August 15, 2009

JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Chicago Cast Member Dominic Scaglione, Jr. !

August 15th, 2009

(Photos 3 & 5: Joan Marcus; Photo 4: Eric Draper)

Picture this: Sunday, July 12. A perfect summer early evening in Chicago, at an outdoor café following front row Rush tickets to one of the most spectacular JERSEY BOYS shows we’ve ever seen! A little tea, a little wine, the sounds of the city in the background – traffic, horns, taxis, trains, sirens, and hanging out with two of the most dashing men in all of Chicago: Dominic Scaglione, Jr. and Michael Cunio! (Oh, yeah, make that three dashing men—the Tech Half was there, too! :) ).

After his hard-working week of playing Frankie Valli, we had a marvelous opportunity to sit down and chat with Dominic Scaglione, Jr. about his amazing journey as a real Jersey boy starring in JERSEY BOYS over the past year in Vegas, on Broadway, and now in Chicago! In addition to talking about the incredible ride he has been having, Dominic shared so many stories of his family and their support as he followed his JB dream; his early days growing up in Jersey; his audition process; his extraordinary year on stage playing the pop icon; some added insight from castmate Michael Cunio (stay tuned for his upcoming JBB EXCLUSIVE Interview!), and more.

JBB: Dominic, it’s so great to see you! I’ve been so curious what it’s been like for you as a real Jersey boy playing in Jersey Boys!

Dominic Scaglione, Jr.: I was born there–even for my father, he used to tell me, back when he was an East Orange cop. He said, ‘I used to see the guys, Frankie [Valli] and Bob [Gaudio], on Bloomfield Avenue with the best cars and the beautiful women. Now my kid’s playing Frankie!’

I told you the story when I got the job, when Gaudio called him?

JBB: Wow! No, what happened?

DS: When I was auditioning, they pretty much told me I was going to Vegas, but Bob Gaudio had to okay me.

Ron Melrose said, ‘Dominic, we love you; we want you; Des [McAnuff] loves you, but we have one little roadblock.’ I had been singing with Ron from like 11 till 4 and Ron then said, ‘Bob Gaudio’s coming in 20 minutes.’

I said, ‘You got to be kidding me!’

To make a long story short, I had to sing my audition for him. He comes outside and he goes, ‘So, you want to go to Vegas?’

I was just dumbfounded. This whole time, I was a machine and I was a rock. I didn’t show any emotion, because I couldn’t. You know, the audition process is very rough.

Finally, I just said, ‘Could I call my dad?’ And, Gaudio goes, ‘Let me call him.’

So, Gaudio calls my father down in Newark, where he’s working now as an Inspector General. He said, ‘Dom, this is Bobby, Bob Gaudio…The kid’s in; he’s comin’ to Vegas.’

My father goes, ‘Is this a f***in’ joke?!’ That’s what he said to him! (Chuckles)

Watching Bob Gaudio call my dad to tell him that I was finally in the show was just unbelievable!

This is something you dream about—Bob Gaudio calling your father!

JBB: I love that story! So, was this a dream since you were a kid to be in a show like this?

DS: This is my first professional show of this level. When I was a kid, I always was a singer, but I veered off, like these guys [The Four Seasons] did. I didn’t go to school; I didn’t get a degree; I never took an acting class, but it was always something I wanted to do. And, for my dad and mom to stay with me…Usually your parents go, ‘No, no, no…You got to get a degree in something.’ They said, ‘You have to do THIS!’

My dad was the only one in his family that got a degree, but the minute he saw me on stage, he said, ‘This is what you have to do.’

Part of this whole process was giving back to my father and mother, really.

JBB: Meeting your dad again last night backstage was wonderful! He’s such a great guy!

DS: Isn’t he?! You know, I model a lot of the acting from him, because that’s his era. During winter at the sit down, I do a lot of his mannerisms that I’ve watched him when he gets pissed off (chuckles).

JBB: From Day One, were you always singing?

DS: I played sports mainly. I did always sing, but I liked sports better. But then, somebody heard me singing and cast me as Danny Zuko in a summer camp play. That kind of started it.

It was something I knew I could do, but I didn’t have the fire to really do it then. But everybody around me was pushing me—teachers and people of that nature. But, I wanted to play sports. It wasn’t really until middle school and high school that I pursued it. But at the time, high school football was more important to me.

Then, I was in a band for a little while, the music group, Sygnature, you guys know about that? We got signed to Sony Records and did some touring and it was an amazing experience, but it didn’t wind up working out.

I gave up college. I got accepted to Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts, but I gave it up. You know, I look back on it now, and I wish I had the degree, but it is what it is.

The Sygnature experience kind of made me disenchanted with the business and I was always too much of a–you know, a hipster. I was hangin’ out, goin’ out, partying a lot, and then I just put it to the side. I actually wanted to go to Italy and sing opera.

JBB: You’re kidding, opera?!!

DS: Then, for the Frankie Valli role, I literally had to change my voice. I locked myself in a room with Frankie’s CDs and became obsessed with the music. I always had the falsetto, but never was able to get that sound—until I obsessed myself with the music and with the help of Katie Agresta.

But before getting Jersey Boys, I was working a lot of odd jobs around town—construction, bartending, singing in restaurants to make a buck. And I was drinkin’ a little bit…I don’t know if you want to write that.

In the middle of Dominic’s JBB EXCLUSIVE interview, the fantastic JB Chicago Tommy DeVito–Michael Cunio joined in on the conversation at the cafe!

Michael Cunio: Give her more of the story than that. This boy has had the most fascinating life!

DS: I did what these guys did…I was in Jersey; I was being like them. I have great parents, a great family, but I did a little bit of shady stuff.

JBB Tech Half: Some things!

DS: Some things—exactly!

So, finally, when I hit the place that wasn’t good for me, my father and my brother said, ‘Are you done? Are you going to try to do something here?’

My dad kept telling me about Jersey Boys, ‘You got to get in there; you got to get in there and see these guys.’

I used to walk by the August Wilson Theatre and used to say, ‘Shit, I could do that.’

I went in there one time and they told me I was ‘green.’ Des said, ‘Come back in four months.’

That’s when I went to Katie, out of my father’s pocket, a hundred dollars a week.

JBB: So, Dom, what did you do in those four months to prepare for your next audition?

DS: We had a microphone in my house and on Sunday nights, I’d sing to my parents all the Frankie Valli stuff. They’d be eating the gravy downstairs and my father would be drinking a little wine. That’s how I learned it all. My uncles would come over and I’d sing for them. I trained my voice.

MC: Are you kidding me? I could not in a million years sing in front of my family. My mom and my brothers say, ‘Sing for me.’ I’m like, (screeches), “Ahhhh, No!”

DS: Still?

MC: Put me in on the stage in front of a thousand people I never met, sure, no problem, but not for the family. It intimidates the hell out of me…

DS: That’s interesting!

Well, that’s how I learned it, and then I locked myself in a room, trying to get the speaking voice, because I never met Frankie. I obsessed over it. Finally, they gave me the role! It was just off and running from there!

JBB: So what happened in Vegas?

DS: I didn’t get much time in Vegas…You guys were there! About two weeks to learn this thing!

JBB: You were incredible immediately!

DS: Vegas, honestly…I had never done a show before…so, for them to give me the little amount of time was an honor, because it showed they had faith in me and I didn’t want to let them down. I got there and I said, ‘What am I doin’?’ I wanted to crawl back and go home.

I hadn’t sung through the show. The process that I tell young kids about acting and theatre–the more professional it gets, the less preparation there is.

They put me in a room. You work with the dance captain; then you get the understudies during the days out in Vegas. It was probably a total of two weeks. Danny Austin came into town and they threw me up there, man, and it was kind of like live or die. My first show in Vegas was a disaster!

I called my father and I said, ‘Dad I can’t do it!’ It was on June 10.

JBB: What did your dad say to you?

DS: He’s the best for motivation. He gave me a pep talk and I went on stage and I did it. We had 30 people in the front row and I made my bones.

I’m in Chicago from New York and I’m still learning about this character. There are still things that I find every day. That whole process seems like yesterday. I was supposed to be there a year in June. I was there only three months and they shot me out to Broadway.

JBB: So, how was it in Vegas?

DS: Vegas was an amazing experience. Very spiritual. I loved the two-show and I got a chance to do some of Rick’s shows.

What I used to do was jog in the desert. It was 117 and I’d jog for about seven miles; now I jog about two miles a day. I didn’t want to miss a show, so I got myself accustomed to the weather.

JBB: How did the transfer from Vegas to Broadway happen?

DS: Richard Hester came and saw the show with me in it and I think he spearheaded the whole Broadway move.

In my mind, I was saying ‘You’ve got to be kidding me! I’ve never done a show before and I’m going to go to New York?’

I did Frankie 24 times, and they sent me to Broadway! I was just so honored for that!

I didn’t feel like I was ready to go to New York, but the whole idea of thinking that I was going to be six hours on a plane away from my family, to going home, eating my mother’s gravy—and then singing on Broadway! We were walking on air—it was just ridiculous!

I was able to do a lot of shows there; it was amazing experience! The guys were great and I learned so much about the role! I went back to Essex County, and even the Belmont Tavern to hang out with everybody.

JBB Tech Half: Are you a hero back home where it counts?

DS: You have no idea! You have no idea!! I mean, the stories these guys tell me! I get text messages from the real deal guys—guys from Orange and West Orange, New Jersey. They can’t believe it! My buddy Paul sits in his social club and Tommy DeVito was in there just a week or two ago. Paul calls me all the time!

JBB: Considering you were born in Belleville and raised in Essex County, do you think that gives you so much more insight into playing the Frankie Valli role?

MC: WE sure as hell do! (chuckles) We joke about this—the authenticity that he brings to the table—he makes the rest of us look like schmucks (laughs)!

DS: That’s the difference. I’m lucky enough to have a character and a role that was written from a place where I was born. I watch a lot of the other Frankies and they all have their own personal style, but for me, I’m lucky to have an in on exactly how these guys would react to these situations.

When I finally met Frankie, he reminded me of my Uncle Joe, top to bottom. My Uncle Joe is 84, still has a full head of hair, perfect build, he works construction, he sits on a backhoe, and gets up at 5:30 in the morning. I’ve seen him react; I’ve seen my father react. I’ve seen what it’s like for young guys to have a dream out there in the same town, so I got lucky. It’s not something I had to work on too much. I can go back there and refer to my family and friends, so I kind of know what it was like. It’s in my blood, I guess.

JBB: So, it’s been over a year! Happy anniversary! What have been some of the challenges of playing Frankie over the last year?

DS: Thank you! I’ll be honest with you. Every day keeping the voice right and staying healthy. There’s a process as far as getting used to the climates.

For me, I was so exhausted today, but once I get up there, it doesn’t matter. The adrenaline kicks in. Every time I do it, I feel like it’s like the first time. I hate to say it; it sounds cliché, but I get the demons out doing this role, doing this part!

I feel better afterwards. I feel alive up there, especially with these guys.

JBB: What about the emotional or mental challenges? How to you prepare yourself for the part each day?

DS: Mentally, like I said, sometimes you have to just know that you’ve done it a thousand times. Some days you just don’t feel as well as other days. Your voice is sometimes strained, or you’re not feeling too well.

You just have to tell yourself that I’ve done this stuff before, because you could easily psych yourself out. These guys have seen me.

MC: We give him shit about that all the time (laughs). He sounds amazing every single time!

DS: Thanks, Mike! I think it’s just a psychological thing that I have to go through. It’s a pain in the neck when my Seasons see me go through this. A little amount of phlegm or dryness gets in your head, because of the process. You want to be perfect in this role!

MC: That’s the performer! Everyone who does this type of work is a perfectionist. You want the audience to get the best version of you and the best version of the show that they can possibly have.

DS: So true! Absolutely!

MC: Then, you’re doing the marathon this boy has to do! It’s not even like an ego thing, but you want to live up to this show!

DS: I had to create this voice. For me, I’m a baritone, so if I’m away from the show too long and if I don’t do it enough, my voice gets lower. I have to do my drills and keep it up. That’s why it was tough to do a two-show, because when I’d do the show, then have three days off, I’d hang out and I’d jog and my voice would get lower.

MC: When you were in opera, you were a baritone?

DS: I was a tenor-baritone.

JBB: That would be awesome to hear you guys sing opera!

MC: It’s funny, because if I were doing opera, I’d be a counter tenor—I’d sing alto/soprano.

DS: This guy–if he were three inches shorter–he’d be Frankie. His voice is bananas!

JBB: You guys, along with Michael Ingersoll and Shonn Wiley, have an amazing chemistry on stage!

MC: Thanks! There’s a lot of trust and there’s a lot of love, and above all, there’s a lot of respect. In addition to the respect, there’s no ego involved. Nobody is out here to try to make themselves; we’re all here to do the show.

DS: To tell the story.

MC: We’re all here to tell the story.

DS: That’s the best thing he could have ever said. When guys get it, that four-level, tell the story, get out of the show’s way, that’s when it’s the best. You don’t want a ham out there.

Michael starts us off perfectly as Tommy and sets the tone. And, he got it so quickly! He’s only been doin’ it…how long you been doin’ this?

MC: Two and a half months.

DS: That’s ridiculous! I tell him that I worked with [Jeremy] Kushnier; I worked with Christian Hoff—that experience was nuts! And I tell him, ‘You’re well on your way!’

Tommy’s the most important character, because he sets the tone of the show for all of us! It’s really important!

MC: It’s nice, because we’re a team. We could not exist without each other. If any one of us is giving less or doing less, the show wouldn’t live in the way that it does.

DS: Absolutely!

MC: Everybody brings themselves 100% to the table. We all know what the goal is. It’s not about any one of us; so much as it is about this show. We’re supported by how great the material is, by how great the music is. They make it easy for us by giving us these great scenes and these dialogues, and all this stuff, but we really appreciate and acknowledge that it’s a group effort.

JBB Tech Half: The harmony is so tight! It works so well. That’s it; it’s about a team effort—not one guy with his own story. From the highest level, they’ve promoted it to be about four guys.

MC: That said–Dom still has the hardest job of all of us!

DS: I wouldn’t give it up—you take your responsibility!

JBB: What about your favorite musical numbers in the show?

DS: Mine is Dawn; it reminds me of my family and when Gaudio says that blue collar line about the girl with the circles under her eyes—that’s my family!

MC: We both come from those similar blue collar backgrounds.

DS: I’d say Dawn and “My Eyes Adored You—those two right in a row.

MC: I like those, too! Anybody who’s not Frankie Valli hates those two (chuckles). Mostly because the choreography is a bitch! (laughs)

JBB Tech Half: You guys have such a great camaraderie on stage—hanging out, slapping each other on the backs. It’s so genuine!

MC: You believe that these guys would put up with each others’ shit. There is a willingness to accept people for who they are that transcends even family when you’re working professionally and working in this kind of environment—whether you’re in a band or in a show—because of the amount of time that you spend together. Like we said, there is a trust that has to exist for us to go out there and do our best and feel confident that we can each hold our own. That’s what this group really does.

DS: It’s like a basketball team. If you have a couple stars that hog the ball, their record is going to suck. Those guys that play as a team—those guys are the ones who will go to the championship.

JBB: What about your favorite lines?

MC: The thing that jumps to mind for me is, ‘As opposed to what?’ (Chuckles)

JBB: Michael, that look you give when you say that line is hilarious right before ‘Walk Like A Man’ begins!

DS: Mine’s got to be ‘I’m from the old school. You come up together, that’s a promise and it’s like iron.’ That’s the epitome of the whole show!

MC: Not to be cliché again, but we’re both Italian; we both come from very close, very tight, very patient Italian families and that’s something that’s very, very true. There’s something about that loyalty, something about blood being thicker than all else. It’s a big part of who I am and I know it’s a big part of who Dominic is.

DS: Especially in our business. God willing, one of us would become something bigger than this; you can’t let it go to your head. You can’t buy into all that nonsense. Remembering where you came from—you’re just a person—no reason act like those LA folks (laughs)!

JBB: What about your favorite scene?

DS: Mine is the sit down. We’re all there. For me personally, I love movies and plays that are passionate and dramatic. Right there, Frankie is losing all his boys.

I can relate to that; I have 14 best friends at home. I get real attached, just like Frankie did. My father’s like that, too. Somebody leaving or somebody doing something without me, I get really upset about it. That whole process of all his buddies leaving is incredible.

Since I have been lucky enough to be in three different companies already, you grow such a bond with each of the Seasons and when I got here, the minute I met these guys, I knew that we would be tight. I feel such a connection to Ingy [Michael Ingersoll] as Nick, and it didn’t take long to know that me and [Michael] Cunio would have that Frankie/Tommy connection. And Shonn [Wiley] and I are so close that we even took the Frankie/Bobby relationship into real life. He keeps me in check. He even cooked for me when he thought I wasn’t eating enough (laughs).

We all really take care of each other in so many ways because you are a team. Going from looking up to him (looks over at Michael) to looking up to Bob, to losing Nick, right into “Stay.” This is my personal favorite, when Frankie is coming into his own. For me personally, he’s feeling more in this scene than when his daughter dies.

As talented as Frankie may have been, like he says in the show, I don’t think he knew how great he was, that he would be standing there by himself. He wanted his guys around. I’m like that, too; I don’t want to take a lot of responsibility.

MC: I think that’s a common denominator for all of us—that power in numbers. Knowing that somebody like Dominic, somebody like Michael Ingersoll, somebody like Shonn Wiley is next to you and behind you, supporting you. Show me a performer that’s not desperately insecure, considering we beg for applause for a living, there’s got to be some issues there. When you have a group like this together, it sends you off!

JBB Tech Half: For me, the first act is a fantastic runaway freight train, and it’s always been my favorite. But your cast really made me appreciate the second act! I was so fully-engaged, even though I knew the story. You guys made it work so well!

DS: Really? Wow, thank you! That means a lot!

MC: That’s a real compliment—thank you! That’s where chops come into play.

JBB: What would you say is the most exciting (or surprising?) thing that’s happened to you since playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys over the past year?

DS: This year has been such a whirlwind that I would cheapen it by just talking about one experience. I would have to say this whole year–from debuting in Vegas, to having my Broadway debut, to singing at the White House, to singing at the Tonys, to having my own company out in Chicago–has been like nothing you can ever imagine.

JBB: So, Dom, like you said, you’ve been in three Jersey Boys companies over the last year! What have you learned about yourself that you didn’t know before this journey?

DS: I learned about my dedication to something. In real life, I have a tendency to not have the ability to focus, but when it comes to this–I live for this; I never thought I did.

It’s in my blood and I love this. Work keeps me going. Mainly scene work. I love to sing, but my main thing is the scene work.

Plus, I’m still like in a dream state! I really still feel that way. It’s been a year and I still can’t believe I did this with my life. I turned it around and I’m playing Frankie Valli. My first show. It’s crazy stuff!

I would say that, just a zest for life now–I love going to work! We’re lucky and we’re blessed!

30 Comments »

  1. this kid is a god!!

    Comment by marge — August 15, 2009 @ 2:02 pm

  2. I saw him the other night here in Chicago and literally had to see the doctor the next day because the whole show i was short of breath. The raw emotion that went into this performance along with an almost too strong of a singing voice was too much for my 64 year old heart.

    Comment by sandy — August 15, 2009 @ 2:19 pm

  3. This interview is fantastic! Dominic Scaglione, Jr. is such a candid and thoughtful young man, a well as a great Frankie Valli. It’s obvious that Dominic feels that “family is everything!”

    Comment by TeresaJ — August 15, 2009 @ 3:19 pm

  4. Saw him in New York and let me tell you this kid is a powerhouse! His intuition as an actor is almost scary. Even scarier how he got his voice to sound like Frankie Valli’s. Every instant he is right in there. I wish him all the best. Mike

    Comment by michael — August 15, 2009 @ 5:15 pm

  5. Looks as if I have to go back to Chicago. Saw Jersey Boys there in May and seeing again in Wash. D.C. in November. I have seen a different Frankie at every performance (8 in St. Louis, 2 Denver), and everyone has been wonderful. Saw The Frankie Valli in South Bend, IN after seeing JB in St. Louis. It was fantastic. I plan on seeing the show any time I get the chance. I saw Frankie in Chicago almost every time he was there in the 60′s. It is so great to finally know the story behind the group. Thank you everyone….Happy that Bob did go back to school.

    Comment by nancy connelly — August 15, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

  6. I took my girl to see this in NYC and even though we both loved the show my girl still talks about this kid! I let it go because she lets me talk about Eva longoria. But no joke. he is the real deal. Z

    Comment by zivo — August 15, 2009 @ 6:13 pm

  7. His voice is superhuman. And his acting just floored me. Sensational young man. He was so sweet after the show too. Told me he liked my bracelet.

    Comment by samantha — August 15, 2009 @ 11:37 pm

  8. He is a site to behold. God bless Dominic. We love you here in Chicago.

    Comment by grace — August 15, 2009 @ 11:59 pm

  9. saw it tonight and got lost in Dominic’s eyes. He did some things onstage that left me speechless. From the expressions to the voice to the look. He is the reason why you believe in Art.

    Comment by Katie — August 16, 2009 @ 1:28 am

  10. We saw this play in Chicago August 5th and for almost a week I could not get those songs out of my head. I would wake up with one and go to sleep with another one and if I woke up in the middle of the night, I heard that voice singing a different song. Was it good? It was so good that walking out of the theater we said to each other, “we have to see this again”. I can’t wait.

    Comment by Patricia — August 16, 2009 @ 7:07 am

  11. Dominic’s singing and acting are superb as well as his graciousness with fans at the stage door. Chicago is lucky to have him in their cast. However, I miss him on Broadway.

    Comment by Beverley Micciche — August 16, 2009 @ 7:56 am

  12. Great interview, Susie and Dale! The guys really opened up to you. When Michael Cunio joins in and tells Dominic, “Give her more of the story than that. This boy has had the most fascinating life!” I thought I was back at the pre-JB restaurant-booth meetings where the real Frankie and Bob were telling stories to Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman.

    Comment by stubbleyou — August 16, 2009 @ 10:51 am

  13. Dominic will always be one of my faves. I saw him in NYC and his “Fallen Angel” was incredible. Then meeting him at the stage door was a real treat. A true nice and gracious young man that desearves all that life has to offer.

    Comment by Gladys — August 16, 2009 @ 11:20 am

  14. I was lucky enough to see Dominic three times while he was in Vegas. I remember my jaw dropping the first time I heard him sing “Moody’s Mood For Love.” He is such an amazing singer and I look forward to the next time I get to see him in the show. Thanks for the great interview, Susie.

    Comment by Krystal — August 16, 2009 @ 11:47 am

  15. I saw him last night here in Chicago with a bunch of buddies. We were pretty blown away. We are all in our 50′s so we know the music and we all kept looking at each other when he sang thinkin “is that the real Frankie Valli or what?” I don’t know how these actors do the things that they do. What a talented kid.

    Comment by michael — August 16, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

  16. Saw Jersey Boys last night with my husband and Dominic Scaglione is a superstar. What a voice, what an actor, what a prodigy! This guy is going places. The whole show was fantastic but his performance was just on a whole new level. (Saw Jersey Boys twice before and loved it, but last night was spectacular because of Dominic’s talent.)

    cw

    Comment by clw — August 16, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

  17. I really admire Dominic’s down-to-earth attitude about his success over the past year. This is a performer with a huge talent and personality to match.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — August 16, 2009 @ 2:56 pm

  18. Just got out of a sunday matinee and WOW!! My girlfriend and I weren’t sure if our husbands were going to like it but I turned to look at them at the fallen angel part and they were both broken up. Dominic’s voice was just out of this world. And his acting almost brought two grown men to tears. What an experience!

    Comment by kammi — August 16, 2009 @ 6:03 pm

  19. i saw the show in july it was the first musical i have ever seen and i really was not looking forward to it.i was blown away by the cast especially dominic his presence on stage was electric i do believe i was in the presence of a great actor/singer/performer.i would like to thank dominic for giving me an unforgettable memory i hope to see the show again when i return to chicago regards elaine (ireland)

    Comment by elaine o dempsey — August 16, 2009 @ 6:43 pm

  20. This young man is remarkably gifted! It was a privilege to be able to see such an impecable performance! Thank you! We’ll be back for sure!

    Comment by Pat — August 16, 2009 @ 7:38 pm

  21. This is clearly an interview that fans have been waiting for. The comments are priceless! But as incredibly in-depth as it is (Susie & Dale, do you two ever sleep?), I think there’s room for a part two.

    Okay, so those “things” can be left nebulous, but I’m curious about the jump from odd jobs in Jersey to a Broadway (ok…Vegas) casting call. It started as Danny Zuko at summer camp–that casting was a slam dunk, of course!–but walking past the August Wilson and saying, “Sh**, I could do that”? I’m with Cunio… give us a little more to this story, Dominic.

    I loved the little mentions like nearby Mason Gross at Rutgers and Dominic’s friend Paul, who was with him in March at the Belmont Tavern (photos: http://jerseyboysblog.com/the-belmont-tavern-heart-of-the-old-neighborhood/3444)

    So much interesting stuff. I found it reassuring that Dominic said something like he’s still discovering things about his ‘character.’ With that living, breathing experience – plus that he gets the demons out doing this role – I hope that he will find fulfillment staying with this show a long time. It’s hard for my husband & I to get to Bway matinees, so we ‘bit the bullet’ and paid holiday prices this past Dec. 31st so that we would be guaranteed to see him before he headed out to Chicago. (Speaking of close family…we got to meet his mother, sister, and aunt/ uncle that day!)

    In terms of his obsessing to get his voice like Frankie…it’s UNCANNY how successful Dominic has been at that. On my Jersey Boys ‘Old Neighborhood Bus Tour’, we play a recording of Frankie’s “My Mother’s Eyes” and when I heard Dominic on-stage, I did a double-take, thinking I was hearing that same recording. Btw, I suspect there will be a stop on the bus tour having to do with Dominic before this whole phenomenon wraps up.

    As amazing as his voice is, his comment about the focus being the scene work was exactly what I would expect him to report. You can see the depth of an actor in him at the stage door. The singing seems merely a vital tool for this actor.

    My sincere thanks once again to the JBB for continually creating a meaningful context in which to enjoy this masterpiece of a show.

    Comment by Audrey — August 16, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

  22. thank you so much for the interview. I just saw the Chicago company twice this past weekend and Dominic unbelievably good. The show was GREAT!

    Comment by Chong Kim — August 16, 2009 @ 11:36 pm

  23. Wow Audrey! I totally agree about Dominic. Me and my husband saw him in Chicago here and along with his amazing talent what surprised me the most is his down to earth way. He came out of the front door and stopped for whatever fan asked him to. He hugged old women and looked in everyones eyes and thanked them with such kindness. It was soo great to see someone of this high level of talent treating the ”little people” as an equal. What a young man.

    Comment by sarah — August 17, 2009 @ 12:21 am

  24. He is definatly a genius!

    Comment by sarah — August 17, 2009 @ 3:39 pm

  25. I have to say once i saw Dominic i was obsessed. He drives me crazy. I have seen him here in Chicago 7 times and every time he just gets better and more unreal. Whenever he sings it send shivers down my spine and his eyes are unreal. He is so sweet too. He gave me 5 hugs so far and i want more!!!! love love love him Seb

    Comment by sebrina — August 17, 2009 @ 3:41 pm

  26. This is a great interview, Susie and Dale. I was fortunate to see Dominic during his (too short) time in NYC. What a magnificent performer; his heart and soul shine through like one of those crystal clear Jersey days Frankie talks about. Offstage, Dominic is warm and gracious, and seems truly appreciative of his fans’ support. Chicago is lucky to have you, Dominic. Hope to see you back in NYC sometime soon.

    Comment by Pamela — August 17, 2009 @ 6:54 pm

  27. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE HIM!

    Comment by sebrina — August 18, 2009 @ 6:13 pm

  28. Just saw Jersey Boys Chicago 2 nights ago after seeing it many times on Broadway with Dominic and others. Have to say Dominic is absolutely the VERY BEST!!! No question. Am crazy about him.

    Comment by Lynne Gull — September 10, 2009 @ 1:25 pm

  29. Saw JB for the first time in August 2009 and am going back next week. I love, love, love this show and this cast. All the Seasons are so perfectly cast and so talented. Dominic is incredible in every way. I hope to see him in many more productions.

    Comment by Becky — October 23, 2009 @ 3:44 pm

  30. Frankie the kids got it, a true Jabroni all the way!

    Comment by Ralph Ciallella — April 19, 2010 @ 9:18 am

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