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.

Awards and nominations

1940s

Called "Tony Award for Best Author (Musical)"'

• 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Samuel and Bella Spewack
  • No nominees

1950s

Called "Tony Award for Libreto"'

• 1950: South Pacific – Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
  • No nominees

1960s

Renamed "Tony Award for Best Author (Musical)" 1962: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying – Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert Carnival! – Michael Stewart and Helen Deutsch 1963: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart Oliver! – Lionel Bart Little Me – Neil Simon Stop the World – I Want to Get Off – Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley

Called "Tony Award for Best Author (Dramatic)" 1964: Hello, Dolly! – Michael Stewart The Girl Who Came to Supper – Noël Coward and Harry Kurnitz She Loves Me – Joe Masteroff High Spirits – Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray 1965: Fiddler on the Roof - Joseph Stein No nominees

1970s

Called "Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical" 1971: Company – George Furth The Me Nobody Knows – Robert H. Livingston and Herb Schapiro The Rothschilds – Sherman Yellen 1972: Two Gentlemen of Verona – John Guare and Mel Shapiro Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death – Melvin Van Peebles Follies – James Goldman Grease – Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey 1973: 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: Candide – Hugh Wheeler Raisin – Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg Seesaw – Michael Bennett 1975: Shenandoah – James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell and Philip Rose Mack and Mabel – Michael Stewart The Lieutenant – Gene Curty, Nitra Scharfman, and Chuck Strand The Wiz – William F. Brown

1976: A Chorus Line – James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante Chicago – Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse Pacific Overtures – John Weidman The Robber Bridegroom – Alfred Uhry 1977: Annie – Thomas Meehan Happy End – Elisabeth Hauptmann and Michael Feingold I Love My Wife – Michael Stewart Your Arms Too Short to Box with God – Vinnette Justine Carroll 1978: On the Twentieth Century – Betty Comden and Adolph Green A History of the American Film – Christopher Durang Runaways – Elizabeth Swados Working – Stephen Schwartz 1979: 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

1980: Evita – Tim Rice A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine – Dick Vosburgh Barnum – Mark Bramble Sugar Babies – Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby 1981: Woman of the Year – Peter Stone 42nd Street – Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble The Moony Shapiro Songbook – Monty Norman and Julian More Tintypes – Mary Kyte 1982: Dreamgirls – Tom Eyen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – Tim Rice Nine – Arthur Kopit The First – Joel Siegel and Martin Charnin 1983: Cats – T. S. Eliot A Doll's Life – Betty Comden and Adolph Green Merlin – Richard Levinson and William Link My One and Only – Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer 1984: La Cage aux Folles – Harvey Fierstein Baby – Sybille Pearson Sunday in the Park with George – James Lapine The Tap Dance Kid – Charles Blackwell

1985: Big River – William Hauptman Grind – Fay Kanin Harrigan 'N Hart – Michael Stewart Quilters – Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek 1986: 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: Les Misérables – Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg Me and My Girl – L. Arthur Rose, Douglas Furber, Stephen Fry and Mike Ockrent Rags – Joseph Stein Smile – Howard Ashman 1988: 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 1989: No award presented

1990s

1990: City of Angels – Larry Gelbart Aspects of Love – Andrew Lloyd Webber Grand Hotel – Luther Davis Meet Me in St. Louis – Hugh Wheeler 1991: 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: 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: Kiss of the Spider Woman – Terrence McNally Anna Karenina – Peter Kellogg Blood Brothers – Willy Russell The Who's Tommy – Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff 1994: Passion – James Lapine Beauty and the Beast – Linda Woolverton Cyrano: The Musical – Koen van Dijk A Grand Night for Singing – Walter Bobbie

1995: Sunset Boulevard – Don Black and Christopher Hampton No other nominees 1996: Rent – Jonathan Larson Big: The Musical – John Weidman Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk – Reg E. Gaines Chronicle of a Death Foretold – Graciela Daniele, Jim Lewis and Michael John LaChiusa 1997: Titanic – Peter Stone Jekyll & Hyde – Leslie Bricusse The Life – David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman Steel Pier – David Thompson 1998: Ragtime – Terrence McNally The Lion King – Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi The Scarlet Pimpernel – Nan Knighton Side Show – Bill Russell 1999: Parade – Alfred Uhry Footloose – Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues – Charles Bevel, Lita Gaithers, Randal Myler, Ron Taylor and Dan Wheetman Marlene – Pam Gems

2000s

2000: 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: 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: Urinetown – Greg Kotis Mamma Mia! – Catherine Johnson Sweet Smell of Success – John Guare Thoroughly Modern Millie – Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan 2003: Hairspray – Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell Amour – Didier Van Cauwelaert and Jeremy Sams Flower Drum Song – David Henry Hwang A Year with Frog and Toad – Willie Reale 2004: Avenue Q – Jeff Whitty The Boy from Oz – Martin Sherman and Nick Enright Caroline, or Change – Tony Kushner Wicked – Winnie Holzman

2005: 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: The Drowsy Chaperone – Bob Martin and Don McKellar The Wedding Singer – Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy Jersey Boys – Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice The Color Purple – Marsha Norman 2007: Spring Awakening – Steven Sater Curtains – Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone Grey Gardens – Doug Wright Legally Blonde – Heather Hach 2008: Passing Strange – Stew Cry-Baby – Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell In the Heights – Quiara Alegría Hudes Xanadu – Douglas Carter Beane 2009: Billy Elliot the Musical – Lee Hall Next to Normal – Brian Yorkey Shrek the Musical – David Lindsay-Abaire [title of show] – Hunter Bell

2010s

2010: Memphis – Joe DiPietro Everyday Rapture – Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott Fela! – Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones Million Dollar Quartet – Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux 2011: The Book of Mormon – Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson – Alex Timbers The Scottsboro Boys – David Thompson Sister Act – Cheri Steinkellner, Bill Steinkellner and Douglas Carter Beane 2012: Once – Enda Walsh Lysistrata Jones – Douglas Carter Beane Newsies – Harvey Fierstein Nice Work If You Can Get It – Joe DiPietro 2013: Matilda the Musical – Dennis Kelly A Christmas Story, the Musical – Joseph Robinette Kinky Boots – Harvey Fierstein Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella – Douglas Carter Beane

2014: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder – Robert L. Freedman Aladdin – Chad Beguelin Bullets Over Broadway – Woody Allen Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – Douglas McGrath 2015: Fun Home – Lisa Kron An American in Paris – Craig Lucas Something Rotten! – Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell The Visit – Terrence McNally 2016: Bright Star – Steve Martin Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda School of Rock – Julian Fellowes Shuffle Along – George C. Wolfe

Award records

3 Wins Hugh Wheeler Thomas Meehan James Lapine

2 Wins Terrence McNally Larry Gelbart Peter Stone

External links

• Tony Awards Official site
• Tony Awards at Internet Broadway database Listing
• Tony Awards at broadwayworld.com