The Lerner and Loewe Musicals – A Full List
Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe were an extremely successful songwriting duo who together created one musical hit after another, both for film and stage. And for your convenience, here’s our list of all of the classic Lerner and Loewe musicals, sorted chronologically.
* Scroll down for a list of musicals written by Alan Jay Lerner with other writers.
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Lerner and Loewe Musicals
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1942)
This is the first of many collaborations between Lerner and Loewe. This musical was never staged on Broadway and had a run of nine weeks in Detroit.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner Book: Arthur Pierson
Musical Type: Golden Age (1943)
What’s Up? was the first Broadway collaboration between Lerner and Loewe. However, the show was not much of a hit, closing after 63 performances.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1945)
The Day Before Spring originally started as a touring production, only to close three days later due to a coal strike! From there, it landed on Broadway in 1945 for 167 performances.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1947)
Brigadoon was Lerner and Loewe’s first big success, running for 581 performances and later receiving a film adaptation. The show has been going strong since with frequent revivals.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1951)
Paint Your Wagon ran on Broadway in 1951 and in the West End in 1953. It was later adapted into a musical film in 1969.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Golden Age (1956)
My Fair Lady was a huge success and even set a record for longest running Broadway musical in 1956. It was also followed by a popular film adaptation, along with a continuous string of revivals that continue to date.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Post-Golden Age (1960)
Following the enormous success of My Fair Lady, Camelot had big shoes to fill. However, it exceeded expectations with four Tony Awards, a successful film adaptation, and ongoing revivals that persist to this day.
Music: Frederick Loewe Lyrics/Book: Alan Jay Lerner
Musical Type: Pre-Contemporary (1973)
Although the film version of Gigi came out in 1958, Lerner and Loewe did not work on the stage version until 1973. This production did not reach the same highs as their previous two collaborations, but it did win a Tony Award for Best Score.
Musicals by Alan Jay Lerner
The following musicals were written by Alan Jay Lerner, along with other writers.
1965: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1969: Coco
1971: Lolita, My Love
1976: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
1979: Carmelina
1983: Dance a Little Closer
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Which of these Lerner and Loewe musicals is your favorite?
Or have you ever played a role in any of these Lerner and Loewe musicals? Feel free to share in the comments below! And if you like these types of lists, check out the musical database. That’s where you’ll find musicals sorted by composer, theme, setting, and 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, a TESOL drama certificate, and has worked and interned with Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters.