{"id":9796,"date":"2018-07-19T15:59:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T19:59:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/?p=9796"},"modified":"2019-01-12T14:45:20","modified_gmt":"2019-01-12T19:45:20","slug":"our-ideas-for-new-jukebox-musicals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/our-ideas-for-new-jukebox-musicals\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Ideas for New Jukebox Musicals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jukebox musicals have been popular on Broadway for years, and some \u2014 like Mamma Mia!<\/i> and Jersey Boys<\/i> \u2014 have successfully been turned into movies. With the upcoming release of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again<\/i>, I thought I\u2019d see if I could come up with some jukeboxes of my own. Since the songs don\u2019t actually have to fit the story and can be shoe-horned in no matter what, I figured it can\u2019t be that hard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rio!<\/em>
\n<\/b>featuring the songs of Duran Duran and Power Station<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>We open in the photography studio of Undone magazine, where famous fashion photographer Derek VonVanten and his best friend, Rich Harrington, sing about all the hot models Derek gets to take pictures of (\u201cGirls On Film\u201d). Derek laments his lack of a real relationship, so Rich suggests they take a much-needed vacation to Rio (\u201cRio\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

The two fly to Rio and get the whole plane excited as they look out the window and observe the world (\u201cPlanet Earth\u201d). In Rio, they are greeted by their guide, Christoph, who invites them to the restaurant on the top of the Christ the Redeemer statue tomorrow night. The men are hesitant, but Christoph and his friends tell them how great it is up there (\u201cA View To A Kill\u201d). They agree to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking through the city, Derek, Rich, and their new friends bump into three American tourists. One is Devora Keller, who writes for Undone, but Derek doesn\u2019t recognize her because he is always so obsessed with the models (\u201cGirls On Film\u201d reprise). Devora knows who he is, though (\u201cNotorious\u201d), and tells her friends, Babs and Scoot, that he would never be interested in her. Babs and Scoot decide to give her a big makeover and make sure Derek notices her on Monday at the restaurant (\u201cNew Moon on Monday\u201d). In the distance, we hear the city of Rio living the high life (\u201cRio\u201d reprise).<\/span><\/p>\n

The next morning, Derek, Rich, and Christoph are hungover in Derek\u2019s hotel room. There are beautiful Latin women strewn about the room, sleeping, and the chauffeur comes to whisk the women away (\u201cThe Chauffeur\u201d). Derek wakes up and goes to the terrace, where he sings about how he wishes he could be with a woman who is not a model, in an ordinary world (\u201cOrdinary World\u201d). Christoph and Rich also wake up and sing the song, as they, too, wish they could find true love. The three decide to use this trip to find their one-and-onlys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Devora and her friends are at a fancy store, updating Devora\u2019s clothing and makeup. They change her name to Barbara (\u201cElectric Barbarella\u201d) to conceal her identity. The three of them make plans to go to the Christ the Redeemer restaurant (\u201cView To A Kill\u201d reprise) that night. <\/span><\/p>\n

Later, everyone is at the restaurant, singing about how their hunger is comparable to that of a wolf (\u201cHungry Like the Wolf\u201d). Rich and Scoot meet for the first time, and it is revealed Rich is gay and in the closet. He talks about the type of man he likes (\u201cWild Boys\u201d), which is just the type of man Scoot is. They kiss, declare their love (\u201cUnion of the Snake\u201d), and then part.<\/span><\/p>\n

Devora (now Barbara) and Derek both try to get the waiter\u2019s attention, each believing they should be served first; the waiter is uncertain whom to help (\u201cAll She Wants Is\u201d). Barbara and Derek come face to face to argue, but Derek is taken with her and they begin to dance (\u201cSave a Prayer\u201d). Suddenly, Barbara remembers that she isn\u2019t who she says she is and tells him she cannot be with him. He doesn\u2019t understand (\u201cIs There Something I Should Know\u201d). At the buffet, Babs meets Christoph, who immediately realizes she is his perfect match. They bond over spicy food (\u201cSome Like It Hot\u201d) and decide to elope after dinner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Barbara escapes to the town square and tears off her fancy clothes and makeup, becoming herself again. She sings about how she is in love with Derek (\u201cCome Undone\u201d). Derek runs into the square, sees her, and knows in his heart it is she he has fallen in love with, even though she doesn\u2019t look like a model anymore. He tells her not to leave him (\u201cSave a Prayer\u201d reprise). She tries to spurn him (\u201cI Don\u2019t Want Your Love\u201d), but can\u2019t help it and falls into his arms. They kiss as the rest of their friends, also now coupled, run into the square and announce they are in love, singing to each other (\u201cBang a Gong\u201d). Christoph declares, \u201cWell, that\u2019s Rio!\u201d as the cast sings about the city again (\u201cRio\u201d reprise) and fireworks explode in the background.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Bittersweet Symphony
\n<\/b><\/em>featuring one-hit wonders of the ’90s<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s 1998, and Janet (early twenties) and her father, John (mid forties), run a Seattle coffee house called Bittersweet Symphony. As they open for business one day, Janet, John, and some of their regular customers sing about getting started in the morning (\u201cJump Around\u201d). Kim, the woman who delivers pastries to the shop and flirts (badly) with John, laments that John is still hung up on his late wife, meaning she can never be his woman (\u201cI Could Never Be Your Woman\u201d). Janet, who wants to be a singer, gets on the shop\u2019s small stage and starts to perform (\u201cOne of Us\u201d) but is cut off by John insisting she get back to work and stop \u201cthat singing nonsense.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the regulars are interacting. Pele, an artist, tries to get Zina, an accountant, to loosen up, saying he doesn\u2019t understand her uptight lifestyle (\u201cHow Bizarre\u201d). Zina says being a bitch helps her stay safe (\u201cBitch\u201d) and leaves in a huff. Glenn, an elderly retiree, tells Pele that Zina has to find her own way, like he did, when he went from being a retiree to the world\u2019s oldest jazz singer, nicknamed \u201cScatman\u201d (\u201cScatman\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

Janet gets up to try her song again (\u201cOne of Us\u201d reprise). John cuts her off, but Pele, Glenn, and Kim tell her they think she is talented and say they\u2019ll there for her (\u201cI\u2019ll Be There For You\u201d). In the evening, as the customers begin to leave (\u201cClosing Time\u201d), John starts drinking. Janet doesn\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on with him (\u201cWhat\u2019s Up\u201d), or why he opposes her music career. John tells her to go ahead and leave \u2014 he\u2019s been knocked down before but always gets up again (\u201cTubthumper\u201d). He storms out. Alone and contemplating her options, Janet is torn (\u201cTorn\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

The next morning, John comes into the coffee shop to find Janet lying cold and naked on the floor. She wakes up and tells him she doesn\u2019t know what to do. He says he\u2019s sorry for their fight and doesn\u2019t want to hinder her, but it\u2019s hard since her mother died (\u201cMy Own Worst Enemy\u201d). The usual morning people come in for their coffee and food (\u201cJump Around\u201d reprise), with Zina wearing a more casual and sexy outfit. When everyone notices, she gets uncomfortable and makes fun of herself (\u201cBarbie Girl\u201d). Everyone is glad she has loosened up, and Pele suddenly realizes he loves her. Zina loves him, too, and asks him to stay with her (\u201cStay (I Missed You)\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

Kim enters and tells John she loves him. He says he\u2019s afraid of having his heart broken again (\u201cAchy Breaky Heart\u201d). Kim understands and says she, too, is a fool for love (\u201cLovefool\u201d). Kim asks John to consider letting Janet pursue her singing career. She says that she delivers pastries to a recording studio and knows a producer. Everyone tries to convince John that it is the right thing to do. John sings about his fear of losing everything (\u201cBittersweet Symphony\u201d), but then agrees to let the producer hear Janet sing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Pele tells Zina he loves her and that their yin and yang work perfectly together (\u201cShe\u2019s So High\u201d). Later in the day, Kim comes back with the producer (\u201cHotstepper\u201d), who sits with a great cup of coffee and listens to Janet sing (\u201cOne of Us\u201d). After her songs, everyone is silent, and then goes wild. The producer says she needs to decide between him and her job and dad (\u201cTwo Princes\u201d). John tells Janet to pursue her dream, tells Kim he loves her, too (\u201cUnbelievable\u201d), and asks her to help him run the caf\u00e9. The whole caf\u00e9 sings about the magic of music and love (\u201cGroove Is in the Heart\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

You Say You Want A Revolution<\/b> <\/em>
\nfeaturing the songs of The Beatles<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>The musical, set in 1774, opens with a young Massachusetts shoemaker, Theodore McSwiggins, walking through the town square greeting his friends (\u201cHere Comes the Sun\u201d). He stares up at the window of the woman he loves, Prudence McCarthy, and asks her to come out (\u201cDear Prudence\u201d). She sticks her head out and says she has to finish her sewing but will see him soon (\u201cHello, Goodbye\u201d). He goes to his shoe store and is met by his friend, Nathanial McHuffins, who is quickly becoming a revolutionary and wanting to shake up the colonial government (\u201cTwist and Shout\u201d). Nat convinces Theo to join him in the rebellion (\u201cHelter Skelter\u201d). Theo runs to Prudence\u2019s house to tell her he has to go and fight the British but that she has all his loving (\u201cAll My Loving\u201d). He grabs a rifle from one of the militiamen and heads off to war, not knowing what lies ahead (\u201cMagical Mystery Tour\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

The next morning, at Lexington and Concord, the general of the troops, dressed all in yellow, wakes up the army and they go through a montage of training (\u201cGood Morning, Good Morning\u201d).\u00a0 <\/span>They stop for lunch and all the men talk about where they\u2019d rather be (\u201cOctopus\u2019 Garden\u201d). That evening Theo and Nat bond in their tent over their girls back home, and Nat tells Theo about his girl, Eleanor Rigby (\u201cHey Jude\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, the shot heard \u2018round the world is heard (\u201cHelp\u201d). One of the men falls dead. The rest of the men bond together and decide they are ready to fight, charging into the battle (\u201cRevolution\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

One year later, Theo and Nat are still fighting, but many men have died, which makes them cry (\u201cCry, Baby, Cry\u201d). Their general gruffly tells the men that they have guests arriving, and the men mock him and his yellow uniform when he leaves (\u201cMean Mr. Mustard\u201d). <\/span><\/p>\n

Later, Theo and Nat are keeping watch and reminiscing (\u201cIn My Life\u201d) when a British soldier sneaks up behind them and holds them at bay with a rifle, arguing that taxes are a good thing (\u201cTaxman\u201d). Nat charges him and is shot. Theo fights with the soldier in slow motion as the rest of the troops gather (\u201cRevolution #1\u201d). Theo kills the soldier. Nat dies in his arms and tell Theo to tell Eleanor he loves her. Theo is devastated (\u201cBlackbird\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, the troops are exhausted (\u201cA Hard Day\u2019s Night\u201d). Suddenly, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson show up (\u201cTwo of Us\u201d). Theo tells them he isn\u2019t as confident in the cause as he was yesterday (\u201cYesterday\u201d). Franklin and Jefferson tell Theo and the troops that what they are fighting for is freedom, and that they must all come together (\u201cCome Together\u201d). They explain that Washington is in charge, forming the Continental Army, and will provide whatever they need (\u201cFrom Me to You\u201d). Franklin explains that a Declaration of Independence is being drafted as they speak (\u201cFree as a Bird\u201d). Once again, the troops are jazzed (\u201cRevolution\u201d reprise), and go off to fight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now it is June 1775, at Bunker Hill (\u201cThe Fool on the Hill\u201d). The British attack (\u201cHelter Skelter\u201d reprise). The Americans lose, but Theo survives and staggers back home to Prudence (\u201cThe Long And Winding Road\u201d). He collapses in her arms, weeping, but proud of himself and his country. They stand and go off to find Eleanor for Nat. The sun sets behind them, and a montage recounts the rest of the Revolutionary War as the original \u201cLet It Be\u201d plays.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
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Jukebox musicals have been popular on Broadway for years, and some \u2014 like Mamma Mia! and Jersey Boys \u2014 have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":542,"featured_media":9797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1381,336],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-movies","category-humor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/crookedmarquee.com\/stage8\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}