How did Mamma Mia get it right?
How did Mamma Mia get it right?
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#0How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:34pm
I don't get why Mamma Mia is the only Jukebox musical to survive? How did it "get it right." I would think All Shook Up, featuring the music of Elvis, would be more popular. Considering Elvis had 18 #1 Singles, but yet ASU is not doing too well at the box office? GV flopped too. I just don't get it.
Granted, I love the first couple of notes of the "overture" in Mamma Mia, it comes outta nowhere. (Also, how can a show like Movin' Out be forced to close? It was doing decent business, do you think they were forced to clos cause of Tarzan? Just a thought.)
#1re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:38pm
Right place, right time.
Being a big big hit prior to Broadway probably didn't hurt it either.
Updated On: 8/21/05 at 04:38 PM
#2re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:45pmAn overly kind review by Ben Brantley...
#3re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:51pm
That, and remember Venn diagrams? If we're talking purely about the draw of the show to the fans of its music, I'm betting the "Abba fan" circle would overlap more with the the "musical theater fan" circle than the "Elvis fan" circle would. And while I'm stereotyping broadly, I'd say Elvis fans would be more likely to vacation in Vegas, Branson or Nashville while Abba fans would be more likely to come to New York.
On the other hand, Mamma Mia does at least have something of a book while Good Vibrations was just a mess. Movin' Out, because of its format, is a difficult comparison. And I haven't seen ASU, so I can't comment on that.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#4re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:55pmHm Makes sense. Maybe ASU would fair better in Vegas or on tour? I just didn't get it. Cause I never thought Abba was all that popular until i realized Mamma Mia was such a HUGE hit.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#5re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:55pm
Good points, Calvin.
Also, let's not forget it was a novelty. And a novelty is only a novelty once. Those that have tried to follow in its wake have had to deal with the "Been There, Done That" results.
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#6re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:56pmWouldn't Smokey Joes Cafe be the novelty?
#7re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:57pmMar-ket-ing.
#8re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 4:59pm
Well, how would those two answers explain why it is still extremely popular? No, I don't think they's the reasons.
First of all, as cheesy as the story is - it's still a good story. It sucks you in, and you're rooting for the main characters.
Secondly, it's fluffy fun but also deals with issues that people relate to, like the mother-daughter relationship, a broken heart etc.
Also, you're forgetting the mass tourist appeal; ABBA may not have been that popular in the states, but they were HUGE all over Europe, the Middle East and Australia, and they are still well-loved. Their songs are part of people's lives (for example, I remember dancing to "Money Money Money" at age 6!)and they have great nostalgia for them.
Add to that the talented performers, the world wide reputation and the glitzy costumes...and you've got a hit! 
"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "
#9re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:02pmAll Shook Up should tour Japan. IT'd be huge. They love Elvis there!
#10re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:02pmSmokey Joe's Cafe is more of a revue. There's not really any plot to it at all. But what about Crazy For You? That's a jukebox musical of sorts.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#11re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:04pmThat is true. The first time i saw Mamma Mia about 2 years ago, I had no prior knowledge of it, and I was sucked into the story. At intermission, i was like "who's the real dad" ha. I would think since the Palace is in Times Square and has very good "foot traffic" going by it everyday, itd be more popular. How is the ASU storyline? Isn't the twist that the main character is gay or something? Maybe i misunderstood.
#12re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:04pm
ASU is a fun loving show that leaves you feeling happy and giddy.
There's nothing wrong with it.
"I dig hot art, and I dig hot women, and when I see a hot woman who digs hot art, I say, 'hotdiggity.'"
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#13re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:08pmAs much bad rap as Mamma Mia gets for "spawning" the jukebox musicals, it actually does have a very well written book. I walked into the show as a musical theatre freak knowing nothing about ABBA (seriously, the only songs I knew beforehand were "Dancing Queen" and "Mamma Mia") and I totally got into the story. The songs really do blend in contex and while I certainly wouldn't classify it as high art, it's a cute fun show that knows it's a cute fun show.
#14re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:08pm
Well, Calvin, Crazy for You uses Gershwin music, which hardly has the strangely wide appeal of ABBA music.
Still, throw all the explanations you like, I will never understand Mamma Mia's huge successes.
I agree with Emcee's mar-ket-ing :0)
-Anyone want to turn anarchist with me?"Bless you and all who know you, oh wise and penguined one." ~YouWantItWhen????
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#15re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:10pmMaybe its Marketing. I wish they would have released an OBC, i hate the London cast recording and I think mamma mia has a pretty stupid logo.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#16re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:11pmWhy don't "cute fun shows" charge "cute fun prices?" Like $16.23. Wouldn't that be cute and fun?
Twitter @NamoInExile
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#17re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:12pmLOL, Namo, HA.
-Anyone want to turn anarchist with me?"Bless you and all who know you, oh wise and penguined one." ~YouWantItWhen????
#18re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:13pmHey, I saw the Mamma Mia logo girl in something! Reefer Madness off-Broadway, maybe? I don't remember her name. But I was laughing, because that was in her bio.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#19re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:14pmwait, in her bio it just said "in mamma mia logo" haha. can someone explain the ASU storyline.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#20re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:24pm
"Why don't "cute fun shows" charge "cute fun prices?" Like $16.23. Wouldn't that be cute and fun?"
Namo, as a poor student who travels to the city from FL maybe twice a year if lucky, I too wish that shows could have "cute fun prices". But I doubt the marketers would listen to a teenaged tourist.
broadwaystar2b
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/04
#21re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:24pmeep! double post Updated On: 8/23/05 at 05:24 PM
#22re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:31pmI have often wondered about the huge success of Mamma Mia, though I love the show ! I don't think it's success is based on ABBA fans. If that was the case it wouldn't be so big in the U.S, since ABBA were not that huge a name in the States ! I think the reason is simple ! It has GREAT pop music and is a fun show ! ABBA made wonderful music and even people who have never heard an ABBA song, can appreciate the melody and the harmonies in the score. Add to that a very simple and effective book, cute boys in the chorus and the general feeling of a party and there you have it !
#23re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:40pm
Mamma Mia! = TOURISTS, similiar to CATS.
ASU should be doing a lot better than it is doing.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#24re: How did Mamma Mia get it right?
Posted: 8/21/05 at 5:42pmyeah, ASU should be doing a lot better, but why isn't it? Is it the music? the marketing? the location? the timing? the story?
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