I've been collecting some statistics for a 2nd edition of one of our early books. There really haven't been many Juke Box musicals until recently. And I'm struck by how many jukebox musicals failed. Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra (Come Fly Away--a dance revue), The Beatles (Let it Be), Jimmy Buffett, The Go-Gos (Head Over Heels), and Donna Summer whose show averaged about 50% of possible gross in its brief run, and maybe others. "Rock of Ages" recouped in the last days of their 2,328 performance run. "Cher" in the last reported week only made 67% of gross, in its 15th week. Don't think it will recoup.
The audience hasn't dumbed down but maybe the producers have. (LOL)
I think that other comments have also been correct. There's a dearth of composers for Broadway musicals. |
