Have Audiences Seen John Lloyd Young’s Last Jersey Boys Performance?
November 17th, 2007We’re all still waiting to hear if the striking Broadway stagehands and the producers will come to an agreement over the weekend. Although the League and the union are scheduled to return to the bargaining table Saturday morning, the League has already announced that the 27 Broadway shows affected by the strike have canceled both Saturday and Sunday performances.
What about John Lloyd Young’s last Jersey Boys’ performance? As we all know, JLY’s last scheduled performance was set for November 21; however, audiences at the Nov. 9 performance of Jersey Boys may have unknowingly seen star John Lloyd Young’s final turn in his Tony Award-winning Broadway debut.
“That may be my last [Jersey Boys] performance ever,” Young told Playbill.com, referring to the Friday evening show that preceded the strike that began Saturday, Nov. 10.
Young had previously announced his departure from the show he has starred in since the Tony Award-winning musical’s 2005 debut on Broadway. His last scheduled performance is set for Nov. 21, but if producers and stagehands don’t come to an agreement this weekend, he will have already played his last show. (He has noted the missed shows, due to the strike, will not affect his end date.)
“It’s disorienting,” Young said about his newly free nights. Although he still shows up for work each night at the August Wilson Theatre to sign in with a union representative, he says, “I feel like what life is going to be like on the other end.”
Young, however, is optimistic that the League and the union will come to a quick agreement this weekend. “I hope to be able to perform the show once more. We’ll see.”
The League & the Union had better come to a quick agreement & their senses by this weekend!
There will be too many JB Fans to contend with if both parties do not reach amicable terms.
Why Major in the Minors…you are all much better than this…or are you?!
NewJerseyLasagna
Comment by NewJerseyLasagna — November 17, 2007 @ 1:31 am
My comment is I’m speechless! How unfair and sad if JLY doesn’t get to do a couple, if not, at the very least, one more show. WHO deserves a proper send off more than him?
Comment by grace — November 17, 2007 @ 2:10 am
Everyone is hoping for a resolution. I purchased tickets to the Nov. 20 show as my last time to see JLY as Frankie. I think I read that there are only about 500 striking stage hands. Seems out of balance to have 500 people inconvenience and upset ten times that number of theatre goers! Here’s hoping that JLY gets to give his final performance, that The Seafarer gets to open, and Broadway gets to shine again very soon.
Comment by L — November 17, 2007 @ 8:07 am
My wife and I had the pleasure to meet with JLY for about 40 minutes before what might have been his last performance last Friday Night, Nov 9th. He is really a wonderful, down to earth type person. We enjoyed every minute taking pictures and talking with him on the “JB†stage. We hope he does get to perform before his fans and bask in the lime light one more time before he leaves the show. He deserves at least that much for all that he has accomplished and all the hard work that he has put into this fantastic Broadway Show.
Good Luck John …
Comment by Jerry — November 17, 2007 @ 8:29 am
John,
I hope they come to a decision quick! I want you to enjoy your last performance and know it is your last performance! -A
Comment by A — November 17, 2007 @ 2:00 pm