He wrote In The Heights and Hamilton, aswell as short musical 21 Chump Street, the concept album Warriors, and the music for three recent Disney films. With his hip-hop influence and clever lyricism, this Puerto Rican composer may be the most influential musical theatre composer of the 21st century.
Lin Manuel Miranda
π±ββοΈππ©βπΌπ
Legally Blonde
It's the longest running Broadway musical of all time, based on a famous horror novel, running from 1986 all the way to 2022
The Phantom of the Opera
Based on a cult classic 80s film, this musical had a short run off-broadway. But after a widely circulated bootleg recording, the show caught on with people on sites like Tumblr and TikTok. The show has now been running on the West End since 2018 and had an off-broadway revival in 2025.
Heathers
Spider-Man
Yes-by the name of "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark", it was to this day the most expensive show to ever tempt on Broadway. Despite getting decent ticket sales, the budget was too high to make back. The run also had a plethora of horrible injuries due to the complex stunt work.
He composed the music for many of Broadway's biggest hits, including The Phantom Of The Opera, Cats, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar. A divisive but iconic composer who changed Broadway as we know it.
Andrew Lloyd Webber
ππͺππ₯§
Sweeney Todd
It's the highest grossing Broadway musical of all time, based on a famous 2D animated film
The Lion King
Based on a "complicated Russian novel", this musical was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, but only won 3. It closed after only a year and never toured. It is now done mostly by local theatre's and many theatre fans have been begging for it to be revived.
Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812
Death Note
Yes- Initially released as a concept album (starring broadway icon Jeremy Jordan as Light Yagami), the musical never took off in the US. However, the music was eventually rewritten into Japanese and has been very successful in Japan. In 2023 they finally brought the English version to life in London with a concert performance.
He wrote a plethora of iconic shows, including, but not limited to: Into The Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday In The Park With George. He unfortunately passed away in 2021, and is considered by many to be perhaps the greatest musical theatre composer of all time.
Stephen Sondheim
π€₯πππ³
Dear Evan Hansen
It is the musical with the most Tony Award awards, winning a total of 12 trophies, based on a well-known Mel Brooks comedy
The Producers
Considered one of Broadways biggest disasters; this musical, based on Stephen King's first full novel, closed after only three days in 1984. It was eventually revived off-broadway in 2012 and has been done by college and community theatre's ever since.
Carrie
The Princess Diaries
No- although many have shared the concept, the classic 2001 film starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews has not had a musical adaptation
He wrote Rent, aswell as the music for his autobiographical musical Tick Tick....Boom! and his never-made Suburbia. He is considered to be one of the most influential theatre composers of all time. Unfortunately, he died the night before Rent's opening night, never getting to see his success.
Jonathan Larson
πΉππβ€οΈ
Hadestown
Widely considered to be the "first ever Broadway musical" (although this has been debated), this 1866 opera ran for 474 performances
The Black Crook
This musical written by Tim Rice and composed by one half of ABBA, based in the Cold War, and centering on a famous game of wits, this musical was considered a hit on the West End but a failure on Broadway. It has gained a following over the decades and is now having a revival on Broadway starting late 2025.
Chess
Coraline
No-Although one was written and was going to premier in London, it was cancelled after Neil Gaiman's horrific past actions came to light. We will likely never see what the Coraline musical could have been.
He wrote the music for Pippin, Godspell, and Wicked, as well as the music for Dreamworks film Prince of Egypt and the lyrics for two Disney renaissance films. An iconic composer and lyricist who's music has stood the test of time.
Stephen Schwartz
5οΈβ£ποΈππ«
The Last Five Years
Considered the first ever "book musical", this famous Rogers and Hammerstein piece changed Broadway musicals forever
Oklahoma
Based on the controversial novel aswell as cult classic film, composed by artist Duncan Sheik, this musical opened in London in 2014 and rushed to Broadway in the packed season of 2016. Despite being a success in London, it failed miserably on Broadway both critically and financially, and had to close early. It returning to London in 2026, and production's are being put in places like Australia and Texas.
American Psycho
King Kong
Yes-Featuring what is possibly the most impressive puppet ever put to stage, King Kong came to Broadway in 2019. Unfortunately, it was such a big bomb with both critics and audiences that not only did it close fast, it never even got a cast recording.