I loathe the term and hatred toward "JUKE BOX Musicals"

here here.

just because they use something pre-existing...people get confused and have preconceived knowledge about how the show will actually be.

Well, hate the term all you want - but that's what they are.

I suppose that yes, by definition, CRAZY FOR YOU could be considered a jukebox musical of sorts. However, CRAZY FOR YOU had an excellent creative team behind it and turned it into somethng new and exciting. It had a strong cast, strong choreography, and a strong book - something that can't be said for any of the jukebox musicals.

And yes, there is a difference between something like ALL SHOOK UP and "new" musicals like HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, SPAMALOT, etc. Especiallt HAIRPSRAY. They simply don't photocopy the screenplay, and insert original music. The entire show is taken apart, re-written, and resassembled. That certainly can't be said with the scores of ABBA, Elvis, Lennon, or the Beach Boys for their respective shows, now can it?

You would take a thousand ALL SHOOK UPs over a new musical, like SEUSSICAL? Well then, I pity you, and I hope to God that many people don't think like that. Where would we be without original musicals? Jukebox musicals have absolutely (thus far) no artistic merit to them. It's all about fun and, generally, only two have succeeded at the fun aspect (MAMMA MIA, ALL SHOOK UP.)

I don't think ALL SHOOK UP was misunderstood by anyone. It's very clear what the show is, and it's very clear what it's trying to be. We get it. It just didn't work out. Yes, I had a great time at ALL SHOOK UP. I laughed, and I certainly couldn't wait for the recording to come out. I enjoyed myself. But do I think that the closing of an essentially recycled version of THE TWELFTH NIGHT with Elvis music is a grand and utter travesty? Absolutely not. I don't understand your viewpoint. I'm afraid to ask you what you think of Sondheim...

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There is a difference between shows like Crazy for You and the recent shows using Pop music which wasn't written specifically for a storyline.

The songs in Crazy for You were written for shows and were designed to be part of the story. The pop music in Mamma Mia, All Shook Up, Boy From Oz, Lennon, have absolutely no ties to the storyline. They are crammed into a book show and are awkward at best. The only time they work for the most part is when they are part of a revue and not a book show (Smokey Joe's Cafe, etc.)

I personally detest jukebox musicals. The Boy From Oz was the last one I saw and I have no intention on seeing any others.

I understand a producer's desire to use material well known to the general public, however considering the recent bombs, I doubt we will be seeing any more jukebox shows for a while, hopefully.

I believe we did!

Who cares? I love Mamamia!

Just my opinion, but I thought a lot of the songs in Crazy for You were somewhat haphazardly placed and undermotivated. The Stroman choreography and the production values carried the day for me.

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Exactly, they're not all bad. The idea of them doesn't annoy me - the crap annoys me. There's a reason MOVIN' OUT is still running...

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EXACTLY.

That's like when people call RENT dated, I get annoyed. RENT isn't dated if it takes place in the early 90's.

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I believe that there's room for everything in the theater. I have nothing against jukebox musicals, as long as there aren't TOO many of them, because I don't think there should be too much of anything.

However, they are, by nature, an inferior art form, because they are not completely original creations.

"However, they are, by nature, an inferior art form, because they are not completely original creations."

I'm not sure this is accurate. Consider that every new musical is written based on the talent, education, and experience of the composer and writer and actors. A "found" show like the jukebox musical is just slightly different. new arrangements must be done, lyric changes often happen, and the songs will ALWAYS mean something new. The only real difference is that the creative team has a spring board. Frankly, every show ever created has some degree or another of a spring board. One could argue the spring board is greater with a jukebox show, but...I would contend that the jukebox style limits and challenges in ways that writing new songs do not (and therefore, writing a good jukebox show is significantly more challenging...thus, more artistic if done well).

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You both are right, but I'm referring more to the score, which is the essential part of a musical. Many (if not most) plays as well as movies are adaptions of books or well-known stories. But there's a difference between adapting a book into a musical (i.e. "The Light in the Piazza") while trying to create a piece of art, and trying to cash in on the success of a music group by taking their songs and arbitrarily sticking them into the plot of a musical.

but, songs used in all shook up and lennon, were re-written so that they made sense in the context of the show, and many new orchestrations were added as well.
i agree, that there is a basis of a tune and lyrics that's already there, but so much more goes into it. i absolutely love "can't help falling in love" in ASU because of all the amazing harmonies and orchestrations.

i guess it's a huge matter of opinion. i could just as well argue that the BOOK is an essential of a musical. (i believe the musica is more important though.) i know what you're saying. believe me.