When is John Lloyd Young's last performance in "Jersey Boys?" — Page 2

they publicize him doing EIGHT.. not SIX as you just said.

As they case may be, it's crap, a blatant lie, and an insult to the understudies.

JB Fan, regardless of whether it is in Young's contract or not, it is not fair to the public for him to not do matinee's and have it go un-announced. Is this his fault? No, it's the producers, but that doesn't make it any less right. People that get tickets to the matinee's should know that they won't be seeing the Tony award winner if it is in the official schedule that he isn't performing.

---

If you have a problem with the way that the producers are advertising the show, take it up with them. But to diss the actor? That's absurd. In many Bway and sanctioned tour productions of Phantom and Evita the roles of Christine and Eva are shared by two people - one for evenings and one for matinees. This is not new and the fact that Frankie is now a shared role should indicate to people exactly how difficult it is to sing.

To date, JLY is the only actor who has been able to sing Frankie on a regular schedule for any length of time. We all know what happened to David Norona. A friend saw Michael Longoria last week and said he was ragged in the upper register (I love how people were singing Michael's praises over JLY before Michael was performing the role regularly. Clearly the strain starts to show on everyone over time). Time will tell for the tour Frankie - I wish him lots of luck.

JLY has been successful for two reasons: he has the physiological gift of a voice like the real Frankie's, and he has the extraordinary dedication to work his ass off to keep his voice in shape. Everything he does offstage he does with an eye toward "How will this keep me going?" and "Will this adversely affect my performance?" And it looks like that is what it takes to do Frankie and stay vocally in gear. I'm sure people who have played Christine or Eva will say something similar about their experience - that they have to make a lot of sacrifices to sing the role right. Even the OBC Rent cast said similiar stuff - because many of them were not "trained" they had to learn how to respect their instruments during the day so they could belt it out at night.

Pardon the rant, but I just hate to see someone work so hard and not get the respect they deserve. Everyone has their opinions about who they like as Frankie, but to slam JLY on his attendance schedule is ludicrous, because the simple facts refute that so easily.

I find it annoying how they keep their end dates so secretive. The correct answer is that he'll leave when and if he gets a job.

Longoria INCREASINGLY sings more for JLY.

I don't have articles in fronmt of me, but every time I open a trade paper, there is something about JLY, his vocal coach, and the producers ALL together saying "8 shows a week.. 8 shows a wekk! It's demanding but he does it and we'd never cast an alternate!"

I think you are referring to the backstage article. which may have appeared after the change...but was written before it...I don't think anything recent has that info...

there also isn't a contracted alternate right now...so,technically, that's true.


Now...are you stating Michael is doing more doubling for JLY? Or are you getting into something else?

you mean 6 shows. There should be an alternate. There is not one. I agree...however I never said that Michael's demands were not great, however...he is not singing the role of Frankie 8 shows a week...he also isn't always doing the mats (he usually is...I will admit that)...however, JLY is doing Frankie 6 shows a week...and no one is doing the role 8 shows a week...you are making it sound as if the combination of the 2 performances a week...plus the 6 as Joey is more taxing than just doing 6 shows as Frankie and I insist on debating that fact...also. to say that he is the one carrying the show is crazy...there are at least 3 other actors who star in Jersey Boys who have more to do than Michael when he is Joey: Christian, Daniel and J. Robert do a hell of a lot more...as do some of the other featured roles: Peter Gregus and Mark Lotito have much larger roles and they also double the other seasons...not to mention Donnie Kehr and Steve Gouveia who sing, play roles and multiple instruments throughout...also, all 3 women who also double and play tons of roles...why are you acting like Michael is the only one working in the show...he isn't...and there are many doublers for all of the roles...everyone is singing more than we know.

Updated On: 12/22/06 at 02:16 PM

JBfan
Why do you love JlittleY so much?
he doesn't seem to be getiing much work since he won the TONY.
(just watch her go off!)

Updated On: 12/23/06 at 01:50 AM

broadwayguy2, the question isn't why does everyone love him, it's why do you have to tear down someone that you really have no reason to. CLEARLY the part is hard, can anyone say different? If you have a problem with the producers publicizing 8 shows a week, TALK TO THEM, like others have said. There is no reason to criticize John.

Sort of off topic, even if they did publicize him doing only 6 shows a week I highly doubt it'd hurt ticket sales at all. Most people who see the show don't know who he is. They are going to see the Tony Winning musical, not the actor. As long as they get a great performance they don't care who they see, and they still give a standing ovation every time no matter who is up there. Perhaps that is their reasoning for no announcing it. It's not like they are backstage with JLY plotting... I don't see what the big deal is and why you are trying to cause trouble.

"an honestly, nice guy like JLY"
Are you good friends with him?

nope
i am not

According to an interview with all the boys on XM (it replayed today) they have all extended until early November 2007.