I see your point, but I wouldn’t really consider this a “jukebox musical”. The original movie contained a bunch of pop classics —including some Bacharach and David songs. Most famously the “I Say A Little Prayer” scene in the restaurant. Hopefully they’ll find a way to work the other songs in just as gracefully!
I think 3 songs were “featured” in the film but this is a full musical using old music. Why couldn’t those few songs be featured in a show with an original score is what I’m saying. It’s just getting very old.
Is this a money thing? I can't imagine licensing 15+ hit songs for a show is cheaper than hiring a songwriting team. If anything, I think it'd be more expensive.
Alex Kulak2 said: "Is this a money thing? I can't imagine licensing 15+ hit songs for a show is cheaper than hiring a songwriting team. If anything, I think it'd be more expensive."
Obviously it depends on who the team is. "Names" like Adam Guettel, Ahrens & Flaherty, Yazbeck, etc. don't come cheap! . A couple of kids from the BMI workshop -- not so much.
So hire some kids from the BMI workshop. It's a classic film, they don't have to worry about the creative team being who draws in a crowd. Outside the hardcore Broadway community, do you think anyone saw Shrek because Jeanine Tesori was writing the score? Or Tootsie because of David Yazbek? Beetlejuice for Eddie Perfect? Matilda for Tim Minchin?
All those shows were better for having those writers, but their names weren't what got them to Broadway, and they didn't need to be. If a producer has a pretty good chance for a show to succeed with the name alone, why not take a risk with the creative team?
Jordan Catalano said: "I think 3 songs were “featured” in the film but this is a full musical using old music. Why couldn’t those few songs be featured in a show with an original score is what I’m saying. It’s just getting very old."
In all fairness, this is a touring production, and those come with lower expectations. It’s also not the first time a famous “chick flick” has been adapted in this fashion - a touring stage version of “An Officer and A Gentleman” adopted a similar jukebox approach a couple of years ago.
Alexandra Burke is a talented singer, but I don’t expect too much from this...
I mean, we've seen how some shows with iconic musical moments that don't include the song lack the moment's magic (First Wives Club, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in London) come to mind. Why not, just go all out. I remember a song book on the 1997-1998 year in movie included I Say A Little Prayer because it was such a stand out.
I do feel like this could be a good chance at a Burt Bacharach score.
"The 54th Street[theatre] had a rep as. . .where old musicals went to die." -Smaxie
joined:10/9/05
joined:
10/9/05
Posted: 12/10/19 at 9:19pm