Jersey Boys stays in Toronto

[JRTO]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 11:48am

From Today's Toronto Star:

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 11:48 AM

[kjm_beaches]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 12:05pm

Just a quick note - Dancap hasn't actually done a press release or announcement for a Jersey Boys extension. From what I understand, it is being investigated but parts of the information printed in The Star are unverified. You'll notice no sources are mentioned.

[stageishome]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 12:06pm

The tour cast has known since before they arrived in Toronto that a sit-down would continue after they left.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 12:34pm

This situation is not that different from what happened when JB was first in San Francisco.

P.S. Jeff Madden is adorable.

P.P.S. When I first saw this story up in the TO star about two hours ago, Jeremy Kushnier wasn't mentioned...

Updated On: 10/16/08 at 12:34 PM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 12:37pm

Great news! And it goes from strength to strength in London at the Prince Edward, proving all the doubters wrong!

[Tag]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:18pm

I've been telling you guys this all along and no one ever believed me.
Well there you go!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/16/08 at 3:21pm

Dude. I believed you, AND YOU KNOW IT.