ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE to Take the Marquis Theatre in Spring 2018 — Page 3

@A Canadian - that's really the only reason to go is for the "fun of it". It will never be an important, or, maybe even, memorable night in the theater.

Five years from now, I'm sure what I'll remember is that Jimmy Buffet came out at the curtain call. It probably be the only time that I will ever see him in person. Obviously, not a Parrothead!

green waver said: "South Fl Marc said: "No condescension. Jukebox musicals are to theatre what "Survivor" or "Honey Boo Boo" is to TV. They have an audience but are not to my taste.



"So you know before you even see a musical, if it contains pre existing well known pop songs, that you're going to hate it? Even if its as well executed as say, Jersey Boys? That's quite a pre judgement, or more simply, a prejudice.





"

No, it's based on the artistic belief that songs should arise from the plot rather than dictate the plot. It's a central principle of the American musical since OKLAHOMA!

And while I had a surprisingly good time at JERSEY BOYS last week, it was partly because that show makes no attempt to suggest the songs and book are organically integrated. (The exception is the anachronistic use of OH, WHAT A NIGHT! to musicalize the loss of Frankie Valli's virginity, even though the song wasn't a hit until 20 years later, in the late 1970s. I found it jarring.)

What is being described by the poster who saw the show in La Jolla is more akin to MAMA MIA, which could have been replaced by an ABBA tribute band for all I cared about what was happening on stage. This isn't a prejudice, just a fact in terms of my reaction (I realize others felt different).

ETA I should have added that I am in no way doubting the show's commercial appeal. I think Buffet is a fine writer of pop songs and "Margaritaville" is damn near a perfect pop song. Pop songs and theater songs, however, are two different things.

Updated On: 6/26/17 at 09:41 PM

If someone were to gauge with what we've got so far next season, could Alison Luff get a tony nomination/win with this? It's her first time originating leading role on Broadway and I'm ecstatic to see how much her career grows from this.

Okay, one last comment, and I swear I'm done.

Re: Allison Luff, I'd say a nomination is possible, but I can't really see a win (unless it's a really weak year). She was very good, but that's my inexpert opinion on that subject. This is an area where I'm not usually in accordance with the Tony nominating committee and voting block, so I could be radically wrong.

green waver said: "Ah, Gaveston... your defense of a prejudice of a prejudice is scholarly and thoughtful. I would expect no less from you. But its still a prejudice to consign "jukebox musicals" to a lower order of theater before we even open a script. I'm glad you enjoyed Jersey Boys. Marshall Brickman's book totally transformed those ancient pop songs into something more meaningful. Was it Sondheim or Tesori? No, but it succeeded on its own terms. BTW, Oh What a Night was used to celebrate Bob Gaudio's loss of innocence in the show, not Valli's.















"

Yes, I believe (artistically) successful shows allow songs to serve the story rather than the story to serve the songs. If that's a "prejudice", then all knowledge and opinion are "prejudices". I'm certainly in good company with everyone from Hammerstein to Brecht to Sondheim to Jason Robert Brown.

I did surprise myself with JB, but I thought Brickman's book was the most obvious thing in the world, something you and I could have whipped up in an afternoon, since it is the exact same story as that of every other doo-wop group from Philly to the Bronx. Fortunately, book is kept to a minimum and I always did like the group's songs. (I saw their first "farewell tour" in 1975!)

Can you name a jukebox musical that isn't second-rate artistically when compared to the great book musicals? I can't and nobody has done so in this thread. (This isn't to say there's never been one that was fun. Nor is it to say MARGARITAVILLE won't make a bundle.)

I appreciate the correction re Gaudio's sex life.

CONFIDENTIAL TO MLSHEEHAN: I, too, avoided MAMMA MIA until the Vegas sit-down. A good friend of mine played the gay "father" for years. God, what a snooze (until the curtain call)!

Updated On: 6/27/17 at 08:23 AM

I agree with whomever posted that the naysayers underestimate the loyalty of parrot heads. They were in full force last night and LOVING the show!! As someone who was only familiar with one or two of the songs I have to say I enjoyed it as well. Escape to Margaritaville is just that - an ESCAPE. Breathe in, breathe out, move on if you're looking for anything else but a silly (yes, sometimes cheesy) good time.

Cast for the Broadway run was announced in the Broadway Briefing this morning. I'm excited by it, especially Nolan, Luff, Howard, and Webb!

Paul Alexander Nolan will lead the company as Tully, and will be joined by Alison Luff as Rachel, Lisa Howard as Tammy, Eric Petersen as Brick, Rema Webb as Marley, Don Sparks as J.D, Andre Ward as Jamal, along with Matt Allen, Tessa Alves, Sara Andreas, Marjorie Failoni, Steven Good, Angela Grovey, Albert Guerzon, Keely Hutton, Justin Keats, Mike Millan, Justin Mortelliti, Ryann Redmond, Ian Michael Stuart, and Brett Thiele.

Updated On: 8/8/17 at 08:39 AM

That's a super talented cast. Hope this show isn't as bad as it appears.

GavestonPS said: "Can you name a jukebox musical that isn't second-rate artistically when compared to the great book musicals? "

The closest I can come are Beautiful and Rock of Ages, the former for having a pretty good book to tie the songs together (even though all of the songs are 'sung' by the characters, instead of being emotional outbursts), and the latter for being openly self-aware of it being a jukebox musical and shining because of it. I really expected to hate Rock of Ages but I can't say I didn't have a good time. They are still second-rate musicals.

Performances started in New Orleans this week. Anyone go/going

^ Not sure of the running time, but it is a 2 act show as far as I know.

I have to agree with Gaveston here. I've tried to like a number of jukebox shows, and a couple of them have been cute. But whatever they are, they are not, in any way worth defining it, musical theater storytelling. Buffet has the benefit of writing songs that read pretty narratively. But if they weren't written to work together, they're just a bunch of songs to be checked off in a perfunctory way.