Question: The 1988 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album work was based on a written work from what year ?

text: Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album
Winner and nominees -- 1980s

The Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album has been awarded since 1959. The award was given only to the album producer, and to the composer and lyricist who wrote at least 51% of the music which had not been recorded previously. 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 more recent standard which includes those whose contributions accounted for the majority of the album. As of 2012, the award description is as follows: Award to the principal vocalist(s) and the album producer(s) of 51% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of a new score are eligible for an Award if they have written and/or composed a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album. Therefore, composers and lyricists are ineligible when recordings contain a majority of previously released material (revivals, collected works). Also, while they are not listed among the nominees, since 2001 the Recording Academy has awarded an official Grammy to the engineers/mixers of the winning Album. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for music released in the previous year. As of 2008, the current eligibility year is defined by the Recording Academy as beginning October 1, and ending the following September 30. Awards are given in February following the eligibility period.
Year Winner ( s ) Work Nominees
1980 Stephen Sondheim ( composer & lyricist ) · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard Sweeney Todd : The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Ballroom The Grand Tour I 'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road They 're Playing Our Song
1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber ( composer ) & Tim Rice ( lyricist ) · produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice Evita : Premier American Recording Barnum A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine Oklahoma ! One Mo ' Time
1982 Quincy Jones ( producer ) Lena Horne : The Lady and Her Music 42nd Street The Pirates of Penzance Sophisticated Ladies Woman of the Year
1983 Henry Krieger ( composer ) & Tom Eyen ( lyricist ) · produced by David Foster Dreamgirls : Original Broadway Cast Album Cats ( Original London Cast Recording ) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Merrily We Roll Along Nine
1984 Andrew Lloyd Webber ( producer ) Cats : Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording La Cage aux Folles Little Shop of Horrors On Your Toes Zorba
1985 Stephen Sondheim ( composer & lyricist ) · produced by Thomas Z. Shepard Sunday in the Park with George Doonesbury My One and Only A Stephen Sondheim Evening Sugar Babies
1986 John McClure ( producer ) West Side Story Big River : The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Leader of the Pack The Tap Dance Kid Very Warm for May
1987 Thomas Z. Shepard ( producer ) Follies in Concert Me and My Girl The Mystery of Edwin Drood Song and Dance Sweet Charity
1988 Claude-Michel Schönberg ( composer ) · lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer ; · produced by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg Les Misérables ( Original Broadway Cast Recording ) Me and My Girl My Fair Lady The Phantom of the Opera South Pacific
1989 Stephen Sondheim ( composer & lyricist ) · produced by Jay David Saks Into the Woods Anything Goes Chess Of Thee I Sing / Let 'Em Eat Cake Show Boat