The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award is generally given to the album's producers, principal vocalist(s), and the composer and lyricist if they have written a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album, though the number of recipients has varied over the category's tenure.

The inaugural award was presented at the 1st Grammy Awards to composer Meredith Willson for his work on his 1957 musical The Music Man. Ethel Merman and Gwen Verdon became the first female recipients the in 1960 when they tied for Gypsy and Redhead. Thomas Z. Shepard holds the record for most nominations in the category, with 25, while also being tied with Stephen Sondheim for the record for most wins, with six. Tommy Krasker holds the record for most nominations without a win, with twelve. Micki Grant became the first African-American woman to win this award for Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope (1973). To date, two-time recipient Phillipa Soo is the only woman to win more than one award (for Hamilton and Into the Woods).

Among shows, cast recordings from Gypsy have been nominated five times and cast recordings of West Side Story, Into the Woods, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street have been nominated four times, with Gypsy, West Side Story, Into the Woods, and Les Misérables are the only shows to win twice. Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I, and My Fair Lady hold the record for most nominations without a win, with three. The current recipient of the award is Buena Vista Social Club, which won at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2026.

Process Over the years, the qualifications for the individual nominees has fluctuated with principal artists, composers, and producers at one point being the sole eligible nominee, to the current (as of the 66th Grammy Awards) standard which is as follows: "For albums containing greater than 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principal vocalist(s), and the album producer(s) of 50% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50 % or more of a score of a new recording are eligible for an Award if any previous recording of said score has not been nominated in this category."

Vocalists were first awarded in this category at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012. When an album does not feature any individual soloists and predominantly features an ensemble cast, no individual award is given to the members of the ensemble, with each member instead receiving a winners certificate. As of the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, only a maximum of four principal vocalists can be awarded (previously unlimited), in addition to the producer/s and lyricists/composers. The maximum number of eligible principal vocalist(s) was increased to six beginning at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards.

Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year.

Name changes This award has had several minor name changes:

In 1959 the award was known as Best Original Cast Album (Broadway or TV) In 1960 it was awarded as Best Broadway Show Album In 1961 it was awarded as Best Show Album (Original Cast) From 1962 to 1963 it was awarded as Best Original Cast Show Album From 1964 to 1973 it was awarded as Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album From 1974 to 1975 it was awarded as Best Score from the Original Cast Show Album From 1976 to 1986 it was awarded as Best Cast Show Album From 1987 to 1991 it was awarded as Best Musical Cast Show Album From 1992 to 2011 it was awarded as Best Musical Show Album From 2012 it has been known as Best Musical Theater Album.

Winners and nominees

1950s Year Album Recipient(s) Artist(s) 1959The Music Man, composer Robert Preston, Barbara Cook, David Burns, Eddie Hodges, Pert Kelton and Helen Raymond Flower Drum Song Richard Rodgers, composer Original Broadway Cast Peter Gunn Henry Mancini, composer Henry Mancini Victory at Sea, Vol. II Richard Rodgers, composer Robert Russell Bennett

1960s Year Album Recipient(s) Artist(s)1960 Gypsy (TIE) Ethel Merman Ethel Merman and Broadway Show CastRedhead (TIE) Gwen Verdon Gwen Verdon, Richard Kiley, Leonard Stone, Doris Rich, Cynthia Latham, Joy Nichols, Bob Dixon and Pat Ferrier Ages of Man John Gielgud John Gielgud Once Upon a Mattress Hal Hastings Original Broadway Cast conducted by Hal Hastings A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green Betty Comden and Adolph Green Betty Comden and Adolph Green1961 The Sound of MusicRichard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, composers Mary Martin and Original Broadway Cast Bye Bye Birdie Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, composers Chita Rivera, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Lynde Camelot Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, composers Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet Fiorello! Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, composers Original Broadway Cast The Unsinkable Molly Brown Meredith Willson, composer Original Broadway Cast1962 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying Frank Loesser, composer Robert Morse, Rudy Vallée, Charles Nelson Reilly, Bonnie Scott, Claudette Southerland and Sammy Smith Carnival! Bob Merrill, composer Original Cast Do Re Mi Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, composers Original Cast Milk and Honey Jerry Herman, composer Original Cast Wildcat Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, composers Original Cast1963 No Strings Richard Rodgers, composer Richard Kiley, Diahann Carroll, Bernice Mass, Noelle Adam, Don Chastain, Mitchell Gregg and Noëlle Adam Beyond the Fringe Dudley Moore, composer Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett, Peter Cook and Jonathan Miller A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Stephen Sondheim, composer Original Broadway Cast Oliver! Lionel Bart, composer Original Broadway Cast Stop the World, I Want to Get Off Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, composers Anthony Newley, Anna Quayle and Original Cast1964 She Loves Me and Sheldon Harnick, composers Barbara Cook, Barbara Baxley, Jack Cassidy, Daniel Massey, Nathaniel Frey, Ralph Williams and Jo Wilder 110 in the Shade Meredith Willson, composer Various Artists Here's Love Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, composers Various Artists Jennie Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, composers Various Artists Tovarich Lee Pockriss and Anne Croswell, composers Various Artists1965 Funny GirlJule Styne and , composers Barbra Streisand, Sydney Chaplin, Danny Meehan, Kay Medford, Jean Stapleton and John Lankston Fiddler on the Roof Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, composers Original Broadway Cast (Zero Mostel and Bea Arthur) Hello, Dolly! Jerry Herman, composer Carol Channing and Original Cast High Spirits Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, composers Original Cast What Makes Sammy Run? Ervin Drake, composer Original Cast1966 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, composers Barbara Harris, John Cullum, Titos Vandis, Byron Webster and William Daniels Bajour Walter Marks, composer Original Cast Baker Street Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessell, composers Original Cast Do I Hear a Waltz? Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim, composers Original Cast Half a Sixpence David Heneker, composer Original Cast1967 Mame, composer Angela Lansbury, Bea Arthur, Jane Connell, Charles Braswell, Jerry Lanning and Frankie Michaels The Apple Tree Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, composers Original Cast Man of La Mancha Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion, composers Original Cast Skyscraper Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, composers Original Cast Sweet Charity Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields, composers Original Cast1968 Cabaret John Kander and Fred Ebb, composers; Goddard Lieberson, producer Joel Grey, Lotte Lenya, Jill Haworth, Jack Gilford and Bert Convy Hallelujah, Baby! Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, composers; Edward Kleban, producer Various Artists I Do! I Do! Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, composers; Andy Wiswell, producer Mary Martin and Robert Preston Walking Happy Sammy Cahn a d Jimmy Van Heusen, composers; Richard C. Jones, producer Various Artists You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Clark Gesner, composer; Herb Galewitz and Bob Morgan, producers Various Artists1969 Hair, James Rado and Gerome Ragni, composers; Andy Wiswell, producer Ronnie Dyson, Gerome Ragni, Steve Curry, Lamont Washington, Diane Keaton, Melba Moore and James Rado George M! George M. Cohan, composer; Thomas Z. Shepard, producer Joel Grey, Betty Ann Grove, Jill O'Hara, Bernadette Peters, Loni Ackerman, Jerry Dodge and Danny Carroll The Happy Time John Kander and Fred Ebb, composers; George Marek Jr. and Andy Wiswell, producers Robert Goulet, David Wayne, Michael Rupert and Julie Gregg Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris Jacques Brel, composer; Edward Kleban, producer Elly Stone, Mort Shuman, Shawn Elliot and Alice Wakefield Your Own Thing Hal Hester and Danny Apolinar, composers; George Marek Jr. and Andy Wiswell, producers Danny Apolinar, Tom Ligon, John Kuhner, Marcia Rodd, etc.

1970s