The lights of Broadway are shining on former Chandler-Gilbert Community College student and Gilbert native Ryan Jesse. Jesse, 25, recently made his Broadway debut in the role of Bob Gaudio in “Jersey Boys,” the award-winning musical.
Ryan Jesse says he feels blessed to be performing on Broadway only three years after completing his musical theater degree from the University of Northern Colorado. “It’s great and it’s amazing to be where I never thought possible,” Jesse said. “To be at a place in my life where my childhood dreams are realized is incredible, and it’s an honor to get to do this every night.”
Jesse’s love for the stage was further ignited when he first set foot in the local junior high school’s drama classroom, which was filled with props and set pieces.
“I thought to myself, ‘There can’t be anything in the world more exciting and fun than this. If there’s any possible way people would pay you to do this, why would anybody want to do anything else?’ ”
Jesse’s parents, CGCC dance Professor Sally Jesse and theater Professor Gordon Jesse, are thrilled with their son’s success but say they keep him grounded by reminding him of the capriciousness of the business and encouraging him to continue working on his craft.
Jesse is taking the advice of his parents and cast mates to heart.
“Many of my fellow cast members tell me that you only do this once in your life, so take your time and enjoy it. I keep reminding myself of that,” Jesse said. “And with a show that’s as good as this, you know people are going to like it, so you just need to do your job and have fun. That’s what I’m doing, and I’m having a great, great time.”
Jersey Boys opened on Broadway to critical acclaim in November 2005, is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.
Merry Christmas to everyone! To add to your holiday cheer, enjoy four fabulous voices from the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys (Miles Aubrey, John Hickman, Dominic Nolfi, and Jarrod Spector)–performing at Broadway Sings for Toys in 2008!
Broadway.com asked readers to vote on which actor to have played a member of the Four Seasons is their favorite. The votes are in, and readers just can’t take their eyes off of Jarrod Spector, who landed in the top spot with 38%. Spector first played Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli in the Chicago production of Jersey Boys before taking over the role on Broadway in 2008. He is still wowing audiences nightly at the August Wilson Theatre.
Following in second place is the show’s original Frankie Valli, John Lloyd Young. The actor, who won a Tony Award for his performance in 2006, earned 17% of votes. Third place went to another original cast member, J. Robert Spencer, with 12% of votes. Spencer played Nick Massi and later went on to score a Tony nomination for his performance as Dan Goodman in Next to Normal.
Fourth place resulted in a tie between original cast member Christian Hoff, who also picked up a 2006 Tony Award for his portrayal of hot-headed Tommy DeVito, and recent cast member Sebastian Arcelus. Both actors earned 8% of votes. Arcelus first joined Jersey Boys in 2008 as the band’s singer/songwriter Bob Gaudio and returned in 2009. He departed the production earlier this fall and can now be seen as the title character in the new holiday musical Elf.
A 2007 University of Northern Colorado graduate’s big break came in October, in the form of a Broadway debut.
Twenty-five-year old Ryan Jesse even resembles his Broadway character in “Jersey Boys”: He’s tall, talented and always ready to leap at his next career opportunity.
Jersey Boys Broadway Star Ryan Jesse
Jesse appears as band member Bob Gaudio in the Tony award-winning show “Jersey Boys,” based on the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll group the Four Seasons.
After earning a musical theatre degree, performing around the world in an Asian production of “Cinderella” and making his Broadway premiere in Jersey Boys on Oct. 12, the 25-year old Arizona native can’t help but wonder, what’s next? He hopes to explore higher roles in the profession and be on the other side of the casting table one day.
“Whether that’s directing or being a casting director, I’m not sure,” Jesse said in a phone interview. “I love what I’m doing now, I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I don’t see myself doing it forever.”
Raised in Gilbert, Ariz., and born into a theatrical family, Jesse always knew he wanted to be a performer, and his love for singing is what led him to the stage.
“I get enjoyment from singing. It’s sort of freeing to me,” Jesse said. “Acting has its own special place for me, but singing is what got me on the stage to begin with.”
While at a theater conference in Arizona, Jesse learned about the University of Northern Colorado’s program. Captured by the beauty of the campus and friendliness of the faculty, Jesse knew that UNC would be a good fit.
“I fell in love with the campus,” Jesse said, “and everyone I met there made it seem right.”
David Grapes, director of the school of theater, arts and dance, first noticed Jesse’s talent in the school production of “Dracula.”
“He was evil, dark and sexy. I thought he was really quite strong,” Grapes said. “He did a very good job and it was very unusual because he was a musical theatre major, and that was not a musical.”
Jesse later played a lead role in the school’s rendition of “Titanic” and sang a compelling solo that earned him an agent when he performed it at an audition in Los Angeles. That agent found him the role in “Cinderella” and “Jersey Boys.”
Grapes said he thinks Jesse’s role in “Jersey Boys” suits his personality.
“I think it’s incredible that he’s on Broadway, and I think it’s a great role for him,” Grapes said. “I think it fits his voice really well. He’s got the right sort of acting job personality for it and even looks a little bit like Bob Gaudio.”
Jesse feels blessed to be on Broadway and doesn’t want to do anything else at the moment.
“It’s great and it’s amazing to be where I never thought possible,” Jesse said. “To be at a place in my life where my childhood dreams are imagined is incredible, and it’s an honor to get to do this every night.”
Living in New York and performing eight shows a week doesn’t exhaust Jesse’s positive attitude.
“The energy from the audiences is incredible and it makes coming to work a joy,” Jesse said. “You might think two shows should be rough, but when it’s your only job, it’s not so bad.”
Just get your Jersey Boys tickets NY ahead of time and enjoy a showing of Jersey Boys in NY at your leisure.
Jersey Boys’ Matt Bogart, Ryan Jesse, Dominic Nolfi, Jarrod
Jersey Boys Stars - Matt Bogart, Ryan Jesse, Dominic Nolfi and Jarrod Spector
Jersey Boys is based on the life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. With book by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the musical features dozens of the group’s popular hits, including “Walk Like a Man,” “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
The stars of Broadway’s Jersey Boys — Matt Bogart, Ryan Jesse, Dominic Nolfi, and Jarrod Spector — celebrated the fifth anniversary of the musical’s Broadway run on Friday, November 5 by hosting a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building.
The Philadelphia engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys broke the box office record at the Philadelphia’ Forrest Theatre for the fourth time, grossing $1,379,479 for the week ending November 14. This tops the previous record of $1,290,854, that they set the week ending November 8.
On Broadway, Jersey Boys $1,104,868 and had a 96.5% attendance rate for the week ending November 14, 2010. The 38 shows on the boards grossed $22,656,843, climbing over 10% from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending November 14, 2010.
1. Wicked $1,567,087
2. The Lion King $1,371,477
3. Jersey Boys $1,104,868
4. Promises, Promises $1,073,888
5. The Addams Family $1,018,637
6. Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,014,035
7. Memphis $906,673
8. The Merchant of Venice $848,045
9. Mama Mia! $836,660
10. Mary Poppins $758,863
On Broadway, Jersey Boys grossed $1,106,734 and had a 98.7%% attendance rate for the week ending October 24, 2010. The 35 shows on the boards grossed $21,448,480, climbing over 7% from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending October 24, 2010.
1. Wicked $1,573,370
2. The Lion King $1,411,468
3. Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,122,640
4. Jersey Boys $1,106,734
5. The Merchant of Venice $1,060,015
6. Promises, Promises $991,306
7. The Addams Family $986,444
8. Memphis $948,073
9. Mama Mia! $889,970
10. The Phantom of the Opera $772,713
Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, about a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty.
The musical opened to excellent reviews: “still dynamically alive in music while, as a drama, it catches the very texture, almost the actual smell, of its time.” (New York Post); There’s no point in beating around the bush — I had a great time.” (New York Daily News); “A hot new Broadway show.” (Star-Ledger); “It’s basically a nostalgic evening—but a thoroughly enjoyable one.” (newyorktheatreguide.com)
The cast of Jersey Boys currently features Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli), Ryan Jesse (Bob Gaudio), Dominic Nolfi (Tommy DeVito) and Matt Bogart (Nick Massi).
Winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with Orchestrations by Steve Orich and Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music by Ron Melrose.
Jersey Boys, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, will celebrate its 5th Anniversary on Broadway Saturday, November 6. To mark this milestone, Jersey Boys will have a series of events around the anniversary weekend of Saturday, November 6 through Monday, November 8.
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING LIGHTING – Friday, Nov 5 & Saturday, Nov 6
The Empire State Building will celebrate the 5th Anniversary by shining the tower in white, red, and yellow (from bottom to top as seen from the street) from Friday, November 5, until 2 a.m. Sunday, November 7. The Empire State Building celebrates many cultures and causes in the world community with their iconic lightings. Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State building is the “World’s Most Famous Office Building.” The Empire State building has been named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects.
52ND STREET RENAMING TO “JERSEY BOYS WALK” – Sunday, November 7
A section of 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue will be renamed “JERSEY BOYS WALK” on Sunday, November 7 at 1:00pm. Original Four Seasons Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio, along with members of the creative team including co-authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and the current cast will participate in this momentous occasion.
MAYORAL PROCLAMATION TO JERSEY BOYS – Sunday, November 7
Immediately following the matinee performance on Sunday, November 7, New York City Commissioner Katherine Oliver will present a Mayoral Proclamation in honor of Jersey Boys for its remarkable achievement in celebrating 5 years on Broadway, for the joy it has given over 2.5 million audience members, and the extraordinary economic impact the hit musical has had on New York City.
SARDI’S CARICATURES – Monday, November 8
Sardi’s Restaurant will honor Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with caricatures that will be unveiled on Monday, November 8 in a PRIVATE reception. By invitation only.
‘The Crowd Goes Wild: Five Years of JERSEY BOYS’ – A DISCUSSION WITH VALLI, GAUDIO, BRICKMAN & ELICE AT THE PALEY CENTER – Monday, November 8
On Monday, November 8 at 7:00 pm, The Paley Center for Media will recognize the 5th Anniversary with a special evening featuring original Four Seasons members Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio, and Jersey Boys co-authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, who will discuss the legacy of the band and the production of the Broadway show, and share archival performance clips with the audience. Tickets for the main auditorium are currently sold out, but a select number of additional seats in a closed circuit viewing room (with the panel broadcast on screen), are available for $5. Visit PaleyCenter.org to purchase this member price seat using code jerseyboys.
Jersey Boys will become the longest running show in the history of Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre, the theatre owned by Jujamcyn Theatres that opened over 85 years ago on April 13, 1925 as the Guild Theatre, on Wednesday, October 13 at 8:00 p.m. after 2037 performances.
On Broadway, Jersey Boys grossed $1,088,466 and had a 99.8% attendance rate (sharing the highest attendance rate for the week with Wicked) for the week ending September 26, 2010. The 28 shows on the boards grossed $16,471,177, climbing over 9.5% from the previous week.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending September 26, 2010.
1. Wicked $1,495,013
2. The Lion King $1,269,344
3. Jersey Boys $1,088,466
4. Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,000,428
5. Promises, Promises $981,598
6. Addams Family $929,655
7. Memphis $916,070
8. Mama Mia! $821,598
9. The Phantom of the Opera $691,135
10. A Little Night Music $612,209
