the early 20th century United States. It follows African Americans, upper-class suburbanites, and Eastern European immigrants. It has historical figures represented throughout that include Harry Houdini, Booker T. Washington, Henry Ford, and Emma Goldman as well as others. It won Best Original Score in 1998 as well as Best Musical of a Book, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, and Best Orchestrations.
2. "Legally Blonde" – Music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin
“Legally Blonde” is based on the movie of the same name (as well as novel with the same name written by Amanda Brown). The plot is the same, telling the story of Elle Woods as she enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back the love of her ex-boyfriend, but discovers how her dedication can help others while staying true to herself. The musical moved to Broadway in 2007 and received seven Tony nominations, including one for Best Original Score.
3. "Little Women" – Music and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein
Based on the novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, this musical focuses on four sisters with very different personalities while their father is serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. It received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical in 2005 for Sutton Foster, who has starred in numerous Broadway musicals composed by women.
4. "Shrek the Musical" – Music by Jeanine Tesori
If you didn’t know there was a musical version of “Shrek” now you do. It’s based off of the DreamWorks film of the same name, and opened on Broadway in 2008. It received mixed reviews, but won a Tony for Best Costume Design. It was nominated for Best Original Score, and once again featured Sutton Foster as lead actress (of which she was nominated for in the Tony’s).
5. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" – Music by Jeanine Tesori
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” is a musical based on the 1967 film of the same name. It tells the story of a small town girl who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love. It follows as she lives a flapper lifestyle but runs into problems when she checks into a hotel “owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China.” It opened on Broadway in 2002 and won the Tony for Best Musical as well as Best Performance by a Leading Actress (by Sutton Foster. Again.), Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best Costume Design. It was nominated for Best Original Score as well as a few other categories.
6. "Fun Home" – Music by Jeanine Tesori
“Fun Home” won the Tony for Best Musical in 2015, as well as four other Tony Award. It’s an adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic memoir about her relationship with her gay father and has been called “the first mainstream musical about a young lesbian.” It is also the first Broadway musical with a lesbian protagonist.
7. "Violet" – Music by Jeanine Tesori
Jeanine Tesori is a powerhouse for Broadway musicals. As well as the other musicals on this list, she produced “Violet” which went to Broadway in 2014. It tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from North Carolina all the way to Oklahoma to be healed. It was nominated for four Tony awards and (surprise) starred Sutton Foster.
8. "Once the Musical" – Music and Lyrics by Marketa Irglova
“Once” is based off the 2007 film of the same name. It follows the story of Guy, an Irish singer and songwriter, who is on the verge of giving up on music altogether when a Czech immigrant hears him play and refuses to let him abandon his dream. The musical continues to show their friendship and collaboration in a complicated love story. It won a Tony for Best Musical in 2012 as well as 7 other Tony Awards.
9. "Caroline, or Change" – Music by Jeanine Tesori
“Caroline, or Change” is set in 1963 Louisiana during the civil rights movement, following the time of the assassination of JFK. The musical is about Caroline, an African American maid and single mother of four. It won a Tony in 2004 for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical and was nominated for five other categories.
10. "The Color Purple" – Music and Lyrics by Allee Willis
Based on the novel of the same name, this musical was originally on Broadway in 2005 but went on revival in 2015. It’s earned eleven Tony Award nominations in 2006 as well as winning two Tony Awards in 2016.
11. "The Secret Garden" – Music by Lucy Simon, Lyrics by Marsha Norman
“The Secret Garden” is based on the 1911 novel by the same name, originally premiering on Broadway in 1991 and running for 709 performances. It’s set in the early 20th century and follows a young English girl in India who is orphaned by a cholera outbreak at age 10. It received three Tony Awards.
12. "Waitress" – Music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles
You read that right; Sara Bareilles wrote and composed the musical numbers for this 2016 musical. It tells the story of a waitress in an unhappy marriage who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and begins an affair with her gynecologist. It was nominated for four Tony Awards.
13. "The Drowsy Chaperone" – Music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert
“The Drowsy Chaperone” premiered on Broadway in 2006 and follows a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan as he plays his record of his favorite musical. As he plays it, the show is played live on stage as he comments about it. The musical won five Tony Awards.
14. "Kinky Boots" – Music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Based on the 2005 film of the same name, this musical is the story of Charlie Price, a man who inherits a shoe factory from his father. To save his business, Charlie becomes friends with a cabaret performer and drag queen named Lola. It received 13 Tony nominations, winning six including Best Musical.
