Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with well know tunes that weaves together many of the hit songs of the 1960s rock group, The Four Seasons. Unlike other jukebox musicals that use familiar hit songs to tell a fictional tale (Mamma Mia and others), Jersey boys tells the actual story of the band. Starting from its early days in New Jersey as the “Four Lovers” to the addition of a young teenager named Frankie Valli, to the addition of a young song writer Bob Gaudio who would go on to pen their many hit songs. It was interesting to learn that a young Joe Pesci (the actor) introduced Gaudio to the band. The show ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017 with over 4000 performances.
The play covers the ups and downs of the band, their personnel changes, money and management issues and their endless road tours. Even with problems with the record label and getting their songs played on Top 40 radio, the Four Seasons would succeed in the turbulent and constantly changing era of f1960s rock music.
The format of the play is both story telling and live performances that weave together the saga of the Four Seasons from their humble Jersey roots, to their rise and eventual break up. The story is both funny and sad, but it is the music and harmonies that lift the audience up during the performance.
The Music Theatre of Connecticut has produced yet another highly professional theatrical experience. The small intimate theater in which the audience sits three sides surrouning the actors creates the feeling that you are in the performance itself. It’s quite extrodinary. In a musical such as Jersey Boys, sound is vital to success and the sound crew delivers concert quality sound as the harmonies that are so much of the Four Seasons sound are delivered with clarity. Over 30 songs are part of the musical which the cast delivers to the delight of the audience.
A great cast of 14 actors rotate on and off the stage. Michael Fasano reprises his role as Frankie Valli which he played on the national tour. He really pulls off the unique vocal range of Frankie Valli. Nathan Cockroft (Tommy DeVito), Sean McGee (Bob Gaudio), and Steven Petrovich (Nick Massi) round out the rest of the band and deliver solid acting and vocal performances. The vocal harmonies were impressive.
The rest of the cast has plays numerous roles, including fans, wives, mobsters, record executives and even Joe Pesci. Seamless costume changes allow these actors to assume several different roles during the show. The cast of Brianna Bauch, Emily Solo, Skye Gillespie, (all seen above) John Treacy Egan, Michael Luongo, David L. Murray Jr., Robert Peterpaul, and Jeff Raab does a fantastic job of playing so many roles critical to the telling of the story.
Kevin Conners delivers yet again another wonderful directing achievement. This is a Broadway quality production right next door in an intimate and professional venue.
The show runs through October 1st.
For information and tickets:https://www.musictheatreofct.com/
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