Jacqueline B. Arnold News

Sometimes jukebox musicals need to stay in the jukebox. There are some exceptions where it works. When it's a good review like “Smokey Joe's Café” or when there's a fun book like “Mamma Mia”. But when you take the songs of a classic rock band (such as Queen) and jam them into a completely contrived and nonsensical, thread thin plot the result (as with “We Will Rock You” currently at the 5th Avenue Theatre) is a barely entertaining mish mash of songs that left me less entertained and more embarrassed for those involved. Now I love me some Queen. I'm a little too young to have been aware of them in their hay day but like many others discovered them after their run as their enduring songs continue to live on. Which is why I feel they deserve better than the show they got. A show where we're in a not so distant future and people live their lives online (not so different from now) and because of this, rock and roll has been outlawed. (And there's the main plot hole because what's on the Internet but lots and lots of music.) So when a hunky idealistic dreamer, Galileo (Brian Justin Crum) who keeps hearing the lyrics from long dead rockers meets another outcast Scaramouche (Ruby Lewis), the two set out to escape the clutches of the all powerful Killer Queen (Jacqueline B. Arnold) and find other rebels who want to bring back rock. And how will they do this? Um, play music. Yeah, that's ultimately what drives the bad guys away, music. But then we've had music through out the whole show including from the bad guys. See, plot hole. And if this ridiculous story filled with so much bad, one repeated joke (how many times can we mention that the male leader of the rebels goes by the name Britney Spears?), sitcom humor and clunky exposition laden dialog from book writer Ben Elton weren't bad enough, but then they take these wonderful Queen songs and force them into the narrative often times changing the lyrics to try and make them fit. For example, they take the title song from the movie “Flash Gordon” and bastardize it so it's now all about giving the captured rebels electro shock therapy. Or how about Killer Queen singing “Fat Bottomed Girls” because, well I'm still not certain why she was singing it other than to check that iconic tune off the list. Did no one listen to the lyrics of the songs while trying to write the show? They're all quite narrative to begin with. And Elton couldn't come up with a story that fit in with those narratives? I mean he's even got characters names Galileo and Scaramouche but “Bohemian Rhapsody” (the thing all the bohemian rockers are striving for in the story by the way) isn't even performed until the end of the show as an after thought encore. The cast does what they can. In fact they amp their energy and intent up to about a 17 in order to try and give this story some punch. Crum and Lewis certainly have incredible voices worthy of Freddie Mercury and they completely shred any numbers given to them. Arnold too has a gorgeous voice but doesn't seem as invested in playing the villain in this over the top melodrama. But I have to mention Ryan Knowles who not only lent some incredible pipes to his numbers but some delicious comedic timing and heart to his character making him completely “ROCK”. But even the infectious energy of this amazing cast can't polish away the stench of this turd try as they may. The show is a somewhat fun ride but ultimately weighed down with such a horrible book and bastardized songs that it just feels insulting. Queen deserves better and smarter as do audiences, which is why I give “We Will Rock You” a NAH with my three letter rating system. Others may have enjoyed it but I just found it not worth the effort. “We Will Rock You” performs at the 5th Avenue Theatre through July 13th. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue box office at 206-625-1900 or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org.

The highly anticipated Off-Broadway premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL - the brand new musical that celebrates the life of the original 1970s disco queen SYLVESTER, with songs like '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real', 'Can't Stop Dancing' and 'You Are My Friend', begins previews at Theatre at St. Clement's on September 5th, 2014 with an opening set for September 14th, 2014. In celebration of Pride Weekend, the show gave a special preview at Sirius XM Radio. Check out photos from the preview below!

The highly anticipated Off-Broadway premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL - the brand new musical that celebrates the life of the original 1970s disco queen SYLVESTER, with songs like '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real', 'Can't Stop Dancing' and 'You Are My Friend', begins previews at Theatre at St. Clement's on September 5th, 2014 with an opening set for September 14th, 2014. In celebration of Pride Weekend, the show gave a special preview at Sirius XM Radio. Check out photos from the apperaance below!

The highly anticipated Off-Broadway premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL - the brand new musical that celebrates the life of the original 1970s disco queen SYLVESTER, with songs like '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real', 'Can't Stop Dancing' and 'You Are My Friend', begins previews at Theatre at St. Clement's on September 5th, 2014 with an opening set for September 14th, 2014. In celebration of Pride Weekend, the show gave a special preview at Sirius XM Radio. Check out photos from the soundcheck below!

Book problems? Yes. But there's a really talented group of performers involved in this one.

Complete casting has just been announced for the highly anticipated Off-Broadway premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL - the brand new musical that celebrates the life of the original 1970s disco queen SYLVESTER, with songs like '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real', 'Can't Stop Dancing' and 'You Are My Friend'. Previews are set to begin at Theatre at St. Clement's on September 5th, 2014 with an opening set for September 14th, 2014. Check out a brand new commercial for the show below!

Complete casting has been announced for the Highly Anticipated Off-Broadway Premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL - the Brand New musical that celebrates the life of the Original 1970's Disco Queen SYLVESTER. With songs like '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real', 'Can't Stop Dancing' and 'You Are My Friend', Previews are set to begin at Theatre at St. Clement's on September 5th, 2014 with an Opening set for September 14th, 2014. Check out the World Premier of the Brand New Commercial Trailer Here (Voice Over by Sheryl Lee Ralph): http://youtu.be/1UzCNHnZJ2o.

TV/Film Star and Original Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kendrell Bowman and Anthony Wayne appeared on HERE AND NOW to talk about the new off-Broadway Musical 'MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL'. Scroll down for the interview!

It's not every rock band or musical act that could successfully create musical based on its many widely varying songs. There has to be a certain uniformity, power and resonance to the music, all of the music, carrying through many songs, rather than just one or two 'greatest hits.' And they have to be songs that can be strung together to create a cohesive whole that works as a musical with a plot, story, characters, etc. If there's any proof that it can be done, and done smashingly well, it's found in We Will Rock You, the 'rock theatrical' created through the combination of British writer Ben Elton and the music of Queen.

If there's any 'jukebox' musical that should be wildly over the top it would have to be one connected with the 70's and 80's rock group Queen. It just makes sense. Their music always had a sort of 'larger than life', heroic quality to it to begin with. So, it's only natural that WE WILL ROCK YOU (book by Ben Elton), the stage adaptation, delivers a perfectly cheesy science fiction plot that forecasts a dystopian future where instruments and composers have become outlawed. With a thumping ten-piece band pumping out the score, this amusing and undeniably wacky production is rockin' the Fabulous Fox Theatre.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL is preparing to come OFF-BROADWAY! This INCREDIBLE show comes back to New York after SOLD OUT runs in NYC, Miami and Washington, D.C.

The notoriously harsh London critics predicted a very short lifespan for WE WILL ROCK YOU, a musical centered on the rock band Queen's hits, when it opened May 14, 2002 at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End. The Guardian felt the production came across as 'ruthlessly packaged and manufactured,' with its plot finding 'more unlikely ways to wring out another Queen song' into the two and a half hour performance.

The new upcoming Off-Broadway show 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL MIGHTY REAL: A SYLVESTER CONCERT' is offering tickets to see 'PIPPIN', a backstage tour of the show and an exclusive dinner with Tony Award Winner Patina Miller. These are some of the items up for claim with a donation to their Kickstarter for 'MIGHTY REAL' which will be at a theatre Off-Broadway Summer 2014 to be announced soon.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) present The Music Box, An Evening of Lady Composers. Recent Tony-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody) is set to appear and Karen Azenberg (Artistic Director - Pioneer Theatre, Salt Lake City) will direct this special one-night-only concert event.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) present The Music Box, An Evening of Lady Composers. Recent Tony-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody) is set to appear and Karen Azenberg (Artistic Director - Pioneer Theatre, Salt Lake City) will direct this special one-night-only concert event.

Back to where it all started, the city that never sleeps, NEW YORK CITY, 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL, MIGHTY REAL: A SYLVESTER CONCERT ' Starring Anthony Wayne returned. The show came back to NYC after sold-out runs in Miami and Washington, D.C.. Broadway Star Anthony Wayne (PIPPIN, PRISCILLA; ANYTHING GOES [2011]) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester live on Stage. Check out photos from the concert below!

Back to where it all started, the city that never sleeps, NEW YORK CITY, 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL, MIGHTY REAL: A SYLVESTER CONCERT ' Starring Anthony Wayne returns. The show comes bakc to NYC after sold-out runs in Miami and Washington, D.C.. Broadway Star Anthony Wayne (PIPPIN, PRISCILLA; ANYTHING GOES [2011]) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester live on Stage. Join in tonight, June 30, 2013 for two shows, one night only, at 7pm and 10pm.

Back to where it all started, the city that never sleeps, NEW YORK CITY, 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL, MIGHTY REAL: A SYLVESTER CONCERT ' Starring Anthony Wayne returns. The show comes bakc to NYC after sold-out runs in Miami and Washington, D.C.. Broadway Star Anthony Wayne (PIPPIN, PRISCILLA; ANYTHING GOES [2011]) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester live on Stage. Join in on June 30, 2013 for two shows, one night only, at 7pm and 10pm.

Straight from the Heart of New York City comes "FABULOUS, ONE MORE TIME: A SYLVESTER CONCERT" starring Anthony Wayne. This show comes to Washington, D.C. after a sold out Run at New York City's (le) Poisson Rouge. Broadway's Anthony Wayne (PRISCILLA; Anything Goes) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester, all live on stage. The show is set for tonight, January 27th, 2013, at 8pm at the prestigious Howard Theatre.

Straight from the Heart of New York City comes "FABULOUS, ONE MORE TIME: A SYLVESTER CONCERT" starring Anthony Wayne. This show comes to Washington, D.C. after a sold out Run at New York City's (le) Poisson Rouge. Broadway's Anthony Wayne (PRISCILLA; Anything Goes) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester, all live on stage. The show is set for January 27th, 2013, at 8pm at the prestigious Howard Theatre.