Can We Stop Bashing Jukebox Musicals For Simply Being Jukebox Musicals?
Moulin Rouge!
A couple of weeks ago, we published an article about the likelihood of a Taylor Swift jukebox musical appearing on 42nd Street in the future. Given that Swift is one of the most successful songwriters of her generation, her massive fanbase, and the fact that Broadway is a popular stop for such types of shows, this seems like an inevitable development.
As expected, there were many who loved the idea of this and, on the flip side, many who loathed it. But I found myself reading more of the negative comments to see what their issue exactly was. Many of the comments simply bashed the idea because it was a jukebox musical and not something with an original score. And this is far from the first time I’ve seen these types of comments. Whether it’s Britney Spears’ ‘Once Upon a One More Time’ or Cher’s ‘The Cher Show’ or Michael Jackson’s ‘MJ: The Musical’, there is a significant number of Broadway attendees who bash the idea of these shows simply because their featuring songs from the artist’s catalog.
I honestly don’t understand the problem with that.
Some have said that a jukebox musical lacks creativity. I would argue that musicals can lack creativity with an original score or not. Just look at ‘Amazing Grace’. Also, sometimes jukebox musicals can be some of the most creative productions one can see. Did any of you see ‘Lazarus’? ‘Movin’ Out’? ‘After Midnight’? ‘Head over Heels’?!?!?!
I’ve read other comments that some are worried that jukebox musicals will clog up Broadway and prevent original scored shows from getting their chance at the spotlight and Tony Awards. And while the anomaly that was the “2020” Tony Awards featured three Best Musical nominees that were jukebox musicals - 1. As far as I can tell, that’s the first time that’s ever happened. 2. The last jukebox musical to win Best Musical before ‘Moulin Rouge’ was ‘Jersey Boys’ in 2006. So it’s not like these types of shows are dominating the awards season.
The other funny thing that I see people forget is that many of the most treasured musicals of all time are,inf fact, jukebox musicals. The movie ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ is primarily a collection of popular songs from the era. The same with shows such as ‘42nd St’.
Yes, there have been some legendary jukebox musical flops. But the failures of ‘Ring of Fire’, ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Escape to Margaritaville’ shouldn’t have created such a stigma that shows like ‘Tina’, ‘Ain't Too Proud; and ‘The Cher Show should be dismissed on paper(which many did on social media) before they have a chance to open.
So just like any musical with an original score, let’s stop bashing and dismissing jukebox musicals for simply being jukebox musicals before we’ve had a chance to see them. Who knows, maybe it will be the most pleasant surprise, which is a great feeling to have in a theatre.