June 13, 2008

Frankie Valli and Rick Elice Reflect on Jersey Boys

June 13th, 2008

Entertainment Reporter Bruce DeMara of the Toronto Star spent some time talking with Frankie Valli and Rick Elice, who were in town yesterday to promote the first major Canadian production of Jersey Boys, at the Toronto Centre for the Arts from Aug. 21 to Oct. 5, presented by Dancap Productions.

The Tony Award-winning musical, which became a Broadway hit, chronicles Valli’s life and his tumultuous relationship on and off stage with the band, which sold 175 million records worldwide. But he’s proud enough of Jersey Boys to make himself available for a long afternoon of media interviews aimed at ensuring the show’s success in Toronto.

“The thing that makes me most proud of the story is the fact that it gives hope. From where I came from, against all odds, to have been able to have the success, it’s important for people to understand that,” Valli said.

For Elice, it’s Valli’s story and his character that made writing the book for the musical, along with Marshall Brickman, such an interesting task.

“It’s at what cost he (Valli) created his success. To be successful … you have a single-minded dedication to achieving your goal and when you do that, with the best will in the world, there are things around you and people around you that are going to suffer. And that cost is really what this show is about.”

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