Jersey Boys permanent-o in Toronto?

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 2:17am

I'm desperate for any news re JB starting a permanent company in T-dot. If anyone's cousin works at Dancap...I wanna know!!!!

[Tag]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 2:55am

Yes.

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 3:03am

Can you elaborate? Are the markets making them think twice?

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 11:49am

A friend of mine is in the cast. They have held auditions for a Toronto Sit Down production, and the liklihood(sp?) of Toronto having their own production is very high. It would open in January, because DANCAP believes that the market for theatre during the holiday season (baisically the entire month of season) is extremely low.

The tour must close Dec 6th, and if the producers go through with a sit down, that would open midway into January, with a new cast, as the tour company is moving onto the next city.

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 11:54am

I would just hope that the chaos in the world markets wouldn't make Aubrey Dan a little nervous....although there are only 4 sure-fire money makers in the musical world these days.....Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, and JB, so if you have the rights to one of them....use 'em or lose 'em! N'est-ce pas?

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 12:19pm

I think your wrong.... I dont think JB will last very long here in Toronto. Canadian audiences arn't responding as well to the show as American audiences are. I went to the show yesterday, and it wasnt sold out. There were entire empty rows in the orchestra.

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 1:04pm

was the performance you attended a mat or eve show?

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 5:23pm

Because with Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend, most people stay home....as opposed to US thanksgiving where people tend to go out on the Sat....weird, eh?

[gauvreau]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 10:33pm

I think your wrong.... I dont think JB will last very long here in Toronto. Canadian audiences arn't responding as well to the show as American audiences are. I went to the show yesterday, and it wasnt sold out. There were entire empty rows in the orchestra.

I think it's just been this week with Thanksgiving and Yom Kippur that the numbers haven't been too great. I went the week before, and although the show wasn't completely sold out, the theatre was packed. Plus, there seems to be a lot of Americans (and in general, people from outside of the GTA) coming to Toronto just to see the show.

[JRTO]

Posted: 10/13/08 at 1:36pm

First, Toronto is loving Jersey Boys!

As for this past week, it's the first week of the second block of tickets, and they have only been on sale for 40 days or so. People love to plan way in advance, so anything that is on sale for only 40 days will not sell too well. Add in Jewish holidays and thanksgiving and it is a slow week.

[Homer J. Simpson]

Posted: 10/13/08 at 11:20pm

IMHO if they could play at a theatre downtown, it would be even better for the B/O.

[JRTO]

Posted: 10/13/08 at 11:46pm

GET OVER IT!

Do you know how many people DON'T LIVE DOWNTOWN?

I mean, really. This is a long myth perpetuated by the media in Toronto.

The theatre is, for the majority of the audience, much easier to get to (and to park around) than ANY theatre downtown.

And the location affecting the BO? That's absolutely nuts!

Do you really think people are sitting at home going:
"Geeze, you know, my neighbour just told me how amazing Jersey Boys is, and I'd love to go, but it's NORTH of the 401." ?

OR that the hundreds of bus tour operators from the states that are finally back in Toronto (after avoiding Hairspray and The Producers) thought for a second that they shouldn't go because it's not downtown?

[gauvreau]

Posted: 10/14/08 at 1:33am

I've overheard people saying that the TCA is a lot more convenient than going downtown since a lot of them are coming in from the suburbs. I've been to a few matinee shows, and have seen up to six buses parked outside the theatre.

[JRTO]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 11:37am

Your answer lies here:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/518226

Richard Ouzounian
theatre critic

It looks like those Jersey Boys are going to hang around town indefinitely.

The Dancap Productions presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical at the Toronto Centre for the Arts has proved so popular with local audiences since its opening on Aug. 24 that plans have been made to extend its visit.

Although most of the current cast will leave after the Dec. 6 performance, the Toronto Star has learned a new Canadian company will take over on Dec. 13, with hope of an indefinite run.

It's expected that Torontonians Des McAnuff (director) and Sergio Trujillo (choreographer) will assist in the transition.

Jeff Madden will play the leading role of Frankie Valli, the falsetto-voiced singer who gave the iconic '60s singing group The Four Seasons its distinctive sound.

Madden is just finishing his eighth consecutive season at the Shaw Festival, where he has played numerous roles in dramas as well as musicals, most notably Floyd Collins and Tristan.

He was originally slated to be the star of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Ben Elton musical The Boys in the Photograph at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in the spring of 2009, but this new assignment may make that impossible.

Former Torontonian Jeremy Kushnier will remain to continue his critically praised performance as Tommy DeVito, the "bad boy" of the group, whose gambling debts nearly destroyed The Four Seasons at their peak.

Adrian Marchuk, recently free from the tour of Anne and Gilbert, will also join the company in a leading position, most likely as the alternate Frankie Valli.
Updated On: 10/16/08 at 11:37 AM

[kjm_beaches]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 12:39pm

Hmm - no notice no sources are mentioned as to where this information came from. I don't think Dancap has made any formal announcements or press releases yet. Nothing is on sale past December 6.

I'd wait to hear from Dancap about this.


Updated On: 10/16/08 at 12:39 PM

[Tag]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:22pm

It has been known, at least in the theatre community, that this would become a sitdown for a while now.

Kjm I read your entire comment before you edited it, clearly when you buy/install the entire set, a different one from the tour that is currently here, Dancap has planned all along for this to become a sitdown.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:24pm

Wow, that was a massive edit.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:25pm

If this is true, it is fantastic news. Jeff Madden has a gorgeous voice (his CD TAKING THE WHEEL is well worth getting. I have featured it several times on my program. See: www.jeffmadden.ca for more info.)

Funny story: A few weeks ago I did an interview with Adrian Marchuk who was at that time appearing in ANNE & GILBERT. I was at the opening night performance in Brampton, and talked with him afterwards, mentioning that he reminded me of Jeff Madden and I assured him I meant that as a compliment. He knew Jeff from Shaw and told me they were often up for the same parts. LOL! He didn't mention then (probably because he couldn't) that he and Jeff were both going to be playing Frankie Valli. I'm really happy for both of them. Two really talented performers who deserve a break.

[flainers]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:49pm

It has been known, at least in the theatre community, that this would become a sitdown for a while now.

I heard rumours about the sitdown even before the show officially opened in Toronto.

Regardless, I really look forward to the Canadian cast. And if it's true, I'm happy to hear that Jeremy is staying (his wife, Jenny Lee Stern, recently took over the role of Mary Delgado).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 3:54pm

his wife, Jenny Lee Stern, recently took over the role of Mary Delgado

I was wondering if/when that would happen!

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 5:00pm

Lizzy, it's been in the works for a while. They're both so good in their roles. Toronto fans are lucky to have the opportunity to see them for an indefinite run now.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/18/08 at 5:24pm

Well, I knew Jamie Karen was leaving, and Jenny Lee was in Toronto anyway, so I assumed it was just a matter of time.

[canmark]

Posted: 10/19/08 at 12:01am

Well, this is good news, I think. Despite the economic downturn it would seem that long/indefinite run shows are having a go of it in Toronto: We Will Rock You, Dirty Dancing, Jersey Boys, and the just-opened Sound of Music. We have various tours on the way (A Chorus Line, The Color Purple, Spring Awakening, Happy Days, Chitty, Grinch).

And given that Jersey Boys is playing in a 1,700+ seat theatre in Toronto vs. 1,200+ seat theatre on Broadway, a full house is likely not a requirement for financial success.