Most theater artists are about as excited to have their show called a “jukebox musical” as literary novelists are when told they’ve written a “beach read.” Even if it’s a form that’s still embraced by audiences, it’s hard to get a jukebox musical to be taken seriously.
Some artists don’t care – Broadway still sees its share of by-the-numbers bio-musicals (most recently the Neil Diamond musical “A Beautiful Noise”) and greatest hits compilations (the current “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” fueled by the Huey Lewis & the News canon). Others take slightly more modern approaches – “Moulin Rouge” is more a mixtape musical, with the original Baz Luhrmann movie’s song selections expanded (or bloated) upon for the Broadway stage. Or
Leave a Reply