Mamma Mia question

[sszabo]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 6:48pm

Hi all!

My name's Sam and I'm a first time poster ,long time reader of the forum.
I'm a freshman in college and for my seminar class I'm doing a paper on the phenomenon of the jukebox musical focusing specifically on Mamma Mia.
I wanted to get some real musical theater buffs opinions of the jukebox musical and especially Mamma Mia and I figured this was the best place to ask.
Anyway here's what I'm curious to know:
Name? Age? Where are you from(specifically NYC or not)?
Favorite show?
Favorite jukebox musical?
Have you seen Mamma Mia (if yes how many times)?
What do you think of it and why (anything from you love/hate ABBA to whatever)?
What is your feeling on the jukebox musical as a form of musical theater for Broadway (trying to get at the good old art and commerce issue)?
If any of you out there could answer these questions I would be so grateful (preferably before Saturday Nov 24). You can skip any questions you like or add other stuff and it might be easier to just pm or send me an email.

Well thanks in advance to anyone who answers my questions!

sszabo

[winston89]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 9:45pm

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.

[stan39520]

Posted: 11/19/07 at 11:01pm

Name? Stan H
Age?40
Where are you from Los Angeles now Bay ST Louis MS
Favorite show? Sunset Blvd and Miss Saigon
Favorite jukebox musical? MAMA MIA
Have you seen Mamma Mia (if yes how many times)? 2 Times
What do you think of it and why (anything from you love/hate ABBA to whatever)? The story is very weak. I however love ABBA
What is your feeling on the jukebox musical as a form of musical theater for Broadway?]
I don't mind it if they have a good story. "MAMA MIA" was fun and it worked for what it was. The producers were very smart for including a mini concert at the end.
The JukeBox Musicals are great only because they are an easy sell. Its also easy to get backers of a Juke Box Musical! However Broadway hasn't produced a play in years that has produced top 40 hits. When people see a show they love it when they know the songs. THats why Jukebox musicals and "Disney Plays" are such big hits even though there not the best things to hit the stage.
Updated On: 11/25/07 at 11:01 PM

[mauriposa]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 12:38am

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.

[Anddou]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 7:23am

Name: Ondrej
Age: 24
Location: Prague
Favorite show: "RENT"
Favorite jukebox musical: "Mamma Mia!"
Yes, twice (International tour in Prague)

I think, it is a great show, and superb songs are connected with simple story really natural. Songs in the show with live orchestra sounds better than the original! I really love Overture/Entr'acte thing.

Jukebox musical is an interesting idea, how to creating successful show, because of very known songs, so audience is interested in it.


Updated On: 11/20/07 at 07:23 AM

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 11/20/07 at 7:37am

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.

[sszabo]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 8:21pm

Thanks so much to all of you that have responded. It's good to hear opinions about the topic from people who actually know a thing or two about musicals.
I'm studying in London right now so I saw Mamma Mia on Monday and during the intermission I asked a few people questions similar questions and one guy told me he thought the best idea for a musical was "Led Zepplin and humor".
(For anyone interested I just saw Macbeth - ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, if they get Kate Fleetwood to play Lady Macbeth in the states then all of you guys are in for a real treat, brilliant, and Patrick Stewart was pretty amazing himself. and there's another show I saw here called A Disappearing Number by Theatre of the Complcite that might get a Broadway transfer with the same cast... mind blowing, single best show I've ever seen, everything about it was perfectly crafted).

Thanks again, this really helps A LOT.

sszabo

[sszabo]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 8:33pm

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

[americanboy99]

Posted: 11/21/07 at 10:18pm

I'd say MOVIN' OUT is definitely the best example of a jukebox musical reaching complete artistic euphoria. What a wonderful show!

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/22/07 at 11:52am

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.

[myshikobit]

Posted: 11/23/07 at 5:23pm

I am fifteen years old, but in most people's opinion, i'm twenty (it's obvious i'm insecure about my age). My favorite musical is Carrie and my favorite jukebox musical is Movin' Out. I'm currently writing a jukebox musical of the music of Fleetwood Mac. I think the jukebox musical is a great idea, as long as it is not just fluff. Example, my artistic challenge to myself is that mine is A) totally non-related to the artist's personal history & B) is a tragedy. When there is no fiber in the show involved, I don't think it deserves any merit artistically.

Updated On: 11/23/07 at 05:23 PM