Lights are going up, curtains are being hung, and sets are being repainted. Dozens of theaters in Times Square have thrown open their doors in recognition of one thing: Broadway is back.
Nothing illustrates the return of Broadway quite like the 74th annual Tony Awards, which were held for the first time in over two years on Sept. 26, 2021. Winning a Tony is the height of prestige in the theater world, and the pinnacle is the Best Musical award. From the first winner of the award, Kiss Me, Kate in 1949, to household names like Hamilton or The Sound of Music, Best Musical winners are all but assured a place in history.
This year, the winner was Moulin Rouge!, a glitzy, glamorous explosion of color and dance with high kicks galore. Based on the 2001 movie musical of the same name, Moulin Rouge! joins Jersey Boys as the second jukebox musical to win the award. Jukebox musicals, which consist of pop music rather than original songs, are frequent fan favorites (think Mamma Mia, based on the music of ABBA). However, it’s notoriously difficult for them to garner critical acclaim or respect, especially when it comes to the Tony Awards. Less musicals than usual this year were eligible for the awards, with a complete lack of original scores among the candidates for Best Musical.
For years, there have been debates over whether shows with pop songs should even be considered musical theatre. In a show with an original score, the songs are written to move the plot along, whereas pop music may be perceived to interrupt the story. Rather than seeing pop songs as inferior, perhaps critics should laud writers who can successfully weave established and well-loved pop songs into a narrative.
For long-time Broadway fans, this debate brings up echoes of the past. In the early days of Broadway, an original book (story) was a necessity. However, the decline in revenue from the theatre industry has caused writers to increasingly adapt well-known books and movies, hoping to draw in new audiences. Today, this trend continues. So, is history repeating itself? Will Moulin Rouge! usher in a new era of jukebox musicals? Financial worries for those in theater are more prevalent now than ever, with audiences still wary of live shows. Pop songs, rather than original scores, could pack in audiences excited to hear their favorite songs. After all, if there’s one thing Broadway is willing to squander its elitism on, it’s financial success.