The New York Times takes a look at the Tony Award nominations and wonders allowed if the Broadway musical is on its last legs:

True, bulletins on the musical’s failing health have been posted with weary regularity since at least the 1960’s. But in the Broadway season that just ended officially, this once lively art seemed finally to have crossed the border that divides flesh from ectoplasm.

Part of the problem is that most "new" musicals on Broadway aren’t new at all — they’re pre-branded.  Forgetting revivals (like "The Pajama Game"), most "new" musicals are based on a book or movie ("The Color Purple", "The Wedding Singer", "Tarzan", "The Producers", "Hairspray"), or contain music which has already been written, i.e., "Hot Feet" (Earth, Wind and Fire), "Jersey Boys" (The Four Seasons), "Lennon" (John Lennon) and "Ring Of Fire" (Johnny Cash).

So what remains?  Shows like "The Drowsy Chaperone" which are bland (according to the reviewer) despite racking up Tony nominations in the double digits.

Food for thought.  I blame Andrew Lloyd Webber.