Whats up with all these Juke box musicals coming in ??? Whats the point? — Page 2

well, first, when is the johnny cash movie coming out? i wanna see it!!!
but yeah, not all jukebox musicals are bad-i LOVED LOVED LOVED all shook up *i love ya jenn gamby!!!!* and Mamma-Mia! wasnt all that bad...
i personally would like an American Idol jukebox musical-with lots of songs they use on the show, and make it about some teen who goes on the show, finds love, and wins!!! :) cheesy, i know...

oh, yeah i know what you mean-there are lots jukebox musicals, and im sorry if i was mean at all... :)
but yeah, just one thing to learn from this,sassypanz, is to not start a topic like that without any proven facts, or people might get upset

...yeah

Updated On: 3/13/12 at 07:23 PM

The increase in frequency of jukebox musicals is a trend that will eventually fade. There were a few here and there before Mamma Mia, but the success of Mamma Mia inspired producers to make lightning strike twice. It happened in London with We Will Rock You (though one of the longest running musicals in West End history was a jukebox musical, Buddy, but it was biographical and mysteriously flopped on Broadway) and it happened here with Movin' Out (though technically a ballet). If it's a good show, I don't care if it's original, based on a film or song catalogue, or a bookless review. If I'm entertained, I'm entertained regardless the source material.

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personally, i think the term "juke box musical" has become a bit of a catch-all phrase...
but i've liked some, disliked some (just like anything else on and off B'Way. Muscial or non.)
i do feel most belong off-B'Way, however, and many have gotten into trouble when they've tried to fill out a big Broadway house...
i think the latest scourge is the 'skit' musical...but thats another story altogether...(and again, some are good, some are bad...)

I guess the frequency and reception of the "jukebox musicals" vacillates depending on the financial and artistic climate of Broadway theater. But this is NOT the first surge of musicals from existing songbooks. Hello? Beatlemania? Leader of the Pack? Ain't Misbehavin'? Black and Blue? Swing? Sophisticated Ladies? Bubbling Brown Sugar? Good News (kind of)? And Rock N Roll The Last 5000 Years? Uptown It's Hot? Jacques Brel? A Grand Night for Singing? Big Deal? Play On? Tintypes? Swinging on a Star? Not too many people ran around calling Boy From Oz a jukebox musical even though that's exactly what it was, right? And recently there was also The Look of Love. The GORGEOUS, wonderful A Class Act is even a "Juke box" musical, right? All of these are off the top of my head and I'm sure there are way more. There were resurgences of the existing songbook musical throughout the uncertain '70s, '80s, and '90s, especially. All I mean to say is, this is NOT a new phenomenon. And it's not going anywhere.
I personally have loved many jukebox musicals, especially "Our House" on London's West End. And I have disliked a number of them too. But there is no reason to discriminate.

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Updated On: 10/3/05 at 10:56 PM

Why not damn all MOVIECALS because most fail. Just as brainless as Juke Box musicals.. pre written books with original scores.

Then that would definately knock some sense into their heads. They could give the public what they want, and what they want. A perfect compromise. Unfortunately, tourists just want fun, bouncy shows like Mamma Mia! and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, so why don't we all blame the tourists? No, because they are all different, and there's a very high chance that at least one would like an intelluctual show. As for the desire to capture a person's theatre experience with only original songs, well too bad for them. Or, they could change the lyrics, like they did with Mamma Mia! at some points. So actually, there's no one to blame.

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