Why is Jersey Boys considered a musical?- Page 2

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:19am

Comparing Mama Rose and Frankie Vallie is a Sin!
Now you got my blood boiling!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:21am

The chicken is thin
And meaner than Sin...

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:40am

I think it's safe to classify Jersey Boys as a musical, simply because musical theatre did exist before it was completely defined. Although the creation of Oklahoma! defined the musical - a piece of theatre where the music and dance advance the plot forward - there were still works of musical theatre before that.

Not all of the songs in the original production of Show Boat moved the story forward, and it's definitely a musical by today's standards.

I think it's safe to consider it a musical if there is lots of music and it enhances the drama or comedy on stage - whether it's a good musical is another question.

[zzannahk]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:42am

I also dont think it's fair to compare JB with That Thing You Do. Ofcourse TTYD, isn't a musical, THERES ONLY ONE FREAKING SONG IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! REPEATED OVER AND OVE AGAIN.

Nice try though.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:46am

Well, yeah, we're not discussing if it's a good or bad piece of theatre, I was just wondering what everyone thought. I was interested to know what people thought.

zzannahk, but they have similiar stories/ideas - that's what I was going for.

[alterego]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:50am

It is as much a musical as Mama Mia!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 12:53am

True. It's as much a musical but not much of a musical.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 6/6/06 at 5:05am

I'm glad BSoBW2 brought up Dreamgirls, I find these two shows similar somehow. I believe saying that the songs in Jersey Boys do not advance the plot of the show is like saying that songs like "Heavy" (without the off-stage fight) or "One Night Only"--songs performed by the girls as performance pieces--do not advance the plot or that they aren't pivotal to the understanding of the characters and their relationships. While some of the songs might not have the typical book musical treatment, Des McAnuff, Brickman and Elice made sure to locate the songs in places where they'd be the center of each scene. I believe in a post-modern era it is almost impossible to get stuck in an exact definition of what a musical is.

[QueenS]

Posted: 6/7/06 at 9:06am

Another aspect of the "Is it a musical?" debate is the semi-confusion at award time.

"Imaginary Friends" was deemed to be a play (I believe at the request of the producers), but the score was nominated. Perhaps one of the few plays getting a nod for best score (Lincoln Center's "12th Night" did as well... others?).

"Swan Lake" was not allowed to be considered a musical (even as a revival...), but won for best director of a musical.

I remember there being a huge debate about whether or not "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" should be considered a musical. Musical theatre itself is only slightly over 100 years old, so it seems this issue has been around for 20-25% of its lifetime at least.

How was "Ain't Misbehavin'" received as a relatively new genre, does anyone know? I don't mean did people like it, that's obvious. But as one of the first "juke box" musicals, was it praised for being a new concept? I wonder if it opened today if it would suffer the same fate as "Lennon" and "Ring of Fire."

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/7/06 at 10:00am

AIN'T was basically thought of as a revue at the time.
Not ground breaking at all, but The performers brought more Drama and Comedy to the songs than mosr revues before it, so it was deemed a "Musical" and a Damned good one.