The Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical Jersey Boys celebrates its 8th year on Broadway Wednesday, November 6, 2013. Jersey Boys opened on Broadway to critical acclaim at the August Wilson Theatre. The show has been seen by over 18 million people worldwide and is currently playing in New York; Las Vegas; London; in cities across the U.S. on a National Tour and in The Netherlands.
Jersey Boys is currently the 15th longest running show in Broadway history, having recently surpassed the records held by Fiddler on the Roof and Hello, Dolly!.
The Broadway company stars Matt Bogart (Nick Massi), Drew Gehling (Bob Gaudio) and Andy Karl (Tommy DeVito) and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. (Frankie Valli) with Peter Gregus and Mark Lotito, and Miles Aubrey, Erik Bates, Candi Boyd, Cara Cooper, Jared Bradshaw,Joseph Leo Bwarie, Ken Dow, Russell Fischer, John Edwards, Katie O’Toole, Joe Payne, Mauricio Perez, Kyli Rae, Nathan Scherich andSara Schmidt.
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 show features all their hits including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What A Night,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back To You.”
Audiences at Broadway’s Jersey Boys have been more at home than ever in the past month following the Jan. 8-10 installation of firmer seat cushions in the 1,250-seat auditorium of the August Wilson Theatre. Jujamcyn Theaters president Jordan Roth and seating expert Ian Moore discuss the posture-enhancing makeover – Watch the video below:
The Wilson, on 52nd Street, became the first theatre in North America to use ProBax brand seating technology, an ergonomic addition to the venue. “Dual density foams” encourage “an anatomically correct posture,” reducing “back ache and muscle fatigue from sitting.”
The replacement of every seat cushion and seatback at the Wilson — from orchestra to mezzanine — happened between the end of the Sunday, Jan. 8 Jersey Boys matinee and the start of the Tuesday, Jan. 10 evening performance.
Jersey Boys, now playing at the August Wilson Theatre, will becoming the 21st longest-running Broadway show following the evening performance on Monday, December 26. Jersey Boys celebrates Christmas by surpassing Avenue Q with 2,535 performances, becoming the 21st longest-running show in Broadway history, following the performance on Monday, December 26.
The musical, which opened in November 2005, is based on the life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and chronicles the lives of 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. It won numerous awards, including the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical. Jersey Boys Musical show is currently playing in New York; Las Vegas; London; Sydney, Australia; in cities across the U.S. on two National Tours, and a production will open in Auckland, New Zealand in April, 2012.
The show has a book by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and 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 company currently features Matt Bogart (Nick Massi), Quinn VanAntwerp (Bob Gaudio), Andy Karl (Tommy DeVito) and Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli), along with Peter Gregus and Mark Lotito.
The cast also includes Miles Aubrey, Erik Bates, Brad Bass, Cara Cooper, Ken Dow, John Edwards, Russell Fischer, Katie O’Toole, Joe Payne, Jessica Rush, Dominic Scaglione Jr., Nathan Scherich, Sara Schmidt, and Taylor Sternberg.
New Cast will be joining Jersey Boys Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre from October 11, 2011. Andy Karl and Quinn VanAntwerp will join the Broadway company of the Tony-winning Best Musical Jersey Boys. The show is headed toward its sixth anniversary at the August Wilson Theatre, where it opened on November 6, 2005, directed by Des McAnuff.
Karl (Legally Blonde, Wicked) will step into the role of Tommy Devito following the departure of Dominic Nolfi. Karl will become only the third actor to play the tough guy founder of the Four Seasons on Broadway, following Tony-winning original star Christian Hoff and original cast member Dominic Nolfi, who assumed the role in 2008 and will play his final performance on September 25.
VanAntwerp will make his Broadway debut as Four Seasons mastermind Gaudio after three years in the Toronto company and the show’s national tour, following the departure of Ryan Jesse, who ends his run Oct. 9. Erik Bates will play the role of Tommy DeVito Sept. 27-Oct. 9.
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 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.
Jersey Boys The Top 30th longest-running show on Broadway
Jersey Boys Cracks the Top 30 Longest-Running Broadway Shows!
Another Jersey Boys Broadway milestone! As of July 11, 2010, the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical has become the 30th longest-running show on Broadway, with 1,929 performances!
Jersey Boys has now surpassed some of the long-running and critically-acclaimed shows on the Great White Way, including La Cage aux Folles, Aida, and South Pacific and will soon be closing in on hits such as Pippin and Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Congratulations to Jersey Boys Broadway on their latest milestone!
The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical Jersey Boys has extended its booking period through to 2 Jan 2011.
The musical, now in its 4th year, opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on the 6 Nov 2005, following previews from the 4 Oct.
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 cast of Jersey Boys currently features Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli), Andrew Rannells (Bob Gaudio), Dominic Nolfi (Tommy DeVito) and Matt Bogart (Nick Massi).
Jersey Boys is produced on Broadway by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, in association with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner/Oshen/Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group.
Jersey Boys debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse, running from 5 Oct 2004 through to 16 Jan 2005, with an opening night on 17 Oct 2004. It became the most successful production in the history of the playhouse, extending three times.
