Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

The Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken, non-sung dialogue, and storyline of a musical play. Eligibility is restricted to works with original narrative framework; plotless revues and revivals are ineligible. This award was originally called the Tony Award for Best Author, until musicals were split off from dramas.

Tony Award for
Best Book of a Musical
Awarded forBest Book of a Musical
LocationUnited States New York City
Presented byAmerican Theatre Wing The Broadway League
Currently held byDavid Lindsay-Abaire for Kimberly Akimbo (2023)
WebsiteTonyAwards.com

Winners and nominees
  indicates the winner

1940s
Year Production Author
1949
(3rd)
Kiss Me, Kate Bella and Samuel Spewack

1950s
Year Production Author
1950
(4th)
South Pacific Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan

1960s
Year Production Author
1962
(16th)
[1]
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Abe Burrows, Willie Gilbert and Jack Weinstock
Carnival! Helen Deutsch and Michael Stewart
1963
(17th)
[2]
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove
Little Me Neil Simon
Oliver! Lionel Bart
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
1964
(18th)
[3]
Hello, Dolly! Michael Stewart
The Girl Who Came to Supper Noël Coward and Harry Kurnitz
High Spirits Timothy Gray and Hugh Martin
She Loves Me Joe Masteroff
1965
(19th)
[4]
Fiddler on the Roof Joseph Stein
Baker Street Jerome Coopersmith
Ben Franklin in Paris Sidney Michaels
Half a Sixpence Beverley Cross

1970s
Year Production Author
1971
(25th)
[5]
Company George Furth
The Me Nobody Knows Robert H. Livingston and Herb Schapiro
The Rothschilds Sherman Yellen
1972
(26th)
[6]
Two Gentlemen of Verona John Guare and Mel Shapiro
Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death Melvin Van Peebles
Follies James Goldman
Grease Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs
1973
(27th)
[7]
A Little Night Music Hugh Wheeler
Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope Micki Grant
Don't Play Us Cheap Melvin Van Peebles
Pippin Roger O. Hirson
1974
(28th)
[8]
Candide Hugh Wheeler
Raisin Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg
Seesaw Michael Bennett
1975
(29th)
[9]
Shenandoah James Lee Barrett, Philip Rose and Peter Udell
The Lieutenant Gene Curty, Nitra Scharfman and Chuck Strand
Mack and Mabel Michael Stewart
The Wiz William F. Brown
1976
(30th)
[10]
A Chorus Line Nicholas Dante and James Kirkwood Jr.
Chicago Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
Pacific Overtures John Weidman
The Robber Bridegroom Alfred Uhry
1977
(31st)
[11]
Annie Thomas Meehan
Happy End Michael Feingold and Elisabeth Hauptmann
I Love My Wife Michael Stewart
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God Vinnette Justine Carroll
1978
(32nd)
[12]
On the Twentieth Century Betty Comden and Adolph Green
A History of the American Film Christopher Durang
Runaways Elizabeth Swados
Working Stephen Schwartz
1979
(33rd)
[13]
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Hugh Wheeler
Ballroom Jerome Kass
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Larry L. King and Peter Masterson
They're Playing Our Song Neil Simon

1980s
Year Production Author
1980
(34th)
[14]
Evita Tim Rice
Barnum Mark Bramble
A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Dick Vosburgh
Sugar Babies Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby
1981
(35th)
[15]
Woman of the Year Peter Stone
42nd Street Mark Bramble and Michael Stewart
Tintypes Mary Kyte
The Moony Shapiro Songbook Julian More and Monty Norman
1982
(36th)
[16]
Dreamgirls Tom Eyen
The First Martin Charnin and Joel Siegel
Nine Arthur Kopit
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Tim Rice
1983
(37th)
[17]
Cats T. S. Eliot
A Doll's Life Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Merlin Richard Levinson and William Link
My One and Only Timothy S. Mayer and Peter Stone
1984
(38th)
[18]
La Cage aux Folles Harvey Fierstein
Baby Sybille Pearson
Sunday in the Park with George James Lapine
The Tap Dance Kid Charles Blackwell
1985
(39th)
Big River William Hauptman
Grind Fay Kanin
Harrigan 'N Hart Michael Stewart
Quilters Barbara Damashek and Molly Newman
1986
(40th)
[19]
The Mystery of Edwin Drood Rupert Holmes
Big Deal Bob Fosse
Singin' in the Rain Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Wind in the Willows Jane Iredale
1987
(41st)
[20]
Les Misérables Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Me and My Girl Stephen Fry, Douglas Furber, Mike Ockrent and L. Arthur Rose
Rags Joseph Stein
Smile Howard Ashman
1988
(42nd)
[21]
Into the Woods James Lapine
The Gospel at Colonus Lee Breuer
The Phantom of the Opera Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Romance/Romance Barry Harman

1990s
Year Production Author
1990
(44th)
[22]
City of Angels Larry Gelbart
Aspects of Love Andrew Lloyd Webber
Grand Hotel Luther Davis
Meet Me in St. Louis Hugh Wheeler
1991
(45th)
[23]
The Secret Garden Marsha Norman
Miss Saigon Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Once on This Island Lynn Ahrens
The Will Rogers Follies Peter Stone
1992
(46th)
[24]
Falsettos William Finn and James Lapine
Crazy for You Ken Ludwig
Five Guys Named Moe Clarke Peters
Jelly's Last Jam George C. Wolfe
1993
(47th)
[25]
Kiss of the Spider Woman Terrence McNally
Anna Karenina Peter Kellogg
Blood Brothers Willy Russell
The Who's Tommy Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend
1994
(48th)
[26]
Passion James Lapine
Beauty and the Beast Linda Woolverton
Cyrano: The Musical Koen van Dijk
A Grand Night for Singing Walter Bobbie
1995
(49th)
Sunset Boulevard Don Black and Christopher Hampton
1996
(50th)
[27]
Rent Jonathan Larson
Big John Weidman
Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk Reg E. Gaines
Chronicle of a Death Foretold Graciela Daniele, Michael John LaChiusa and Jim Lewis
1997
(51st)
[28]
Titanic Peter Stone
Jekyll & Hyde Leslie Bricusse
The Life Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman and David Newman
Steel Pier David Thompson
1998
(52nd)
[29]
Ragtime Terrence McNally
The Lion King Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
The Scarlet Pimpernel Nan Knighton
Side Show Bill Russell
1999
(53rd)
[30]
Parade Alfred Uhry
Footloose Walter Bobbie and Dean Pitchford
It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman
Marlene Pam Gems

2000s
Year Production Author
2000
(54th)
[31]
James Joyce's The Dead Richard Nelson
Contact John Weidman
Marie Christine Michael John LaChiusa
The Wild Party Michael John LaChiusa and George C. Wolfe
2001
(55th)
[32]
The Producers Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
A Class Act Linda Kline and Lonny Price
The Full Monty Terrence McNally
Jane Eyre John Caird
2002
(56th)
[33]
Urinetown Greg Kotis
Mamma Mia! Catherine Johnson
Sweet Smell of Success John Guare
Thoroughly Modern Millie Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan
2003
(57th)
[34]
Hairspray Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell
Amour Jeremy Sams and Didier Van Cauwelaert
Flower Drum Song David Henry Hwang
A Year with Frog and Toad Willie Reale
2004
(58th)
[35]
Avenue Q Jeff Whitty
The Boy from Oz Nick Enright and Martin Sherman
Caroline, or Change Tony Kushner
Wicked Winnie Holzman
2005
(59th)
[36]
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Rachel Sheinkin
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Jeffrey Lane
The Light in the Piazza Craig Lucas
Monty Python's Spamalot Eric Idle
2006
(60th)
[37]
The Drowsy Chaperone Bob Martin and Don McKellar
The Color Purple Marsha Norman
Jersey Boys Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
The Wedding Singer Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy
2007
(61st)
[38]
Spring Awakening Steven Sater
Curtains Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone
Grey Gardens Doug Wright
Legally Blonde Heather Hach
2008
(62nd)
[39]
Passing Strange Stew
Cry-Baby Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell
In the Heights Quiara Alegría Hudes
Xanadu Douglas Carter Beane
2009
(63rd)
[40]
Billy Elliot the Musical Lee Hall
Next to Normal Brian Yorkey
Shrek the Musical David Lindsay-Abaire
[title of show] Hunter Bell

2010s
Year Production Author
2010
(64th)
[41]
Memphis Joe DiPietro
Everyday Rapture Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
Fela! Bill T. Jones and Jim Lewis
Million Dollar Quartet Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
2011
(65th)
[42]
The Book of Mormon Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson Alex Timbers
The Scottsboro Boys David Thompson
Sister Act Douglas Carter Beane, Bill and Cheri Steinkellner
2012
(66th)
[43]
Once Enda Walsh
Lysistrata Jones Douglas Carter Beane
Newsies Harvey Fierstein
Nice Work If You Can Get It Joe DiPietro
2013
(67th)
[44]
Matilda the Musical Dennis Kelly
A Christmas Story: The Musical Joseph Robinette
Kinky Boots Harvey Fierstein
Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella Douglas Carter Beane
2014
(68th)
[45]
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Robert L. Freedman
Aladdin Chad Beguelin
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Douglas McGrath
Bullets Over Broadway Woody Allen
2015
(69th)
[46]
Fun Home Lisa Kron
An American in Paris Craig Lucas
Something Rotten! Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell
The Visit Terrence McNally
2016
(70th)
[47]
Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda
Bright Star Steve Martin
School of Rock Julian Fellowes
Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed George C. Wolfe
2017
(71st)
[48]
Dear Evan Hansen Steven Levenson
Come from Away David Hein and Irene Sankoff
Groundhog Day Danny Rubin
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Dave Malloy
2018
(72nd)
[49]
The Band's Visit Itamar Moses
Frozen Jennifer Lee
Mean Girls Tina Fey
SpongeBob SquarePants Kyle Jarrow
2019
(73rd)
[50]
Tootsie Robert Horn
Ain’t Too Proud Dominique Morisseau
Beetlejuice Scott Brown and Anthony King
Hadestown Anaïs Mitchell
The Prom Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin

2020s
Year Production Author
2020
(74th)
Jagged Little Pill Diablo Cody
Moulin Rouge! John Logan
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins
2022
(75th)
[51]
A Strange Loop Michael R. Jackson
Girl from the North Country Conor McPherson
MJ Lynn Nottage
Mr. Saturday Night Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel
Paradise Square Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas and Larry Kirwan
2023
(76th)
[52]
Kimberly Akimbo David Lindsay-Abaire
& Juliet David West Read
New York, New York David Thompson and Sharon Washington
Shucked Robert Horn
Some Like It Hot Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin
2024
(77th)
[53]
Hell's Kitchen Kristoffer Diaz
The Notebook Bekah Brunstetter
The Outsiders Justin Levine and Adam Rapp
Suffs Shaina Taub
Water for Elephants Rick Elice

Award records

Nomination records

See also
  • Tony Award for Best Original Score
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
  • Laurence Olivier Award for Best Original Score or New Orchestrations
  • List of Tony Award-nominated productions

References
  1. "1962 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  2. "1963 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  3. "1964 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  4. "1965 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  5. "1971 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  6. "1972 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  7. "1973 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  8. "1974 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  9. "1975 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  10. "1976 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. "1977 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  12. "1978 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  13. "1979 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  14. "1980 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  15. "1981 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  16. "1982 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  17. "1983 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  18. "1984 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  19. "1986 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  20. "1987 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  21. "1988 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  22. "1990 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  23. "1991 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  24. "1992 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  25. "1993 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  26. "1994 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  27. "1996 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  28. "1997 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  29. "1998 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  30. "1999 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  31. "2000 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  32. "2001 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  33. "2002 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  34. "2003 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  35. "2004 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  36. "2005 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  37. "2006 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  38. "2007 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  39. "2008 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  40. "2009 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  41. "2010 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  42. "2011 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  43. "2012 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  44. "2013 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  45. "2014 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  46. "Tony Nominations 2015: Full List". Variety. April 28, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  47. "2016 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  48. "2017 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  49. "2018 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  50. "2019 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  51. "2022 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  52. "2023 Tony Awards Nominees". American Theatre Wing. May 2, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  53. "2024 Tony Awards Nominees". New York Times. April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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