Mamma Mia question

I liked Mamma Mia.

But I hate the whole idea of jukebox musicals on broadway as a rule. I mean there have been some that are good but overall I find that doing them shows lack of talent and lack of creativity.


And by the ay. there are a good number of members on this forum who don't like the idea of having to do someones homework for them I just answerd the qustions because I am in a good mood.

---

Name? Jessica
Age? 23
Where are you from? Chicago
Favorite show? The Drowsy Chaperone
Favorite jukebox musical? Mamma Mia, I suppose
Have you seen Mamma Mia? Once

What do you think of it and why? I thought it was good, clean, family fun, but there was no substance to it. My mom loved it.

What is your feeling on the jukebox musical as a form of musical theater for Broadway? I think that jukebox musicals are a bit of a creative cop-out. It takes much more talent and creativity to come up with an idea of your own than it does to string a plot together based on the hit songs of a popular music group. It saddens me that jukebox musicals and based-on-movie musicals are so successful. I think that the theater-going public should have higher standards.

Name: Matt L.
Age: 19
Location: Lewistown, Pennsylvania
Favorite Show: SWEENEY TODD
Favorite Jukebox Musical: JERSEY BOYS
Have you seen MAMMA MIA!?: No

My feelings on the jukebox musical: Contrary to sensible belief, there are ways to make jukebox musicals that have artistic worth. For instance, JERSEY BOYS took a very VH1 Behind the Scenes look at the story of the Four Seasons and made it work extremely well (if more than a bit cliche).

When someone talks about how jukebox musicals "aren't art", they're most likely referring to a MAMMA MIA!-like show, in which popular songs that were - and this is important - NEVER INTENDED to be part of a narrative are thrown into one. And then the show intends for the audience to take it seriously, when they'll just giggle about how Chicago's "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? (Does Anybody Really Care?)" is being sung by a full cast about just that.

Of course, there are almost-exceptions: The Billy Joel show, MOVIN' OUT, doesn't exactly count because the show is dialog-free: the songs are sung by one person in an above-stage band. Plus, Billy Joel's music, unlike most other groups', IS theatrical, and he intended it to be at times ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant").

That's my opinion. In short: Jukebox Musicals can be art, as long as you don't have characters singing something like "Hey, Ya!" in the literal sense.

---

I also just had one more thought and I'm sorry if I'm bugging you guys (I don't want people to get the wrong impression I'm not trying to leach off of anyone here or have someone do my homework, I'm genuinely interested in your opinions and I'm looking at this as interview research) BUT...
My question is would you guys consider Crazy For You a jukebox musical? I guess I would because it is a show built around the music and there have been a lot of really good movie musical that have done that but for some reason I don't feel like I would put them in the same category as Mamma Mia etc... if for no other reason because Gershwin was a genuine composer for Broadway. What do you guys think?

thanks

crazy for you definately would not be considered a jukebox musical. That is your classic "review" or "standard" musical.. i guess?


Mamma Mia! Is pure amazing fluff! So great it makes people happy and is one of those shows where you can walk in for 2 hours plus, forget about everything in your life and enjoy what is in front of you.