"Cinderella" was completely reconsidered each time it was produced, in 1957, 1965, 1997 and now in 2013: Not only songs but characters, scenes, plot elements, book and general direction were continually changed.

WSJ: Cinderella: That Flexible Fairy Tale

Byrne says that writing songs for specific characters was liberating.

NPR: David Byrne: Inspired By A Dictator's Wife, Minus The Shoes

"Once" may earn the same special status by doing something similar, albeit on a more intimate scale -- using pop-rock songs to shape its characters' ecstatic feelings.

WSJ: Film Review

The "dances, " which give the deceptive impression of being little more than heightened natural movement, are as well suited to the characters as the songs that they sing.

WSJ: Small-Town Dreams | Hands on Hardbody | Brooks Atkinson Theater | Happy Birthday | TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, Beckett

Later on, he decided to expand the project by launching a series of fun and educational books, songs and cartoons based on the dolls' characters.

CNN: Talking dolls challenge racial stereotypes

Murphy puts a high gloss on dysfunction, and the tediously drawn-out scenes that are constantly punctuated with high-energy seventies songs counteract any potential emotional connection with the characters.

NEWYORKER: Running with Scissors

The stage show draws from the movie and the books, but features new characters, new plot points and new songs.

NPR: 'Mary Poppins' Musical Adds to the Songbook

Modern dance songs are slightly tweaked to include "Star Wars" characters or plot points.

CNN: Review: The Force proves weak in 'Kinect Star Wars'

The songs, which have no names, build from the characters' interactions and feelings.

WSJ: Review: Intense revival of Sondheim's 'Passion'