So, I'm gonna try this, but I've never written a review, so forgive me for any mistakes. Well for those of you who don't know, the story covers the life of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. For tonight's performance, the show had the full cast except Matthew Scott replaced Michael Longoria who plays Joe Pesci and Others.
Tituss Burgess (fresh from the Good Vibrations failure) opens the show with the rap/pop remix of Oh What A Night that was done in French in 2000. He's got an amazing voice and for someone who isn't a lead in the show, he's got a great presence throughout the entire show.
Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito does a superb job narrating pretty much the first half of the show. He doesn't get to showcase his vocal talent for too many solos, but when he does he's pretty damn good.
J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi is another great performance. He adds some very nice bass vocals to the quartet, but we never get to really hear his voice in a solo. His acting is top notch and he gives real personality to the character. On a personal note, he was extremely nice at the stage door. I even have a teacher who he worked with, Phillip George, so that was pretty cool.
Daniel Reichard as Bob Guadio was the one Four Season that was noticeably different than the rest of the characters. He didn't have the typical Jersey style that the other three did, and he played it wonderfully to separate himself from that style. He had some really nice singing, especially his first song with the group, Cry For Me.
Finally, John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli is definitely one of my favorite performances I have ever seen. The first act we're introduced to his amazingly unique voice, which brought the house down numerous times. The falsetto is untouchable. The second act we really get to see him act, and this is right on par with his vocals. Honestly, one of my favorite moments in the show was after one his solos the crowd cheered for what seemed like an eternity, and John just stood on stage with a look on his face of awe, and you could tell it really meant something to him as a person, not just his character.
Overall, the show is amazing. The way the songs flow seamlessly into the story works perfectly. The action doesn't stop, and the supporting actors in this show are oozing with energy. Even if you don't know the music you should see the show. I loved it and it's easily one of my favorite shows, and being in the second row for 26.25 (yay student rush) wasn't too shabby either.
I never claimed it was. It's a jukebox musical, so in that sense, it could never be a truly "original" musical. However, I guess in my tastes, something doesn't have to always be new and innovative to be extremely amazing. It doesn't hurt, but I don't think it always has to be like that. A great show is a great show, and I don't feel something like that brings down the level of a show at all if it's great.
is there a certain time you buy student rush tickets?
'Acting provides the fulfillment of never being fulfilled. You're never as good as you'd like to be. So there's always something to hope for.'
-- Washington Irving
Jersey Boys Rush starts selling at 430. However, my friend and I got there at 3 because theres always a line. There were already 3 people in line, and I'd say by 330, the line was full.
Anyone who knows me on this board knows how much I LOVE this show. With that said, Nick your review was very good except one post you made I disagree with totally. To me this is NOT a "jukebox musical" like "Mamma Mia" or "All Shook Up"....to me those are considered "jukebox musicals" because they took the songs of an artist(s) and built a story around their songs/music...."Jersey Boys" tells the story of a group and how their indidivdual lives were affected by their meeting and starting this fantastic boy band. To those of us who did grow up with their music it's very entertaining to learn how Bob Gaudio came up with a lot of the songs and to learn about these mens lives. This show gets you to better understand the men and their music. I hope this all makes sense to some of you who still go around calling it a "jukebox musical".
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love how all the actors are true to the characters. Its not just some review of songs. I love how the characters are so connected to the audience. Its incredible.
"This is a stupid story. It never stops. But we keep making lemonade! We're opening the biggest f***ing lemonade stand you ever saw!"
-Walter Bobbie after a long day of Sweet Charity Rehersals
(Newyorkmetro.com)
Hey Boobs! (great name) Songs from another medium once heard on a jukebox= Jukebox musical they have been around for ever. it's not a dig, i found MOVIN' OUT to be one of the best pieces of Theatre in a long time, but if the capezio's fit. So be it.
EXACTLY JS. There are actually points in the show that you feel you are actually at a Four Seasons concert which growing up I never had the chance to do. I love the way they bring the audience into their world. I also love how the audience responds to the music and characters. I've seen it 3 times so far and everytime the audience is so into it. Everyone by intermission has a big smile on their faces and can't seem to get enough of this musical.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I count it as a jukebox musical, but as a different kind, because it uses the original story, and didn't have to make one up to fit the music. The story was already there.
FINALLY, I got tixs as a birthday gift because it missed going when my little group of Broadway junkies went. Thurday, the 25th. I am excited beyond belief. I plan on going to work an hour later because I will probably be so wired, I won't be able to sleep.
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
BwayBoobs - I definitely understand what you're saying, and I partly agree. I definitely didn't mean it as a putdown, as you can obviously tell, because I love the show. I can also see CurtainPullDowner's point saying that it is a different kind of jukebox musical. However, when I think about it, since it's a great show anyways, who cares if it is or not. I love it. That's that.
That definition of a "Jukebox Musical" is far too narrow. "Jukebox Musicals" start with music with no relation to a book, music previously recorded, and builds a plot around the songs.
I've cited several examples of shows that incorporated music previously recorded and found on "jukeboxes" that were clearly NOT jukebox musicals: "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Contact", and "Jerome Robbins' Broadway" are the first that come to mind. All three of these won "Best Musical" and none were deemed "Jukebox Musicals".
It is far more accurate to describe "Jersey Boys" as a play with music.
Although it's not an "orignal score"--I'd call it more than a "jukebox musical"--it's a rock biography/documentary/concert/amzaing experience!
epiphany: Although you didn't grow up w/the Four Seasons' music, I think it's still worth checking it out! The music is phenonmenal; the cast is outstanding; and the story is compelling! The Four Seasons' music is worth checking out, too!
