Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons are alive and well at the August Wilson Theater on 52nd Street in Jersey Boys -- book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crew (except for the Golden Oldies the boys sing before Gaudio).
Although it starts as an ordinary climb up the ladder to success story, ultimately it is a lesson in how to put together a show of this kind. The direction by Des McAnuff, who has the hand of a master -- changing angles of view, utilizing the levels of the spectacular set by Klara Zieglerova and lighting by Howell Binkley, throwing in Roy Lichtenstein-like cartoon projections by Michael Clark, all, along with the book, keep this show, which is basically a long Four Seasons concert, increasingly engaging to its socko nostalgic finish.
Sergio Trujillo's choreography (and, I assume, musical staging) is crisp, clear, and goes way beyond the moves of the usual four-person presentation of songs. Everyone in the show is a genuine Broadway-level singer, and this one has a real star -- John Lloyd Young who plays Valli.
If you like this music, it is performed here by a group that is as good as it gets, and you'll love it. If it's not your cup of harmony, Carnegie Hall is not far away, and Iridium Jazz is right around the corner.
Previews:
October 3, 2005
Opened:
November 6, 2005
Ended:
January 15, 2016 (on Broadway)
Other Dates:
Jersey Boys reopened November 2017 and ran to May 22, 2022 at off-Broadway's New World Stages
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Pelican Group, Tamara & Kevin Kinsella, in assoc w/ Latitude Link, Rick Steiner/Osher/ Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group. Assoc Prod: Lauren Mitchell, Rhoda Mayerson, Stage Entertainment.
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
August Wilson Theater
Theater Address:
245 West 52nd Street (8th Ave)
Phone:
Running Time:
2 hrs, 30 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Des McAnuff
Review:
Parental:
profanity, violence
Cast:
John Lloyd Young (Valli), Christian Hoff (Tommy), Daniel Reichard (Bob), J. Robert Spencer (Nick), Tituss Burgess, Steve Gouveia, Peter Gregus, Heather Ferguson, John Leone, Donnie Kehr, Michael Longoria, Mark Lotito, Jennifer Naimo, Dominic Nolfi, Erica Piccininni, Sara Schmidt.
Technical:
Choreog: Sergio Trujillo; Fight Dir: Steve Rankin. Orchestr: Steve Orich; Music Dir/Vocal Arr: Ron Melrose; Music Coord: John Miller. Dialects: Steven Gabis. Set: Klara Zieglerova; Costumes: Jess Goldstein; Light: Howell Binkley; Sound: Steve Canyon Kennedy; Projections: Michael Clark; Hair/Wigs: Charles LaPointe.
Other Critics:
TOTALTHEATER David Lefkowitz +
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
November 2005
