April 13, 2010
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Producers of the blockbuster Broadway hit “Jersey Boys” have sued a touring stage show called “The Boys,” labeling it a “copycat” production that competes unfairly with the original musical.
“Jersey Boys” tells the rags-to-riches tale of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and has been one of Broadway’s highest grossing shows since it premiered there in 2005.
“The Boys” was created by former cast members of the original production, and says on its website it celebrates “the music of an era that lights up every generation. Music from The Beach Boys to Motown…and of course…The Four Seasons!”
“The Boys” ripped off the original production’s songs and texts, the suit said, and copied its overall look, staging and marketing techniques for their performances in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The lawsuit, which claims copyright infringement, was filed in Manhattan federal court late last week and made available to the public on Monday.
Court documents also said the name “The Boys” was “confusingly similar” to the “Jersey Boys” name.
The production’s use of a similar cast photograph and advertising materials were, “a deliberate and willful attempt to create public confusion and foster the misimpression” that the two shows are “associated or connected,” the suit said.
“Jersey Boys” called for an injunction against further performances of “The Boys” that make use of copyrighted or too similar materials, and asked for $150,000 in damages for each copyrighted song “The Boys” might have used.
“The Boys” business manager Ken Wirth was not immediately available for comment.
{Via }
The Charlotte, NC engagement Jersey Boys broke the box office record for the second time at the Belk Theatre, for the week ending April 11, 2010. The hit musical grossed $1,240,430.00, breaking its own record set the week ending April 4!
On Broadway, Jersey Boys grossed $871,955 and had a 98.6% attendance rate. Due to the electrical fire on 52nd Street, JB was forced to cancel the evening performance on Tuesday, April 6 and the matinee performance on Wednesday, April 7.
The 33 shows on the boards grossed $22,531,015 for the week, slipping nearly 4% from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending April 11, 2010.
1. Wicked $1,678,013
2. The Lion King $1,530,532
3. Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,261,412
4. The Addams Family $1,240,377
5. Mary Poppins $1,209,406
6. The Phantom of the Opera $1,098,352
7. West Side Story $1,066,638
8. Mama Mia! $973,906
9. A Little Night Music $872,822
10. Jersey Boys $871,955 (6 performances)
April 8, 2010
The Charlotte, NC engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys broke the box office record at the Belk Theatre for the week ending April 4, with a gross of $1,164,813, breaking the previous record of $1,147,909 set by The Color Purple for week ending May 24, 2009.
Jersey Boys began performances in Charlotte on Friday, April 2 and will play through Sunday, April 18. JERSEY BOYS will next play Buffalo, NY’s Shea Performing Arts Center from April 21 through May 9.
Jersey Boys Broadway remained in the millionaire’s club again last week, grossing $1,094,039 and had a 99.4% attendance rate.
The 33 shows on the boards grossed $24,454,025 for the week, climbing over 16% from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending April 4, 2010.
1.Wicked $1,686,510
2.The Lion King $1,544,633
3.The Addams Family $1,391,177
4.Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,339,244
5.Mary Poppins $1,292,512
6.The Phantom of the Opera $1,169,253
7.West Side Story $1,126,751
8.Jersey Boys $1,094,039
9.Mama Mia! $1,066,795
10.A View from the Bridge $988,455
Today’s matinee performance (April 7) of Broadway’s Jersey Boys at the August Wilson Theatre on 52nd Street in New York City has been cancelled due to an electrical fire last night on West 52nd Street (not connected to the theatre). The Jersey Boys producers have been notified by the authorities that it will not be possible to have a performance this afternoon. The problem should be solved this afternoon to make sure there is a performance tonight. Exchanges for today’s matinee performance can be arranged at the point of purchase.
Several underground explosions occured yesterday afternoon in a manhole in Times Square which resulted in a three-alarm fire as an underground transformer burst into flames. Multiple buildings were evacuated in the areas as firefighters investigate.
April 4, 2010
Theater critic Lawrence Toppman’s Review on Jersey Boys performing at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Belk Theater, Charlotte NC.
Yet strange to say, the best thing about this show is not the music. It’s the chemistry among those four leads, whose characters could sustain harmony only under a spotlight.
You can tell what kinds of people these are even when they perform in forced unison. Insecure Tommy DeVito (Matt Bailey), who sees himself as the group’s founder and boss, wears a wary, anxious look.
Presumably placid Nick Massi (Steve Gouveia) smiles noncommittally, careful not to show hurt feelings. Urbane Bob Gaudio (Ryan Jesse) enjoys the excitement without getting sucked into the drama.
And Frankie Valli carries the brunt of the pathos, whether in the keening high notes of the songs or his innocent face. I can’t imagine Joseph Leo Bwarie will ever get another role that suits him so exactly: He’s short and unconventionally handsome in Valli’s way, and he can soar through the songs yet show a quiet gentleness in Act 2, when writers Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman finally tap into deeper emotions.
{ Via CharlotteObserver.com }
Buy Jersey Boys Charlotte NC Tickets Now to see the great musical before it leaves your city.
The West Palm Beach, Florida engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys broke the box office record for the third time at the Kravis Center, for the week ending March 28, with a gross of $1,349,235, breaking the previous record they set the week ending March 21.
Jersey Boys Broadway remained in the millionaire’s club again last week, grossing $1,043,861 and had a 96.3% attendance rate.
The 33 shows on the boards grossed $20,739,849 for the week, virtually unchanged from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending March 28, 2010.
1.Wicked $1,565,719
2.The Lion King $1,302,707
3.The Addams Family $1,357,896
4.Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,196,092
5.Jersey Boys $1,043,861
6.West Side Story $943,520
7.A View from the Bridge $867,611
8.Mary Poppins $909,167
9.The Phantom of the Opera $886,146
10.Mama Mia! $865,702
