From Page to Stage: Books That Became Musicals

Introduction

Some of the most beloved musicals ever to grace the stage began their lives as words on a page. Adapting books into Broadway shows is a longstanding tradition, transforming the magic of a novel or a children’s tale into songs, dances, and live storytelling. At Encore, we love exploring these connections – it’s a great way to get young performers interested in reading, and vice versa! In this post, we’ll take a look at a selection of famous (and a couple of surprising) books that became musicals. For each, we’ll highlight the original book and how it evolved into a stage sensation. Who knows, maybe your favorite novel is destined for Broadway next!

1. Les Misérables – From Victor Hugo’s Epic Novel to Epic Musical

Originally a massive 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is a sweeping story set in 19th-century France, following characters like the noble ex-convict Jean Valjean, the relentless Inspector Javert, the tragic Fantine, and a group of idealistic students during a failed uprising. The book is hefty and rich with themes of justice, love, and redemption. In 1980, this story was adapted into a French musical, and later an English version opened in London in 1985 (and Broadway in 1987) – it became one of the longest-running musicals ever. The stage musical Les Misérables (often just called “Les Mis”) is sung-through with powerful numbers like “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?”. Fans of the book might miss some subplots (Hugo could write pages on Parisian sewers or slang!), but the musical captures the emotional core brilliantly. It’s a great example of how a complex novel can be distilled into a heart-wrenching, uplifting theatrical experience.

2. Matilda – Roald Dahl’s Tale of a Mighty Girl Turned Stage Sensation

Roald Dahl’s children’s novel Matilda (1988) has enchanted readers for decades. It’s the whimsical yet empowering story of Matilda Wormwood, a brilliant young girl with neglectful parents, who discovers she has telekinetic powers – and uses them to outsmart the horrible headmistress Miss Trunchbull and help her kind teacher Miss Honey. The musical adaptation, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, opened in the UK in 2010 and on Broadway in 2013. Matilda the Musical retains Dahl’s dark humor and heart, featuring clever, catchy songs like “Naughty” (where Matilda sings about how you have to sometimes take action when life’s not fair) and “Revolting Children” (an ironic, energetic anthem of kids standing up for themselves). One twist in the musical: the role of Miss Trunchbull is often played by a man in drag, adding to the comically exaggerated villainy. Both the book and the musical celebrate the power of kids – and a good book – to change the world. Encore’s students especially love this one, because it’s led by kid characters who get to be the heroes.

3. Wicked – A Musical Prequel Inspired by a Novel, Inspired by Oz

This one’s interesting: the wildly popular musical Wicked is based on a novel (Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, 1995), which itself was a spin on L. Frank Baum’s classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Maguire’s novel is a dark, political reimagining of Oz from the perspective of Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned girl who becomes the “Wicked Witch.” It’s quite a complex book, more for adults, exploring themes of good, evil, and society. The musical Wicked (opened 2003) takes the core friendship story of Elphaba and Glinda from the novel but tones down the political commentary, focusing on how these two women’s bond changes due to prejudice and circumstances. With soaring songs by Stephen Schwartz like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” the musical has become a cultural phenomenon. It’s less of a direct book-to-musical adaptation and more of a case where the book gave the concept and characters. Still, without Maguire’s novel, we wouldn’t have the Broadway megahit. It shows how adaptations can further adapt and take on a life of their own. And of course, Baum’s original Oz book (1900) and the 1939 movie are the ultimate source, proving great stories can inspire many creative offshoots.

4. Oliver Twist – Dickens’ Novel to the Musical Oliver!

Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist (1838) is a classic novel following the adventures (and misadventures) of an orphan boy in 19th-century London. It introduced the world to characters like the Artful Dodger, the menacing Bill Sikes, kind-hearted Nancy, and the conniving Fagin, who teaches orphan boys to pickpocket. It’s a gritty, eye-opening tale about poverty and kindness. The musical Oliver! premiered in 1960 in London and later on Broadway, bringing Dickens’ characters to life with music. It features well-loved songs such as “Food, Glorious Food” (sung by hungry orphans dreaming of better meals), “Consider Yourself” (Dodger welcoming Oliver to their ‘family’ of thieves), and the tender “As Long As He Needs Me” (Nancy’s ballad about her love for the troubled Sikes). The musical takes some liberties to keep things lighter and more succinct, but it retains a lot of Dickens’ narrative. It’s a great way to introduce young performers to Dickens; many kids first meet Oliver Twist by playing him on stage! Encore hasn’t done Oliver! yet, but it’s always a popular choice for youth theater because it offers many roles for kids and has a timeless appeal.

5. Mary Poppins – The Beloved Nanny from Page to Stage (with a Movie in Between)

Pamela L. Travers wrote the Mary Poppins books starting in the 1930s, about a magical nanny who arrives at the Banks household in London and takes the children on fantastical adventures (while also imparting lessons). Many know Mary Poppins from the iconic 1964 Disney movie musical starring Julie Andrews. That film combined elements from several of the Poppins books and added unforgettable songs like “A Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Fast forward to 2004, and Mary Poppins became a stage musical co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney. The stage version blends the charm of the movie with some nods to Travers’ original stories (including a scene with the terrifying Miss Andrew, Mr. Banks’ childhood nanny, who was in the books). It’s full of magic – the stage Mary flies with her umbrella, pulls impossibly large items from her carpetbag, and makes cake ingredients appear from thin air. The musical also has the joyful “Step in Time” chimney sweep dance and the touching song “Feed the Birds.” It’s a great example of a property going from book to film to stage, each time slightly reinvented. For families and kids at Encore, Mary Poppins is a favorite because it’s practically perfect in every way – heartwarming story, fun roles, and a bit of stage magic.

6. The Phantom of the Opera – From Gothic Novel to Long-Running Musical

Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera is a gothic mystery set in the Paris Opera House, about a disfigured genius (the Phantom) who haunts the opera and tutors a young soprano, Christine, whom he falls madly in love with. The novel is filled with intrigue, secret passages, and a tragic romantic figure. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical adaptation (debuted 1986) took that story and heightened the romance and drama with a lush score. The musical The Phantom of the Opera became the longest-running show on Broadway (until it closed in 2023, as noted earlier). It features grand songs like “The Music of the Night” and “All I Ask of You.” Many don’t realize it was a book first, since the musical’s spectacle (that falling chandelier!) kind of overshadows its literary origin. The show sticks fairly close to the novel’s plot, though it adds more emphasis on the love triangle between Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul. Phantom is a great example of how a relatively short novel can inspire one of the most elaborate stage productions ever.

7. Matilda, Mary Poppins… are there more children’s books?

Yes! There are plenty of children’s books that have become musicals beyond the ones we detailed:

• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (based on Ian Fleming’s children’s book, which was also a movie).

• Seussical – this creative musical combines several Dr. Seuss stories, primarily “Horton Hears a Who” and “Gertrude McFuzz,” into one plot. It’s like a mash-up of Seuss books with lots of zany music.

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl’s classic (we could do a whole post on Dahl musicals; there’s also James and the Giant Peach).

• Anne of Green Gables – Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved novel has been adapted into a charming musical often performed in Canada and beyond.

• Tuck Everlasting – the fantasy novel about a family that doesn’t age became a short-lived but beautiful Broadway musical in 2016.

Each adaptation faces the challenge of satisfying fans of the book while creating something that works in the medium of theater. Some change quite a bit (like Seussical, which invents a new way to combine stories), while others hew closely to their source (the Little Women musical, for example, follows Louisa May Alcott’s novel rather faithfully and has songs that capture key moments like “Astonishing” for Jo March’s ambitions).

Conclusion

Taking a story from page to stage is a special kind of alchemy. It lets audiences experience a beloved tale in a new way – with the immediacy of live performance and the emotional punch of music. For young readers, seeing a book they love come alive in a musical can be downright magical (and can also motivate them to read the original if they haven’t!). For theater creators, books provide rich worlds and characters to draw from. At Encore Performing Arts, we often encourage our students to read the books behind shows we’re doing; it deepens their understanding of their characters and the story. Whether you’re a bookworm or a Broadway fan (or like us, both!), it’s fascinating to trace how a story evolves through different forms. Next time you watch a musical based on a book, you might appreciate the storytelling even more, knowing the journey it took from page to stage.