Okay, everyone. I am so incredibly sad to say that I guess it is definite that JLY is leaving Jersey Boys. His last show is November 6. Follow this link to see all the details: http://johnlloydyoung.com/faq.htm.
I wish JLY all the luck and I will be sending him a letter at his new address real soon.
-A
Good find, A, but I think he will be in the show until just before Thanksgiving. I can't wait to hear what the major winter appearance will be.
Melissa, Oh, I hope he will stay until Thanksgiving. It gives others a chance to see him. I also just looked and saw the November 6th is a Tuesday. Perhaps, if this information is correct, his last show would be November 4th. Wow, so many conflicting dates!
A I can't get to that link HELP what does it say....
This is what is says:
November 6, 2007, marks two great years at JERSEY BOYS. (Click here for a flashback to that fantastic opening night!)
My contract ends soon after that landmark second anniversary, right before Thanksgiving 2007.
jojen, go to his blog page and click on FAQ. Thats how I found it.
Oops seems that I misread the post. I suppose he is staying until right before thanksgiving. On his FAQ it states:
When are you leaving Jersey Boys? And right after that question is the November 6th date.
I don't see where it says he is leaving. It only says that his contract is up. I believe that he is negotiating for an extension.
realdeal, I read it the same way you do. The Broadway holiday season is a lucrative one and one that would bring JLY and the show even more exposure. Like Daniel, he may opt to extend until January (remember these guys are driven to the theatre and picked up in town cars...that's going to be hard to give up!) Also note that JLY stated he has a "mid-winter" appearance coming up. Mid-winter to me is February/March.
He really didn't say when he was leaving, but it sounds like it definitely is on the horizon, given the quote he had on his blog. Two years is a long time to play a role on Broadway, from what I understand, and I am sure he is ready to move on. He is so talented and I am sure there are many other opportunities out there for him. I agree with jojen that he will always be "Frankie." I look forward to following his career!
I just read it, I'm listening to Jersey Boys and when I started reading the FAQ, Falllen Angel started. I cry when I hear Fallen Angel. Don't ask. lol. But at least he'll do something different, I'm so happy for John. :)
I read that his contract ends shortly after the two year anniversary, I think. I believe he plans to leave just before Thanksgiving. He is the best. He will be so missed. Maybe he will stay through the holidays - IE
He doesn't really use the word "leave" so that may leave the door open for an extension. Anyone know why his mailing address changed? I
I'm not sure Irene, I was wondering why he changed it, too. Also his new Blog entry is interesting.
Let's not jump to hasty conclusions ;) I'm sure John has many options as far as contract renewal goes. I don't think anyone would leave just to explore options, and a mid-winter "appearance" does not exactly sound permanent. A leave of absence may not be out of the question. And you can all just ask him outright on the 21st!
It's just a theory, and I may be stretching it, but if he were going to be leaving in a month, he would need to change his address. Maybe he thought if he did it now, it would give his fans a chance to get used to the new address. Just a thought, and cathsann, I'm sure he will be inundated with questions that night. :)
Melissa,
Maybe we can all somehow convince him on October 21st to stay. You and I are seeing the show on the 5th and we can also talk to him at the stage door together. Irene and I are seeing the show on the 10th and can express again good reasons for him to extend his contract. I just hope it is not too late for him to reconsider his decision. I'm sure JB management would want him to stay. So many fans come to see the show again and again because of his performance.
I agree with Beverley but I also think we need to be very cautious in what we say and how we say it. We don't want to give the appearance of trying to interfere with his life decisions. We have to be supportive of what he does. We all want him to stay but I think there is a way to express it, not on the 21st, however. We don't want him to feel he is being bombarded rather than being honored. I am not sure what to do or say - I need to think about it more. Maybe we can conference and talk about options. IE
When I spoke with him at the stage door in July, a woman interrupted our conversation (and pretty much took it over!), and to make a very long story short, she wanted to know when he was leaving because she wanted to bring her husband back to see him. She said something about January, and he said something along the lines that "Well, you know, November will be two years" and he kind of trailed off and aluded to the fact that there were other things on the horizon, and to check his blog.
I honestly cannot fathom how he can perform at that level 6 times per week and try to live as close to a normal life as a young many should! He's been great for Jersey Boys and Jersey Boys has been great for his career. I know he will be missed, but I'm sure he needs to move on (although we are all so very sad and will miss him as Frankie). We should be happy for him and celebrate his success!
Irene is right, we are going to be very supportive for JLY. I'm very sad that he is "Leaving" but I really can't wait to see him in another role. I wish I had seen Summer of the Swans, I would have loved to have seen John play that role..Don't get me wrong John Lloyd is "Frankie" and always be for me..:( He's the best..
One thing he knows for sure - he has a huge fan base and that will definitely serve him well. He definitely knows that! I spoke with him at thestage door on Friday and reinforced the thousands of fans who will support him whatever he does. These fans will form the base for bringing other people to see him perform, exactly how Jersey Boys EXPLODED! IE
He does have a humoungous fan base and I am sure it will continue to grow. Whether he is on to television, movies, or more Broadway, I know I will be so happy and fortunate to say that I have been a fan of his since Jersey Boys. And, also, that I have had the opportunity to meet him and exchange letters too. :) Such a great guy.
Irene, you're absolutely right--we really don't want to bombard JLY with questions on the 21st or make him feel bad if indeed he has chosen to move on. He reads the Blog and knows how much support he has, and Gary and Catherine, I agree, he may still be negotiating. (And yeah, Gary, those town cars are preferable to the subways!!)
I saw Christian several times during the Pal Joey speculation and was very careful not to pose any direct questions or offer my opinion unless asked. And for the longest time, I thought Christian would be leaving in October, and now he's staying to the delight of us all.
I am not an insider by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have two friends who are Broadway producers, and I am an investor (very small%, but very much hands-on) in one of their shows, so I know a little about contracts. And believe me, as Yogi Berra says, "it ain't over 'til it's over."
Finally, it's not the norm, but performers do leave shows, try other options, and then return permanently. Take Howard McGillin of "Phantom of the Opera". I may be off on timing, but he was in "Phantom" for maybe four years, left for two, and now is back for two, with no end in sight. And we do have JLY/Jersey Boys revivals to look forward to for the next thirty or so years, ala Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly" or Angela Lansbury in "Mame."
Helen, what you said before is so true. John has worked so hard for a very long time. He probably would like to go out and have a glass of wine with dinner:)lol..He has said over and over, he lives like a monk. I'm sure he wants to have a little fun before he gets involved with something new. Jody
He deserves it! It truly is rare to find a young person with the type of work ethic and values that he exhibits on a daily basis. He should be able to enjoy himself...hard work always pays off (something I drill into my own children religiously!).
Off topic, read Jen Naimo's blog today. She said that there is a surprise for the audience today...Wonder what she means???
Hopefully JBJN54 will let us know. She was attending the show today.
I, too, feel that John deserves to move on if he feels the time is right. He will be missed, but I think Jersey Boys is just the start of a long, wonderful career that we will all follow.
The surprise for the audience may be that Christian Hoff is not leaving. I have it on excellent authority that this is true! IE
Thanks Irene, always can count on you..Don't worry I'm sure Sammy and your daughter will be there on Oct. 21 YAY,YAY..Jody
Hi, JoJen,
Check my post on THE PLAN today. Thanks so much. IE
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