The subject of the article are musical adaptations of literary works as an important method of popularizing literature and reading. Its effectiveness results from the fact that a musical is a theatrical and musical genre that belongs to the popular and mass culture. The publication discusses the reception of musicals - adaptation of foreign literature on Polish stages. A significant research problem has been undertaken regarding the presence in our theaters of works belonging to the world popular culture. The publication also includes representative adaptations of foreign and Polish literature, which are the works of native composers.