jukebox musical

[jook-boks myoo-zi-kuhl]

noun

1. a musical that uses songs that are not original to the play or movie and are integrated into the plot.

   This jukebox musical tells the tale of an uptight little town that comes alive to the tune of more than two dozen Elvis hits.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jukebox musical¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

This good-time jukebox musical relies as much on its wit as on its catalog of pop hits.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Specifically the creation of a jukebox musical called “& Juliet,” which strings together some of his biggest hits in service of an uproarious, feel-good plot that reimagines the heroine of Shakespeare’s famous teenage tragedy as her own woman — one who doesn’t decide to stab herself in the heart when her main squeeze drinks poison.

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The pair had decided to try their hand at a jukebox musical, Headington explained in an interview, and when they put together a list of songs they wanted to include, they realized almost the entire list had been written or co-written by Martin.

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“A Beautiful Noise” is a jukebox musical that understands the assignment.

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It is a jukebox musical of Celine Dion hits, where Celine herself hijacks a museum tour about the Titanic cruise liner in order to narrate her version of what happened the night the vessel sank.

Read more on BBC