Writing jukebox musicals

The jukebox musical, where a new story is woven around existing hit songs, poses a particular challenge for writers, says Jesse McKinley in The New York Times. Mama Mia!, based on Abba songs has had huge success, and Elvis and John Lennon are soon to get a similar treatment.

[Judy] Craymer [producer of Mama Mia!] admits there is a certain madness in the method of making catalog shows. "It's really doing things upside down," she said last week by telephone, adding that she would very likely never try another one. "Usually you write the story first and then the songs are inspired by the story," she explained. "This is a whole different way of doing things."