Jukebox Musicals?

I don't mind jukebox musicals at all, just as long as they're done right. I think it's nice to see more of them following the Jersey Boys blueprint (Beautiful, On Your Feet) than the Mamma Mia! blueprint (Good Vibrations, Rock of Ages).

Updated On: 2/3/15 at 03:14 PM

I agree with Jeffrey about what type of jukebox musical is best, but that mold also gave us Motown, which remains the worst musical I've ever seen.

In any event, I think a Nirvana musical could be really good.

I think jukebox musicals are a high wire act, since you are using hit/known songs typically, so it puts a lot of pressure on the book/tone to carry it off properly. I though Mamma Mia/Rock of Ages found that balance well... with MM shoehorning ABBA songs into unexpected places on a flimsy story that was really campy and fun. Rock of Ages, similarly, never took itself seriously, but also found a throughline that the songs were able to hang on with a campy tone that winked knowingly at its ridiculousness while still getting you pulled into both shows.

But nailing down that story, finding the tone, and presenting the songs in a way that both honor the original and serve the piece is tricky, which is why many fail.

I think of them differently from the Priscillas, Motowns, and Beautifuls, though, which are either based on movies with a specific throughline or use history as their throughline. History is OK, but at the same time, it makes it harder to get an audience emotionally invested. Beautiful works because Jessie is just so good, but the story isn't very interesting or surprising. I think less than heavenly casting in such cases can just as easily kill the show. And, I never wanted to see Motown, since I've been on cruise ships before, and tend to not seek that sort of thing whilest on land.

That said, they do come with a built-in audience... but word of mouth will sour a bad jukebox musical no matter how much people like the songs.

As far as oddball choices for a jukebox musical, I think there is a lot of storytelling AND a lot of room for reinterpretation in the Counting Crows catalog.

Updated On: 2/3/15 at 03:58 PM

^But Mamma Mia went to Broadway first and had a movie first? Confused.

I want to see a Jukebox Musical of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David catalog. Their songs echoed the style of the 1960s.

Say A Little Prayer
Anyone Who Had A Heart
Walk On By
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
Always Something There To Remind Me
Wishin' and Hopin'
I Say A Little Prayer
Theme From Valley of the Dolls

Theme From Valley of the Dolls was not written by Bacharach/David. That song was written by Andre Previn (Music) and then-wife Dory Previn (lyrics).

There have already been two Bacharach/David jukebox musicals. The first was produced in 1992 and was called BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID. In 2003 the Roundabout Theater Company produced one called THE LOOK OF LOVE.

"Theme From Valley of the Dolls was not written by Bacharach/David. That song was written by Andre Previn (Music) and then-wife Dory Previn (lyrics)."

Oops, my apologies. I tend to include that because of the Dionne Warwick catalog.

Were the two musicals just their songs or were they fitted into a storyline.

I just think with all the interest in the 60s that Mad Men generated, it would be interesting to look at that time period again.

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We have to distinguish between Jukebox Musicals which use a catalog to tell a story and a Biographical Musical which is "and then we sang this" - The first is Mamma Mia - the second is Jersey Boys. (Heck, the second is George M!).

and JoseLee_, the Gloria Estafan biomusical is coming this year - On Your Feet - which premieres in Chicago on June 2 and is booked into the Marquis for October 5.


On Your Feet

"Well, so far, the only one I've ever liked was Billy Joel's "Movin' Out". That alone doesn't rule out that another that would work for me, but so far, nothing has."

And of course Movin' Out was as much (if not more) a modern ballet than a musical, so that, in my mind, puts it into its own category (along with Contact.

I'll agree that it is more of a ballet, but it's officially classified as a musical.

Why? I have not enjoyed any that I have seen. I can appreciate them and the talent, but I've never been moved by them or had one totally hold my interest. I did not care for the presentational style of Jersey Boys or Beautiful -- I find they lack dynamics.

I'm always willing to try another, and I hope.

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I'd actually be interested in seeing a Mariah Carey jukebox musical, assuming she would actually let the script show some of her flaws. She's certainly got an interesting story - writing music for other artists, Tommy Mottola svengali-esque relationship, her break down.

I would like it even more if she and Walter Afanasieff collaborated to add original songs as well. Somehow I'm sure everyone's egos will get involved and it will just be all rainbows and butterflies.

I'm confused. Now "jukebox musical" also includes revues? This term gets redefined every decade, doesn't it?

Anyway, I always thought My Best Friend's Wedding would make a splendid jukebox musical using the hit songs from the film soundtrack. Cute story and fantastic songs that could easily be built into the book.

I honestly don't enjoy the biopic musicals as much as those that find new ways to use the existing songs. The parade of "performance" numbers tend to bore me after the first two or three in the first act.

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You could consider Crazy For You as one . It used existing songs intertwined with an original story. Not bad for a jukebox show.

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