Interesting Stat

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 11:22am

I was reading Peter Filichia's tri-weekly column today on Theatremania and in his discussion of Mary Poppins he made the statement that SEVEN of the last NINE Best Musicals have had scores that had been heard, either in part or in full, long before they hit Broadway.

I hadn't thought of that statistic before, but after plotting it out I realized that he was absolutely right. I am not trying to say that this means anything or to predict any doom or lack of orginality, but do think it is a pretty interesting fact. Here is the breakdown:

--1998: The Lion King used Elton John songs from earlier movie

--1999: Fosse was a revue of Bob Fosse choreographed numbers from past musicals and movies.

--2000: Contact used a sountrack of past songs

--2001: The Producers imported "Springtime for Hitler" and "Prisoners of Love" from the earlier movie

--2002: Thoroughly Modern Millie imported the title song and the lyrics of "Jimmy" from the earlier movie, "The Speed Test" was a reworking of a Gilbert and Sullivan patter song, "Muqin" was a Chinese version of "Mammy", "I'm Falling in Love with Someone" was a Victor Herbert tune, and "Oh, Sweet Mystery of Life" was briefly used as well.

--2003: Hairspray was the first totally original score composed for the stage since Titanic in 1997

--2004: Avenue Q is the second totally original score in the past nine years

--2005: Spamalot imported two songs from the earlier film: "Brave Sir Robin" and "Knights of the Round Table", and included another Python staple "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life"

--2006: Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical using the song catalogue of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.




http://www.theatermania.com/peterfilichia/

Updated On: 11/17/06 at 11:22 AM

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 1:57pm

I want more "totally original" scores. If the next best musical is also a jukebox musical I will have to break something.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:03pm

Well, the Times won't win it, and I can't think of any other high buzz jukebox musical opening this year.

[ByMySide25]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:11pm

Let's hope it stays that way.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 11/17/06 at 2:31pm

I want more "totally original" books.