Seven modern novels that would make excellent musicals.

Okay, hear me out. Some of us in lit-world also celebrated the Tonys this weekend, where Ragtime took the statue for Best Revival.

Adapted from E.L. Doctorow’s epic novel, Ragtime joins a long, proud lineage of big Broadway musicals with literary roots. (Les Mis, anyone?) But in this literary theatre geek’s opinion—and, evidently, the voting public’s—there’s always room for more crossover acts.

Here are seven modern novels that would sound great from the cheap seats.

George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo

This polyphonic novel already has a chorus, thanks to its humdinger cast of ensemble characters. These are the kinds of roles that draw our best character actors out of recurring guest star roles in The Good Fight universe. Can’t you already hear Danny Burstein’s take on the Reverend Everly Thomas, if you really imagine?!

Bardo would also be a cinch to adapt because parts of this book already resemble a libretto. Last, best case: we already have proof of concept. If Hamilton (another literary adaptation) is anything to go by, theatre people love early presidents with son issues.

Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

Márquez’s lush, perfect novel has proven tricky to adapt. On screen, some of our best artists have foundered in translation. Maybe it’s the book’s grand scope. Or the poetic language.

For my money, I think a novel as heightened as this one demands extra suspension of disbelief. I’m talking operatic flourishes, people! This is obvious musical territory—and I think we could even make it hip. What if Rosalía, our reigning authority on epic love, were to write the tunes?!

Angela Carter, Wise Children

This strange delight of a novel could easily be the next Gypsy. We’ve got two twin sisters, a meta-theatrical carnival setting, dark familial revelations, and a frame around World War II, the modern musical’s favorite subject. Our best ingenues would queue to star as Dora and Nora.

Don’t just take my word for it. In her 1991 review, none but Joyce Thee Carol Oates observed that this book “would probably translate into a spirited, bawdy musical comedy-farce of the kind which the Chance sisters themselves performed.”

Toni Morrison, Jazz

Fact: we do not currently have enough musicals celebrating either Toni Morrison, or the Harlem Renaissance. And Jazz, with its swinging structure and lyric language, feels especially suited for the dramatic treatment.

This one basically writes itself. (Maybe with book and lyrics by Raphael Saadiq?)

Marisha Pessl, Special Topics in Calamity Physics

The children need musicals, too. After all, without Annie, Oliver, Peter Pan, or Mathilda, how would the baby divas among us catch the bug at summer camp?!

The brilliant Blue Van Meer would make a great role for Gen Alpha’s take on Lea Michele. And methinks the mystery driving this sparkly debut would translate well onto a proscenium.

Ruth Ozeki, A Tale for the Time Being

I’ve been thinking a lot about this jewel of a novel from a few years back. Something about connections formed across a vast distance—oceans and eras, in this case—has felt extra-poignant lately. And dramatic.

Ozeki’s book would make a nice chamber musical. I’m hearing elegant, carefully wrought ballads sung by our most cherished altos.

Dawnie Walton, The Final Revival of Opal and Nev

We end, as all good things should, with a rock opera pitch. I’ve had Opal and Nev in my head ever since I encountered this 2021 debut. Here, a fictional band has been beautifully imagined by author Dawnie Walton—but actual songs could tip this project into the astral plane.

Consider: the big band come up and break up story is inherently dramatic. A three act Freytag pyramid, ready made. And imagine, if you will, an amazing modern score to accompany our doomed troubadours. Perfume Genius and Brittany Howard, you have your assignments.