Awards & Winners

Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

Tony Award

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.

Check all the winners of Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical presented under Tony Award since 1949 .


Robert L. Freedman

Honored for : A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Chad Beguelin Aladdin
Douglas McGrath Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Woody Allen Bullets Over Broadway
Robert L. Freedman A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Dennis Kelly

Honored for : Matilda the Musical

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dennis Kelly Matilda the Musical
Joseph Robinette A Christmas Story: The Musical
Harvey Fierstein Kinky Boots
Douglas Carter Beane Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

Enda Walsh

Honored for : Once

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Douglas Carter Beane Lysistrata Jones
Harvey Fierstein Newsies
Joe DiPietro Nice Work If You Can Get It
Enda Walsh Once

Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone

Honored for : The Book of Mormon

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alex Timbers Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Douglas Carter Beane Sister Act the Musical
Bill Steinkellner Sister Act the Musical
Cherie Steinkellner Sister Act the Musical
David Thompson The Scottsboro Boys
Matt Stone The Book of Mormon
Trey Parker The Book of Mormon
Robert Lopez The Book of Mormon

Joe DiPietro

Honored for : Memphis

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Sherie Rene Scott Everyday Rapture
Dick Scanlan Everyday Rapture
Joe DiPietro Memphis
Bill T. Jones Fela!
Jim Lewis Fela!
Floyd Mutrux Million Dollar Quartet
Colin Escott Million Dollar Quartet

Lee Hall

Honored for : Billy Elliot the Musical

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hunter Bell [title of show]
Lee Hall Billy Elliot the Musical
Brian Yorkey Next to Normal
David Lindsay-Abaire Shrek The Musical

Stew

Honored for : Passing Strange

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Douglas Carter Beane Xanadu
Quiara Alegría Hudes In the Heights
Stew Passing Strange
Mark O'Donnell Cry-Baby
Thomas Meehan Cry-Baby

Steven Sater

Honored for : Spring Awakening

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Steven Sater Spring Awakening
Rupert Holmes Curtains
Peter Stone Curtains
Doug Wright Grey Gardens
Heather Hach Legally Blonde: The Musical

Don McKellar, Bob Martin

Honored for : The Drowsy Chaperone

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Marsha Norman The Color Purple
Chad Beguelin The Wedding Singer
Tim Herlihy The Wedding Singer
Marshall Brickman Jersey Boys
Rick Elice Jersey Boys
Don McKellar The Drowsy Chaperone
Bob Martin The Drowsy Chaperone

Rachel Sheinkin

Honored for : The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jeffrey Lane Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Rachel Sheinkin The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Eric Idle Spamalot
Craig Lucas The Light in the Piazza

Jeff Whitty

Honored for : Avenue Q

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jeff Whitty Avenue Q
Tony Kushner Caroline, or Change
Nick Enright The Boy from Oz
Martin Sherman The Boy from Oz
Winnie Holzman Wicked

Thomas Meehan, Mark O'Donnell

Honored for : Hairspray

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Thomas Meehan Hairspray
Mark O'Donnell Hairspray
Willie Reale A Year with Frog and Toad
Didier Van Cauwelaert Amour
Jeremy Sams Amour
David Henry Hwang Flower Drum Song

Greg Kotis

Honored for : Urinetown

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Greg Kotis Urinetown
Catherine Johnson Mamma Mia!
John Guare Sweet Smell of Success
Richard Morris Thoroughly Modern Millie
Dick Scanlan Thoroughly Modern Millie

Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan

Honored for : The Producers

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Mel Brooks The Producers
Thomas Meehan The Producers
Linda Kline A Class Act
Lonny Price A Class Act
Terrence McNally The Full Monty
John Caird Jane Eyre

Richard Nelson

Honored for : James Joyce's The Dead

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Richard Nelson James Joyce's The Dead
Michael John LaChiusa The Wild Party
George C. Wolfe The Wild Party
Michael John LaChiusa Marie Christine
John Weidman Contact

Alfred Uhry

Honored for : Parade

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Pam Gems Marlene
Alfred Uhry Parade
Randal Myler It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Lita Gaithers It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Charles Bevel It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Danny Wheetman It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Ron Taylor It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues
Walter Bobbie Footloose
Dean Pitchford Footloose

Terrence McNally

Honored for : Ragtime

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Terrence McNally Ragtime
Bill Russell Side Show
Roger Allers The Lion King
Irene Mecchi The Lion King
Nan Knighton The Scarlet Pimpernel

Peter Stone

Honored for : Titanic

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Stone Titanic
Leslie Bricusse Jekyll & Hyde
David Thompson Steel Pier
David Newman The Life
Ira Gasman The Life
Cy Coleman The Life

Jonathan Larson

Honored for : Rent

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Jonathan Larson Rent
John Weidman Big: the musical
Reg E. Gaines Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk
Graciela Daniele Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Jim Lewis Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Michael John LaChiusa Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Don Black, Christopher Hampton

Honored for : Sunset Boulevard

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Don Black Sunset Boulevard
Christopher Hampton Sunset Boulevard

James Lapine

Honored for : Passion

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Walter Bobbie A Grand Night for Singing
James Lapine Passion
Koen van Dijk Cyrano: The Musical
Linda Woolverton Beauty and the Beast

Terrence McNally

Honored for : Kiss of the Spider Woman

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Terrence McNally Kiss of the Spider Woman
Pete Townshend The Who's Tommy
Des McAnuff The Who's Tommy
Willy Russell Blood Brothers
Peter Kellogg Anna Karenina

William Finn, James Lapine

Honored for : Falsettos

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Clarke Peters Five Guys Named Moe
George C. Wolfe Jelly's Last Jam
William Finn Falsettos
James Lapine Falsettos
Ken Ludwig Crazy for You

Marsha Norman

Honored for : The Secret Garden

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alain Boublil Miss Saigon
Claude-Michel Schönberg Miss Saigon
Peter Stone The Will Rogers Follies
Marsha Norman The Secret Garden
Lynn Ahrens Once on This Island

Larry Gelbart

Honored for : City of Angels

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Larry Gelbart City of Angels
Luther Davis Grand Hotel
Hugh Wheeler Meet Me in St. Louis
Andrew Lloyd Webber Aspects of Love

James Lapine

Honored for : Into the Woods

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Lapine Into the Woods
Lee Breuer The Gospel at Colonus
Richard Stilgoe The Phantom of the Opera
Andrew Lloyd Webber The Phantom of the Opera
Barry Michael Harman Romance/Romance

Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg

Honored for : Les Misérables

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alain Boublil Les Misérables
Claude-Michel Schönberg Les Misérables
Stephen Fry Me and My Girl
Douglas Furber Me and My Girl
Mike Ockrent Me and My Girl
L. Arthur Rose Me and My Girl
Joseph Stein Rags
Howard Ashman Smile

Rupert Holmes

Honored for : Drood

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Rupert Holmes Drood
Bob Fosse Big Deal
Betty Comden Singin' in the Rain
Adolph Green Singin' in the Rain
Jane Iredale Wind in the Willows

William Hauptman

Honored for : Big River

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
William Hauptman Big River
Fay Kanin Grind
Michael Stewart Harrigan 'N Hart
Molly Newman Quilters
Barbara Damashek Quilters

Harvey Fierstein

Honored for : La Cage aux Folles

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Harvey Fierstein La Cage aux Folles
Sybille Pearson Baby
James Lapine Sunday in the Park with George
Charles Blackwell The Tap Dance Kid

T. S. Eliot

Honored for : Cats

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
T. S. Eliot Cats
Betty Comden A Doll's Life
Richard Levinson Merlin
William Link Merlin
Peter Stone My One and Only
Timothy S. Mayer My One and Only

Tom Eyen

Honored for : Dreamgirls

Nominations 1982 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tom Eyen Dreamgirls
Tim Rice Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Arthur Kopit Nine
Joel Siegel The First
Martin Charnin The First

Peter Stone

Honored for : Woman of the Year

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Peter Stone Woman of the Year
Michael Stewart 42nd Street
Mark Bramble 42nd Street
Monty Norman Songbook
Julian More Songbook
Mary Kyte Tintypes

Tim Rice

Honored for : Evita

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Tim Rice Evita
Dick Vosburgh A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
Mark Bramble Barnum
Ralph G. Allen Sugar Babies
Harry Rigby Sugar Babies

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Jerome Kass Ballroom
Larry L. King The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Peter Masterson The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Neil Simon They're Playing Our Song

Adolph Green, Betty Comden

Honored for : On the Twentieth Century

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Adolph Green On the Twentieth Century
Betty Comden On the Twentieth Century
Christopher Durang A History of the American Film
Elizabeth Swados Runaways
Stephen Schwartz Working

Thomas Meehan

Honored for : Annie

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Thomas Meehan Annie
Elisabeth Hauptmann Happy End
Michael Feingold Happy End
Michael Stewart I Love My Wife
Vinnette Justine Carroll Your Arms Too Short to Box with God

James Kirkwood Jr., Nicholas Dante

Honored for : A Chorus Line

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Kirkwood Jr. A Chorus Line
Nicholas Dante A Chorus Line
Fred Ebb Chicago
Bob Fosse Chicago
Alfred Uhry The Robber Bridegroom
John Weidman Pacific Overtures

James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell, Philip Rose

Honored for : Shenandoah

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Lee Barrett Shenandoah
Peter Udell Shenandoah
Philip Rose Shenandoah
Michael Stewart Mack & Mabel
Gene Curty The Lieutenant
Nitra Scharfman The Lieutenant
Chuck Strand The Lieutenant
William F. Brown The Wiz

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : Candide

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler Candide
Robert Nemiroff Raisin
Charlotte Zaltzberg Raisin
Michael Bennett Seesaw

Hugh Wheeler

Honored for : A Little Night Music

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hugh Wheeler A Little Night Music
Micki Grant Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope
Melvin Van Peebles Don't Play Us Cheap
Roger O. Hirson Pippin

John Guare, Mel Shapiro

Honored for : Two Gentlemen of Verona

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Guare Two Gentlemen of Verona
Mel Shapiro Two Gentlemen of Verona
Melvin Van Peebles Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death
James Goldman Follies
Jim Jacobs Grease
Warren Casey Grease

George Furth

Honored for : Company

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
George Furth Company
Robert H. Livingston The Me Nobody Knows
Herb Schapiro The Me Nobody Knows
Sherman Yellen The Rothschilds

Joseph Stein

Honored for : Fiddler on the Roof

Nominations 1965 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Joseph Stein Fiddler on the Roof
Jerome Coopersmith Baker Street
Beverley Cross Half a Sixpence
Sidney Michaels Ben Franklin in Paris

Michael Stewart

Honored for : Hello, Dolly!

Nominations 1964 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Michael Stewart Hello, Dolly!
Noël Coward The Girl Who Came to Supper
Harry Kurnitz The Girl Who Came to Supper
Joe Masteroff She Loves Me
Hugh Martin High Spirits
Timothy Gray High Spirits

Burt Shevelove, Larry Gelbart

Honored for : A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Nominations 1963 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Larry Gelbart A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Burt Shevelove A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Lionel Bart Oliver!
Leslie Bricusse Stop the World \u2013 I Want to Get Off
Anthony Newley Stop the World \u2013 I Want to Get Off
Neil Simon Little Me

Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert

Honored for : How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Oscar Hammerstein II, Joshua Logan

Honored for : South Pacific

Sam Spewack, Bella Spewack

Honored for : Kiss Me, Kate