If traditional musicals are not your thing, but you still enjoy the theatre experience, you might consider seeing jukebox musicals. This intriguing subgenre marries the artistry of dramatic acting with the familiarity of your favorite radio songs to tell stories in a more approachable way. For more stage picks and guides, browse TicketSmarter Insider’s Theater Shows hub.
Whether you enjoy learning more about the early days of rock and roll or memorializing an artist’s career through the hits that made them a household name, there is bound to be a jukebox musical that is right up your alley.
What Is A Jukebox Musical?
A jukebox musical is a stage musical or film that features popular existing songs rather than original music on its score. Some like TINA – The Tina Turner Musical or Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations focus on a single artist or group interlacing their biggest hits with important moments in their career.
Another popular format features a variety of songs from different artists. Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge is an example, covering well-known songs from Elton John, Madonna and David Bowie. Some jukebox musicals can be found on Broadway, but they are also popular for touring productions, especially during summer. Touring fans can also check current routes and casts in our Insider feature on touring Broadway shows in 2025.
How they differ from traditional musical theater: instead of an original score written for the show, a jukebox musical adapts existing hits to serve the characters and plot. The best versions use song placement and new arrangements to illuminate story beats while keeping the thrill of hearing songs you already love.
The Biopics
Take a trip to Motown with Ain’t Too Proud, which follows The Temptations from their beginnings in Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This smooth quintet took the world by storm with 42 Top Ten hits which included “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Since debuting on Broadway in March 2019, Aint Too Proud has earned 11 Tony Award nominations. You can browse performance dates and Ain’t Too Proud tickets on TicketSmarter.
Toward the end of the 1960s, Tina Turner was hitting her stride with then-husband Ike Turner. They opened for the Rolling Stones and produced consistent hits like “Proud Mary,” a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song which earned a Grammy Award. Turner went solo in 1976 and continued touring, but experienced a historic resurgence in the 1980s with her album Private Dancer. The jukebox musical TINA – The Tina Turner Musical tells her story of wild success, a relationship gone wrong and her road back to the spotlight. Explore dates and TINA tickets to hear these classics live.
On Your Feet!__ Tells the inspiring story of Cuban-American power couple Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Gloria sold more than 90 million records worldwide with international hits like “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Turn the Beat Around” and “Get On Your Feet.” She won eight Grammy Awards and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Two more works that capture the lives of powerful female acts are Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Summer – The Donna Summer Musical. King worked as a writer for many years before releasing her solo debut album in 1970. Her second album, Tapestry (1971) won four Grammys including Album of the Year. It featured songs like “It’s Too Late” and “You’ve Got a Friend.” Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco, danced her way to the top with songs like “She Works Hard for the Money” and “Who Do You Think You’re Foolin?’”
Stories Inspired by Songs
Even though Jagged Little Pill uses the catalog of just one artist, it __ takes a less biographical approach. Instead, the story of this musical brings Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album to life song-by-song as the plot is acted out on stage. The score also features a few of Morissette’s other hits and two new songs written for the musical. Jagged Little Pill debuted on Broadway in 2019 and won two Tony Awards in 2020. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. If you are ready to go, compare dates for Jagged Little Pill tickets.
Mamma Mia! is another example that follows this model using the Swedish group ABBA’s catalog of hits. The story follows a young woman named Sophie who is engaged to be married and sets out to find her biological father before the wedding. The musical was adapted as a film in 2008 starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. It had songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo” and “The Name of the Game” as well as its title track, “Mamma Mia.”
Once Upon a One More Time, on the other hand, simply uses the music of Britney Spears to tell its story of fairy-tale princesses who initiate a feminist uprising. & Juliet does this with Swedish pop writer Max Martin’s music too, retelling William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet from a new perspective. For fans of modern pop, you can find & Juliet tickets on TicketSmarter.
Musicals like Moulin Rouge and Rock of Ages follow a similar format, although they source songs from many different artists to tell their stories. The first is based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! , which was directed by Baz Luhrmann. It takes songs like Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Elton John’s “Your Song” and The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” as it follows the protagonists Christian and Satine on a Bohemian adventure in Paris.
As the title suggests, Rock of Ages uses classic rock songs of the 1980s to tell the story of an aspiring rock star. The musical was written by Chris D’Arienzo and features songs from Pat Benatar, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and other well-known bands. If you are craving big riffs and bigger hair, browse Rock of Ages tickets.
How Jukebox Musicals Shape the Story
- Single artist biopics highlight turning points in a career and use hits to underscore personal milestones.
- Compilation shows weave songs by multiple artists to create an original plot or a fresh take on a classic story.
- Creators often adjust keys, tempos, and orchestrations to fit live performers and choreography while honoring the original recordings.
These choices help familiar lyrics carry new meaning in a theatrical context. That mix of recognition and surprise is a big reason the genre connects with first-time theatergoers and devoted fans alike. Music supervisors and arrangers explain that fitting dozens of pre‑existing songs into one dramatic arc requires new arrangements, medleys and custom orchestrations to serve pacing, choreography and character intent — a process described in detail by Moulin Rouge!’s music team in a feature on how the show’s music came together.
Critics and feature reporting on Moulin Rouge! note the show’s “mega‑mashup” approach—blending dozens of pop songs into single numbers—to create emotional beats that mirror filmic montage techniques, a point explored in a profile of Baz Luhrmann’s stage adaptation in The New Yorker.
Smart Tips for Tickets
- Buy ahead when you can. Popular tours sell quickly.
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- Compare options and review buyer guarantees if using the secondary market.
- The Broadway League’s weekly grosses and attendance data show the continuing commercial strength of musical theatre and help explain why producers invest in touring runs—touring shows bring Broadway-caliber productions to more than 200 North American cities each year, as reported in the Broadway League’s grosses and attendance data.
Jukebox Musical Tickets
Hear your favorite hits in a whole new way with one of these enchanting musicals when they come through your city. You can find jukebox musical tickets for all these shows and more through TicketSmarter.
FAQs
What defines a jukebox musical and how is it different from traditional musical theater?
A jukebox musical uses previously released popular songs to tell its story, while traditional musical theater features an original score written for the show. TicketSmarter highlights both formats across Broadway and touring productions, so you can compare options before you buy.
Which jukebox musicals use a single artist’s catalog versus multiple artists’ songs?
Single artist examples include TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Ain’t Too Proud, and Jagged Little Pill. Compilation shows pull from many artists, like Moulin Rouge and Rock of Ages. You can explore tickets for fan favorites such as TINA, Ain’t Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill, & Juliet, and Rock of Ages on TicketSmarter.
Why are biographical jukebox musicals so popular?
Audiences love hearing familiar hits while learning the real-life stories behind them. The songs add emotional weight to key moments, which makes biopics like TINA and Ain’t Too Proud especially compelling. TicketSmarter lists these productions when they tour so you can catch them close to home.
How do jukebox musicals adapt hit songs for the stage?
Music teams often change keys, trims, and orchestrations to fit live performance and storytelling, then stage numbers with choreography that advances the plot. This approach keeps the spirit of the original while serving the characters. Browse our Insider category for more theatre coverage at Theater Shows.
Where can I find touring jukebox musical tickets outside of Broadway?
Touring productions run year-round and ramp up in summer. TicketSmarter lists nationwide dates and venues, and our Insider guide to touring Broadway shows in 2025 can help you track what is on the road now.
What are the pros and cons of seeing a jukebox musical compared to an original-score musical?
Pros include instant familiarity, accessibility for new theatergoers, and the fun of hearing beloved hits live. A potential downside is that some shows can feel like songs are inserted rather than fully integrated. TicketSmarter makes it easy to sample both styles and decide what matches your taste.
Author: TicketSmarter Insider Editorial Team
Updated date: December 12, 2025
