"Broadway Bound" Johnny Manhattan at Meadow Brook Theatre is filled with stong performances, a beautiful set and costumes. But, it can't overcome the wafer thin plot and cliche characters that can't seem to give the audience any reason to care about them. The shows plods along aimlessly through the first act introducing characters and bouncing between production numbers from the band and performers in the club and intimate songs from the party attendees. There are some fun and some beautiful songs, but many of the lyrics seem labored. If you go in looking to hear some new character based songs in vein of "Songs for a New World" you won't be disappointed. To have a broadway bound show, they will need to develop characters we care about and plot that develops earlier. Lippa's Wild Party has a thin plot, but let's the audience in from the start. so we know what's at stake at a very emotional conclusion. Johnny wanders off stage leaving the audience to imagine in the ending.