The sound of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons changed pop music in the ‘60s. Their story and music inspired one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time – Jersey Boys. Oh what a night it will be tonight when Valli and The Four Seasons’ story comes to life on stage as Jersey Boy opens at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. The show stars Nicolas Dromard as Tommy DeVito, Hayden Milanes as Frankie Valli, Quinn VanAntwerp as Bob Gaudio and Adam Zelasko as Nick Massi.
Since its original run in 2005, Jersey Boys has been seen by more than 20 million people worldwide. The company performing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts features 50 people, including 19 actors, many of who play multiple roles.
Audiences won’t be able to keep their eyes off of the stage as the music of The Four Seasons is illuminated through the incredible talents of the actors. The show features 33 songs, including 5 hits that reached number one. For those reminiscing about hearing these hits on the radio for the first time, or younger audience members just discovering the music, Jersey Boys is guaranteed to entertain.
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons have a truly incredible story – from their tough and humble upbringing in blue-collar New Jersey to blossoming into one of the biggest pop sensations in American music history. The Four Seasons wrote their own songs, created a new and unique sound and sold 175 million records worldwide. To make the feat even more impressive, they accomplished all of this before they turned 30!
There will be fun and interactive pre-show activities at Segerstrom Center for the Arts offered one hour prior to show time and during intermission for each performance. There will be a jukebox spinning records that feature tunes from the ‘60s in the café. Guests can take photos and pose as their own singing group on a specially created stage. The stage, called The Segerstrom Hour, will have memorabilia and fun props that will give you the ultimate ‘60s-era look. You can find out “who loves you” and your photos by sharing them on social media with the hashtag #JerseyBoysOC.
We were able to get a behind the scenes preview today, just hours before the premiere of the show. As the crew put the finishing touches on the stage design, cast and production members spoke about their roles. Audiences may find it easy to feel like they are in Jersey in the ’60s while they experience the show, but before the curtains raise, there is an incredible amount of work to be done in a short amount of time.
Production Stage Manager Matthew Leiner said that in total, the full stage for Jersey Boys arrives in 9 different 53-foot-long trucks. The crew works over night to make sure that every detail is taken into account. In a national tour, putting the production together and taking it apart has become the norm. For Leiner, it’s his task to keep the artistic integrity of the show’s backdrop and visual alive and well. There is always the finishing touches and the final push to have the stage ready on time. During the show’s run at The Center, the stage will remain, until it’s time yet again to move on. That task isn’t quite as daunting. As Leiner said, it’s much easier take apart a puzzle than to put it together.
With the motion picture of the same name now in theaters, there is no better time to experience the Broadway sensation. Jersey Boys will be at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with shows from June 24 – July 13. Tickets are still available, but hurry because while “big girls don’t cry,” you might if you miss out on a chance to see this show!
