Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
Tony Awards · 230 nominations across 60 ceremonies · 59 wins
79th Tonys · 2026
- Winner Schmigadoon!
- Nominee The Lost Boys
- Nominee Titaníque · Marla Mindelle
- Nominee Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
78th Tonys · 2025
- Winner Maybe Happy Ending · Will Aronson, Hue Park
- Nominee Operation Mincemeat · David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, Zoë Roberts
- Nominee Buena Vista Social Club · Marco Ramirez
- Nominee Death Becomes Her · Marco Pennette
- Nominee Dead Outlaw · Itamar Moses
77th Tonys · 2024
- Winner Suffs · Shaina Taub
- Nominee The Notebook · Bekah Brunstetter
- Nominee Hell's Kitchen · Kristoffer Diaz
- Nominee The Outsiders · Adam Rapp
- Nominee Water for Elephants · Rick Elice
76th Tonys · 2023
- Winner Kimberly Akimbo · David Lindsay-Abaire
- Nominee & Juliet · David West Read
- Nominee New York, New York · David Thompson, Sharon Washington
- Nominee Some Like It Hot · Matthew López
- Nominee Shucked · Robert Horn
75th Tonys · 2022
- Winner A Strange Loop · Michael R. Jackson
- Nominee Paradise Square · Craig Lucas
- Nominee MJ: The Musical · Lynn Nottage
- Nominee Girl from the North Country · Conor McPherson
- Nominee Mr. Saturday Night · Billy Crystal
74th Tonys · 2021
- Winner Jagged Little Pill · Diablo Cody
- Nominee Tina · Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar
- Nominee Moulin Rouge! · John Logan
73rd Tonys · 2019
- Winner Tootsie · Robert Horn
- Nominee Hadestown · Anaïs Mitchell
- Nominee Ain't Too Proud · Dominique Morisseau
- Nominee The Prom · Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin
- Nominee Beetlejuice · Anthony King, Scott Brown
72nd Tonys · 2018
- Winner The Band's Visit · Itamar Moses
- Nominee Mean Girls · Tina Fey
- Nominee The SpongeBob Musical · Kyle Jarrow
- Nominee Frozen · Jennifer Lee
71st Tonys · 2017
- Winner Dear Evan Hansen · Steven Levenson
- Nominee Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 · Dave Malloy
- Nominee Groundhog Day · Danny Rubin
- Nominee Come from Away · David Hein
70th Tonys · 2016
- Winner Hamilton · Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Nominee Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed · George C. Wolfe
- Nominee Bright Star · Steve Martin
- Nominee School of Rock · Julian Fellowes
69th Tonys · 2015
- Winner Fun Home · Lisa Kron
- Nominee The Visit · Terrence McNally
- Nominee Something Rotten! · John O'Farrell, Karey Kirkpatrick
- Nominee An American in Paris · Craig Lucas
68th Tonys · 2014
- Winner A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder · Robert L. Freedman
- Nominee Beautiful: The Carole King Musical · Douglas McGrath
- Nominee Bullets Over Broadway · Woody Allen
- Nominee Aladdin · Chad Beguelin
67th Tonys · 2013
- Winner Matilda the Musical · Dennis Kelly
- Nominee Cinderella · Douglas Carter Beane
- Nominee Kinky Boots · Harvey Fierstein
- Nominee Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella · Douglas Carter Beane
- Nominee A Christmas Story: The Musical
66th Tonys · 2012
- Winner Once · Enda Walsh
- Nominee Lysistrata Jones · Douglas Carter Beane
- Nominee Newsies · Harvey Fierstein
- Nominee Nice Work If You Can Get It · Joe DiPietro
65th Tonys · 2011
- Winner The Book of Mormon · Matt Stone, Robert Lopez, Trey Parker
- Nominee Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson · Alex Timbers
- Nominee Sister Act · Douglas Carter Beane
- Nominee The Scottsboro Boys · David Thompson
64th Tonys · 2010
- Winner Memphis · Joe DiPietro
- Nominee Million Dollar Quartet · Floyd Mutrux
- Nominee Everyday Rapture · Dick Scanlan, Sherie Rene Scott
- Nominee Fela! · Bill T. Jones
63rd Tonys · 2009
- Winner Billy Elliot the Musical · Lee Hall
- Nominee Next to Normal · Brian Yorkey
- Nominee Shrek the Musical · David Lindsay-Abaire
- Nominee [title of show] · Hunter Bell
62nd Tonys · 2008
- Winner Passing Strange · Stew
- Nominee Xanadu · Douglas Carter Beane
- Nominee In the Heights · Quiara Alegría Hudes
- Nominee Cry-Baby · Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan
61st Tonys · 2007
- Winner Spring Awakening · Steven Sater
- Nominee Grey Gardens · Doug Wright
- Nominee Legally Blonde · Heather Hach
- Nominee Curtains · Peter Stone, Rupert Holmes
60th Tonys · 2006
- Winner The Drowsy Chaperone · Bob Martin, Don McKellar
- Nominee The Color Purple · Marsha Norman
- Nominee Jersey Boys · Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice
- Nominee The Wedding Singer · Chad Beguelin, Tim Herlihy
59th Tonys · 2005
- Winner The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee · Rachel Sheinkin
- Nominee Dirty Rotten Scoundrels · Jeffrey Lane
- Nominee The Light in the Piazza · Craig Lucas
- Nominee Spamalot · Eric Idle
58th Tonys · 2004
- Winner Avenue Q · Jeff Whitty
- Nominee Wicked · Winnie Holzman
- Nominee The Boy from Oz · Martin Sherman
- Nominee Caroline, or Change · Tony Kushner
57th Tonys · 2003
- Winner Hairspray · Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan
- Nominee Amour · Didier Van Cauwelaert, Jeremy Sams
- Nominee A Year with Frog and Toad · Willie Reale
- Nominee Flower Drum Song · David Henry Hwang
56th Tonys · 2002
- Winner Urinetown · Greg Kotis
- Nominee Mamma Mia! · Catherine Johnson
- Nominee Thoroughly Modern Millie · Dick Scanlan, Richard Morris
- Nominee Sweet Smell of Success · John Guare
55th Tonys · 2001
- Winner The Producers · Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan
- Nominee The Full Monty · Terrence McNally
- Nominee A Class Act · Lonny Price
- Nominee Jane Eyre · John Caird
54th Tonys · 2000
- Winner James Joyce's The Dead · Richard Nelson
- Nominee The Wild Party · George C. Wolfe, Michael John LaChiusa
- Nominee Marie Christine · Michael John LaChiusa
- Nominee Contact · John Weidman
53rd Tonys · 1999
- Winner Parade · Alfred Uhry
- Nominee Footloose · Walter Bobbie
- Nominee Marlene · Pam Gems
- Nominee It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues · Lita Gaithers, Ron Taylor
52nd Tonys · 1998
- Winner Ragtime · Terrence McNally
- Nominee The Lion King · Irene Mecchi, Roger Allers
- Nominee The Scarlet Pimpernel · Nan Knighton
- Nominee Side Show · Bill Russell
51st Tonys · 1997
- Winner Titanic · Peter Stone
- Nominee Jekyll & Hyde · Leslie Bricusse
- Nominee The Life (musical) · Cy Coleman, David Newman, Ira Gasman
- Nominee Steel Pier · David Thompson
50th Tonys · 1996
- Winner Rent · Jonathan Larson
- Nominee Big (musical) · John Weidman
- Nominee Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk · Reg E. Gaines
- Nominee Chronicle of a Death Foretold · Graciela Daniele, Michael John LaChiusa
49th Tonys · 1995
- Winner Sunset Boulevard · Christopher Hampton, Don Black
- Nominee No additional nominees
48th Tonys · 1994
- Winner Passion · James Lapine
- Nominee Beauty and the Beast · Linda Woolverton
- Nominee Cyrano: The Musical
- Nominee A Grand Night for Singing · Walter Bobbie
47th Tonys · 1993
- Winner Kiss of the Spider Woman · Terrence McNally
- Nominee Anna Karenina · Peter Kellogg
- Nominee Blood Brothers · Willy Russell
- Nominee The Who's Tommy · Des McAnuff, Pete Townshend
46th Tonys · 1992
- Winner Falsettos · James Lapine, William Finn
- Nominee Crazy for You · Ken Ludwig
- Nominee Jelly's Last Jam · George C. Wolfe
- Nominee Five Guys Named Moe · Clarke Peters
45th Tonys · 1991
- Winner The Secret Garden · Marsha Norman
- Nominee The Will Rogers Follies · Peter Stone
- Nominee Once on This Island · Lynn Ahrens
- Nominee Miss Saigon · Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg
44th Tonys · 1990
- Winner City of Angels · Larry Gelbart
- Nominee Aspects of Love · Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Nominee Meet Me in St. Louis · Hugh Wheeler
- Nominee Grand Hotel · Luther Davis
42nd Tonys · 1988
- Winner Into the Woods · James Lapine
- Nominee The Phantom of the Opera · Richard Stilgoe, Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Nominee The Gospel at Colonus · Lee Breuer
- Nominee Romance/Romance
41st Tonys · 1987
- Winner Les Misérables · Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg
- Nominee Smile · Howard Ashman
- Nominee Me and My Girl · Douglas Furber
- Nominee Rags · Joseph Stein
40th Tonys · 1986
- Winner Drood · Rupert Holmes
- Nominee Wind in the Willows
- Nominee Singin' in the Rain · Betty Comden, Adolph Green
- Nominee Big Deal · Bob Fosse
39th Tonys · 1985
- Winner Big River · William Hauptman
- Nominee Harrigan 'N Hart · Michael Stewart
- Nominee Grind · Fay Kanin
- Nominee Quilters · Molly Newman
38th Tonys · 1984
- Winner La Cage aux Folles · Harvey Fierstein
- Nominee Sunday in the Park with George · James Lapine
- Nominee Baby · Sybille Pearson
- Nominee The Tap Dance Kid · Charles Blackwell
37th Tonys · 1983
- Winner Cats · T. S. Eliot
- Nominee A Doll's Life · Betty Comden, Adolph Green
- Nominee My One and Only · Peter Stone
- Nominee Merlin · Richard Levinson, William Link
36th Tonys · 1982
- Winner Dreamgirls · Tom Eyen
- Nominee Nine · Arthur Kopit
- Nominee The First · Joel Siegel, Martin Charnin
- Nominee Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat · Tim Rice
35th Tonys · 1981
- Winner Woman of the Year · Peter Stone
- Nominee The Moony Shapiro Songbook · Monty Norman, Julian More
- Nominee Tintypes
- Nominee 42nd Street · Michael Stewart, Mark Bramble
34th Tonys · 1980
- Winner Evita · Tim Rice
- Nominee Sugar Babies · Harry Rigby
- Nominee Barnum · Mark Bramble
- Nominee A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine · Dick Vosburgh
33rd Tonys · 1979
- Winner Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street · Hugh Wheeler
- Nominee They're Playing Our Song · Neil Simon
- Nominee Ballroom · Jerome Kass
- Nominee The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas · Larry L. King, Peter Masterson
32nd Tonys · 1978
- Winner On the Twentieth Century · Betty Comden, Adolph Green
- Nominee Runaways · Elizabeth Swados
- Nominee Working · Stephen Schwartz
- Nominee A History of the American Film · Christopher Durang
31st Tonys · 1977
- Winner Annie · Thomas Meehan
- Nominee Happy End · Elisabeth Hauptmann
- Nominee Your Arms Too Short to Box with God · Vinnette Carroll
- Nominee I Love My Wife · Michael Stewart
30th Tonys · 1976
- Winner A Chorus Line · James Kirkwood, Jr.
- Nominee The Robber Bridegroom · Alfred Uhry
- Nominee Pacific Overtures · John Weidman
- Nominee Chicago · Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse
29th Tonys · 1975
- Winner Shenandoah · James Lee Barrett
- Nominee The Lieutenant · Chuck Strand
- Nominee Mack & Mabel · Michael Stewart
- Nominee The Wiz · William F. Brown
28th Tonys · 1974
- Winner Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" In Concert · Hugh Wheeler
- Nominee Seesaw · Michael Bennett
- Nominee Raisin · Charlotte Zaltzberg, Robert B. Nemiroff
27th Tonys · 1973
- Winner A Little Night Music · Hugh Wheeler
- Nominee Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope · Micki Grant
- Nominee Don't Play Us Cheap · Melvin Van Peebles
- Nominee Pippin · Roger O. Hirson
26th Tonys · 1972
- Winner Two Gentlemen of Verona · John Guare, Mel Shapiro
- Nominee Grease · Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey
- Nominee Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death · Melvin Van Peebles
- Nominee Follies · James Goldman
25th Tonys · 1971
- Winner Company · George Furth
- Nominee The Rothschilds · Sherman Yellen
- Nominee The Me Nobody Knows
19th Tonys · 1965
- Nominee Baker Street · Jerome Coopersmith
18th Tonys · 1964
- Winner Hello, Dolly! · Michael Stewart
- Nominee She Loves Me · Joe Masteroff
- Nominee The Girl Who Came to Supper · Harry Kurnitz
- Nominee High Spirits · Hugh Martin
17th Tonys · 1963
- Winner A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum · Burt Shevelove
- Nominee Oliver! · Lionel Bart
- Nominee Stop the World – I Want to Get Off · Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
- Nominee Little Me · Neil Simon
16th Tonys · 1962
4th Tonys · 1950
- Winner South Pacific · Joshua Logan, Oscar Hammerstein II
3rd Tonys · 1949
- Winner Kiss Me, Kate · Bella Spewack, Samuel Spewack