Michael Longoria in Jersey Boys

[BdwyOpal]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 12:46am

Just back from the show. Michael was great as Frankie. Even with his baby face, I found the scene with his daughter very believable. Much more dancing ability than I expected including a split. Christian Hoff still fantastic.

[Hiram]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:49am

I saw it last Tuesday night for the first time. I loved it! Brilliantly conceived and directed. I though Michael Longoria was wonderful. Captured the innocence of Frankie Valli in his early years and was quite moving and poignant towards the latter part of the show. Christian Hoff was superb. So charismatic and spot on as Tommy DeVito. He'll be a perfect Joey in PAL JOEY. Updated On: 8/14/08 at 09:49 AM

[soon2bstar]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 8:19pm

I saw the show for the first time 2 months ago and I htought it was amazing I couldn't think of a better cast. Michael was amazing with the depth of Frankie's character and of course that split during Beggin' was amazing. Chrstian was also great. But my favorite was Sebastian Arcelus I thought he was able to play the character very well with a very great voice. In my opinon he was my favorite but yet again im only 16 and yes it was my idea to see the show with my friend.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:06pm

I saw him...I <3 Michael Longoria in the role. Anyone know how long he is with the show for? I would love to catch him before he leaves, preferably before I go back to school!

[logan0215]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:13pm

I was walking behind him on the street today.

Great little toosh.

[mll85]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:29pm

Anyone know how long he is with the show for?

There's a rumor floating around that he'll be leaving at the end of September. If there's anything true about that I have no idea but that's what I've heard.
Updated On: 8/14/08 at 09:29 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 9:33pm

Also, where can I get a copy of his Breaking Up is Hard to Do?

Better yet, where can I get his 1000 Shades of Blue cd?

Updated On: 8/14/08 at 09:33 PM

[Eagleman]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 10:56pm

Don't sweat Longoria leaving. The actor who plays Frankie Valli
on Saturday matinees and Sundays is every bit as good. This was
the third kid I've seen take the part and there's not a hair's breadth
of difference between them.

I will make one observation: I won't see it again until I can score
another seat in the first two or three rows dead center.

I've seen it from first row center mezz and 10 rows back in the
orchestra and it's an entirely different show when the cast for
most of the show is no more than 10 feet from you and the rest
of the time they are right at the footlights an arms' length
away from you.

I was extremely surprised that being soooo close could ramp
up the power of the show so much. With the exception of the
opening number the acoustics were great and I could see nuances of the performances I missed being 40 or 60 feet away.

A critic in Dallas even alluded to this. He said that as he watched
the actor who played Tommy Devito from the first row center,
Devito had all the intensity of "a caged panther that would do
anything to break free of his chains".

There's no choreography that has to be viewed from the back
of the house or the mezz, so nothing is lost their.

I was so dazzled by the difference of the intensity of the show from
that I vowed to myself I would not see it again until I could do so
from rows a-c, ded center.

The people to my left initially thought it was much to close but
in 10 minutes you had to strap them into their seats. They, too,
agreed this is one show that should be seen from the very front
of the house.
Updated On: 8/14/08 at 10:56 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 11:14pm

The actor who plays Frankie Valli on Saturday matinees and Sundays is every bit as good.

Cory Grant? He was one of the better things about "A Four Letter Word," too...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 3:51am

Lizzie, I think it is Travis Cloer.

Eagleman, I am not discrediting the alternate...it's just that Michael Longoria was awesome!!! I would also like to see Travis Cloer's take on the role at some point.

I had a chance to sit front row, but then they switched the tickets on me (which I thought was odd) and gave them to some other ladies, and offered me sixth row instead.

[obsessedjb]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 11:51am

I'm confused. Saturday Matinees and Sundays? I thought it was Wednesday and Saturday matinees--and Cory Grant usually plays the role then.
Updated On: 8/15/08 at 11:51 AM

[Eagleman]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 1:03pm

Cory Grant, right.

Saturday's, Wednesdays, whatever.

The point I was making was a lesson I learned a long time ago about blockbuster shows.

Twent-three years ago someone told me "IF you can't see Colin Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, don't bother."

I "bothered" and was rewarded for doing so by seeing J. Mark Mcvey who, after seeing both eventually (and numerous others) was, in my opinion, better.

I also saw Michael Crawford as the Phantom, a performancce which was reportedly one for the ages.

Well, it was certainly one for 1988 but 14 years later I saw Howard McGillan (after having seen Hugh Panero and David Gaines) and believed I had seen a performance superior to the original.

Longoria is excellent but I really didn't think he trumped Cory Grant in any way. I suppose being so close might have allowed him to score some points that I didn't give Longoria because the experience with the latter wasn't as "intimate".

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 1:10pm

Longoria used to sell merchandise at Aida.

[Shawk]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 1:13pm

Colin, Colm. Whatever.

Colm Wilkinson is the "definitive" Valjean, but I've seen other performers in the role that I have enjoyed equally if not more. This goes for Frankie Valli and pretty much any other role out there-- an alternate or understudy sometimes has the drive and spark that the principal actor doesn't. You just never know.

[soon2bstar]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 2:04pm

I am pretty sure its Christian Hoff who is leaving end of September (I've heard September 28th)

[MyLife]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 2:05pm

I saw Corey Grant and thought he was the best part about the show. However, I though Chrisitian Hoff left a lot to be desired. He seemed bored and apathetic. After the show though, while a lot of people were raving about Corey Grant and Sebastian Arcelus and stating they didn't care for Hoff, I overheard an usher saying he was not good that performance. Everyone has to have an off show I guess... though it sucks I had to be there! The show was still great!

Back to the point, Corey Grant was excellent and if Longoria leaves hope he gets bumped up!

[Eagleman]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 6:15pm

I think it's when a show gets towards the end of a long run, it's a bit threadbare,
and to boost sales the producers reel in a "name" that it's somewhat apparent that there's a drop-off in quality.

For instance, a few tears ago Robert Goulet was brought in late into "Le Cage Aux Folles" and he apparently struggled.

I remember seeing Sarah brightman trying to rescue a moribund "Aspects of Love".

I've never seen Clay Aikman in "Spamalot". I would imagine that unless he's just a natural that given his lack of experience in doing comedy, he's probably not as good in the role of Lancelot as his predecessors.

"The Jersey Boys" is still a "young" show comparatively speaking and they've a ways
to go before they are struggling to find talent.

On the other hand they may be able to recycle the cast for a long, long time.

Just as Howard McGillan seems to keep bouncing back into "Phantom", at least for the next three-five years I would think Longoria or Young could still sell the part of Frankie Valli.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 7:39pm

Oops, why did I say Travis Cloer? Is he the second understudy?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 7:57pm

Travis Cloer plays Joey and is one of two guys who understudies Frankie. Cory Grant is the alternate.

(I don't think they have ranked understudies in Jersey Boys.)

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 7:59pm

Yeah, oops, that is what I meant. Travis Cloer played Joey and performs in the event Michael or Cory can't perform. I don't know if Cory covers Michael's performances he misses during the week or if Travis is there to cover Michael.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/15/08 at 8:03pm

And Eric Schneider is the other Frankie understudy, right?

[BroadwayGirl411]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 9:13pm

Wasn't Michael Longoria a singing waiter at Ellen's Stardust Diner before Jersey Boys?

[whimsical]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 12:50am

Yes he was.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 6:52am

Has any one seen Matthew Scot as ether Frankie, Tommy, or Bob? I am seeing Ace next week and he is the lead.