Tony Award for Best Musical - Definition and Overview

1940s

• 1949 Kiss Me, Kate - Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Bella and Samuel Spewack.

1950s

• 1950 South Pacific - Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

• 1951 Guys and Dolls - Music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

• 1952 The King and I - Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Richard Rodgers.

• 1953 Wonderful Town - Book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

• 1954 Kismet - Book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, music by Alexander Borodin, adapted and with lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest.

• 1955 The Pajama Game - Book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

• 1956 Damn Yankees - Book by George Abbot and Douglass Wallop, music by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.
  • Pipe Dream. Book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Richard Rodgers.

• 1957 My Fair Lady - Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Loewe.
  • Bells Are Ringing. Book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Jule Styne.
  • Candide. Book by Lillian Hellman, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Richard Wilbur.
  • The Most Happy Fella. Book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

• 1958 The Music Man - Book by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson.
  • West Side Story. Book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
  • New Girl In Town. Book by George Abbott, music and lyrics by Bob Merrill.
  • Oh, Captain!. Book by Al Morgan and José Ferrer, music and lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.
  • Jamaica. Book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E. Y. Harburg.

• 1959 Redhead - Book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields, Sidney Sheldon and David Shaw, music by Albert Hague, lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
  • Flower Drum Song. Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joseph Fields, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Richard Rodgers.
  • La Plume de Ma Tante. Written, devised, and directed by Robert Dhery, music by Gerard Calvi, English lyrics by Ross Parker.

1960s

• 1960 (tie) - The Sound of Music - Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Richard Rodgers.
• AND Fiorello!. Book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott. Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, music by Jerry Bock.
  • Gypsy. Book by Arthur Laurents. Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Jule Styne.
  • Once Upon a Mattress. Book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller. Lyrics by Marshall Barer, music by Mary Rodgers.
  • Take Me Along. Book by Joseph Stein and Robert Russell, lyrics and music by Bob Merrill.

• 1961 Bye Bye Birdie - Book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams.
  • Do Re Mi. Book by Garson Kanin, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
  • Irma La Douce. Book and lyrics by Alexandre Breffort, music by Marguerite Monnot. English book and lyrics by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman.

• 1962 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.
  • Carnival. Book by Michael Stewart and Helen Deutsch, music and lyrics by Bob Merrill.
  • Milk and Honey. Book by Don Appell, lyrics and music by Jerry Herman.
  • No Strings. Book by Samuel Taylor, music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers.

• 1963 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
  • Little Me. Book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh.
  • Oliver!. Book, music, and lyrics by Lionel Bart.
  • Stop the World - I Want to Get Off. Book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

• 1964 Hello, Dolly! - Book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.
  • Funny Girl. Book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill.
  • High Spirits. Book, lyrics, and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray.
  • She Loves Me. Book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.

• 1965 Fiddler on the Roof - Book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
  • Golden Boy. Book by Clifford Odets and William Gibson, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams.
  • Half a Sixpence. Book by Beverly Cross, music and lyrics by David Heneker.
  • Oh! What a Lovely War. Devised by Joan Littlewood for Theatre Workshop, Charles Chilton and Members of the Cast.

• 1966 Man of La Mancha - Book by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion.
  • Mame. Book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.
  • Skyscraper. Book by Peter Stone, music by James Van Heusen, lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
  • Sweet Charity. Book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields.

• 1967 Cabaret - Book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.
  • I Do! I Do!. Book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt.
  • The Apple Tree. Book by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
  • Walking Happy. Book by Roger O. Hirson and Ketti Frings, music by James Van Heusen, lyrics by Sammy Cahn.

• 1968 Hallelujah, Baby! Book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
  • The Happy Time. Book by N. Richard Nash, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.
  • How Now, Dow Jones. Book by Max Shulman, music by Elmer Bernstein, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh.
  • Illya, Darling. Book by Jules Dassin, music by Manos Hadjidakis, lyrics by Joe Darion.

• 1969 1776 - Book by Peter Stone, music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards.
  • Hair. Book by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, music by Galt MacDermot, lyrics by James Rado.
  • Promises, Promises. Book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David.
  • Zorba. Book by Joseph Stein, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb.

1970s

• 1970 Applause - Book by Betty Comden and Adolph Greene, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams.
  • Coco. Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Andre Previn.
  • Purlie. Book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell.

• 1971 Company.
  • The Me Nobody Knows.
  • The Rothschilds.

• 1972 Two Gentleman of Verona.
  • Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.
  • Follies.
  • Grease.

• 1973 A Little Night Music.
  • Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.
  • Pippin.
  • Sugar.

• 1974 Raisin.
  • Over Here!.
  • Seesaw

• 1975 The Wiz.
  • Mack and Mabel.
  • The Lieutenant.
  • Shenandoah.

• 1976 A Chorus Line.
  • Bubbling Brown Sugar.
  • Pacific Overtures.

• 1977 Annie.
  • Happy End.
  • I Love My Wife.
  • Side by Side by Sondheim.

• 1978 Ain't Misbehavin'.
  • Dancin'.
  • On the Twentieth Century.
  • Runaways.

• 1979 Sweeney Todd.
  • Ballroom.
  • The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
  • They're Playing Our Song.

1980s

• 1980 Evita.
  • A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine.
  • Barnum.
  • Sugar Babies.

• 1981 42nd Street.
  • Sophisticated Ladies.
  • Tintypes.
  • Woman of the Year.

• 1982 Nine.
  • Dreamgirls.
  • Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
  • Pump Boys and Dinettes.

• 1983 Cats.
  • Blues in the Night.
  • Merlin.
  • My One and Only.

• 1984 La Cage aux Folles.
  • Baby.
  • Sunday in the Park with George.
  • The Tap Dance Kid.

• 1985 Big River.
  • Grind.
  • Leader of the Pack.
  • Quilters..

• 1986 The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
  • Song & Dance.
  • Tango Argentino.

• 1987 Les Misérables.
  • Me and My Girl.
  • Rags.
  • Starlight Express.

• 1988 The Phantom of the Opera.
  • Into the Woods.
  • Romance/Romance.
  • Sarafina!.

• 1989 Jerome Robbins' Broadway.
  • Black and Blue.
  • Starmites.

1990s

• 1990 City of Angels.
  • Aspects of Love.
  • Grand Hotel, The Musical.
  • Meet Me in St. Louis.

• 1991 The Will Rogers Follies.
  • Miss Saigon.
  • Once on this Island.
  • The Secret Garden.

• 1992 Crazy for You.
  • Falsettos.
  • Five Guys Named Moe.
  • Jelly's Last Jam.

• 1993 Kiss of the Spider Woman - The Musical.
  • Blood Brothers.
  • The Goodbye Girl.
  • The Who's Tommy.

• 1994 Passion.
  • A Grand Night for Singing.
  • Beauty and the Beast.
  • .

• 1995 Sunset Boulevard.
  • Smokey Joe's Cafe.

• 1996 Rent.
  • Bring in 'da Noise/Bring in 'da Funk.
  • Chronicle of a Death Foretold.
  • Swinging on a Star.

• 1997 Titanic.
  • Juan Darien.
  • Steel Pier.
  • The Life.

• 1998 The Lion King.
  • Side Show.
  • The Scarlet Pimpernel.
  • Ragtime.

• 1999 Fosse.
  • The Civil War.
  • It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.
  • Parade.

2000s

• 2000 Contact.
  • James Joyce's The Dead.
  • Swing!.
  • The Wild Party.

• 2001 The Producers, the new Mel Brooks musical.
  • A Class Act.
  • The Full Monty.
  • Jane Eyre.

• 2002 Thoroughly Modern Millie.
  • Mamma Mia!
  • Sweet Smell of Success
  • Urinetown The Musical

• 2003 Hairspray.
  • Amour
  • A Year with Frog and Toad
  • Movin' Out

• 2004 Avenue Q.
  • The Boy from Oz
  • Caroline, or Change
  • Wicked