Comments on: JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With John Lloyd Young–Part Two

By: Mike B. Magbaleta

Mike B. Magbaleta — Tue, 29 May 2007 20:03:00 +0000

Part of this segment is actually true here in SF. Next to the Curran Theatre is the American Conservatory Theatre, which is mostly dramatic theatre with a “few” musicals. Some of the ACT attendees dismiss the Jersey Boys as a “jukebox musical” and not to be taken seriously. I disagree because there is a honest to goodness storyline, there are established Broadway actors in the play, the music is enjoyed by all ages and the sold out crowds are proof that everyone loves the Jersey Boys!

John Lloyd Young is definitely the “face” of Jersey Boys. Christian, J. Robert and Daniel are the “pioneers” that blazed the trail for the other casts and have provided the rest of the nation with their television talk show, parade and awards ceremony “teasers”, before the National Tour took flight. I thank them for their tireless efforts to let the nation know that they’re here to stay!

I’m sure that the awards will keep rolling in for years to come and that they all deserve applause from the entire nation!

By: Irene Eizen

Irene Eizen — Mon, 28 May 2007 20:25:10 +0000

Spoken as a true valedictorian, Howard! IE

By: Howard Tucker

Howard Tucker — Mon, 28 May 2007 16:52:53 +0000

Asking for help and trying to find a mentor can be tricky in any field. Sometimes people are indeed busy with their own lives.

But I also think it may be a throwback to when we were in school. Everyone was competing to be valedictorian, so to speak, and it was all about individual performance. It takes time to realize that there are so many different paths available in the real world that we can help others achieve their dreams by mentoring them without fearing that they may outdo us at some point. In real life, we can all end up valedictorians–there needn’t be just one!

By: Irene Eizen

Irene Eizen — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:55:00 +0000

Hi, Audrey,

Your comments are expressed so eloquently! I enjoy reading and considering them. Thanks. IE

By: Audrey

Audrey — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:43:22 +0000

I’ll add my twist on this subject of theatre snobbery… I feel that way now a bit toward other Broadway musicals. I have seen two other productions since first seeing Jersey Boys and I could barely stay till the end each time. I was thinking, “they call this theatre?”. Quality theatre is what’s on stage over at August Wilson (and at Ahmanson and Curran). John, you are generous when you say an actor has to be a cheerleader in some productions (how about ‘circus performer’?). Having seen the price people pay for snobbery makes me not want to get sucked into that; yet the unique quality of JB has, to use John’s words, left me a little infected, I’m afraid.

And John, thanks for the perspective of everyone’s “burning rage to succeed” in terms of this show… writers, director, producers, Gaudio & Valli as well as the four of you, of course. It’s easy to think the creative team was just doing what they always do, but I see now that is a bit naive; huge success like this is a ‘once in a lifetime’ thing. Like Des said once, in regard to this show- he has never in his life seen standing ovations in a first Act and he suspects he never will again.

Great questions, great answers, great interview!