Jersey Boys Blog

Have we said lately how much we love chatting with Jersey Boys’ fans? Well, the response to our request for JBB Fantastic Fan Interviews has been amazing! We’re excited to present an interview with Michael Lennon, who chats about how he became interested in Jersey Boys back in the early days; what keeps bringing him back; his favorite musical number, scene, and line; and his thoughts on the incredible music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

JBB: Tell us about yourself.

ML: My name is Michael Lennon, and I was born in Arizona on October 9th, 1978. Because of my father’s occupation, I had to move around the country a lot, and actually found myself in Belleville , New Jersey at one point in time. I am a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and I also dabble in acting a bit.

JBB: When did you first hear about Jersey Boys, and how did you become interested in the show?

ML: I heard about Jersey Boys through a friend of mine, John Alda. I was very skeptical about it, because I thought it would be one of those jukebox musicals like Movin’ Out. It took him about an hour to convince me to buy tickets, which was kind of difficult to do. I saw the show during the first couple of weeks of its run in La Jolla.

JBB: Tell us about your first time seeing Jersey Boys. What was your first reaction and what keeps bringing you back?

ML: Well, I was still nervous about how they would portray this group, but once they started performing “Cry for Me” I fell in love with it. I thought David Norona’s vocals were amazing, and I really wish he had gone with the rest of the cast and crew to Broadway. And I can’t begin to tell you how hard I was laughing when I first saw Steve Gouveia as Joey.

JBB: How many times have you seen Jersey Boys thus far?

ML: I’ve seen the show a grand total of fifteen times, and I will continue to do so until the day it closes. I’ve seen the original La Jolla production four times, the Broadway production five times, and the First National Tour six times. I didn’t hear about the Broadway production until I saw the Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005. I just about died when I saw someone other than David singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” but I was pleased to find Christian, Daniel, and Bobby in their original roles. After they finished with the medley, I quickly went online to see if I could find an official website. After I did find it, I listened to clips of the cast recording, and I knew then that the role of Frankie Valli was in good hands.

JBB: Considering you have seen Jersey Boys since the early days, how would you say the show has evolved?

ML: I think the actors who crossed over to Broadway (Christian, Daniel, Bobby, and some others I know I am forgetting) know their roles a lot better now than they did when the show first opened in La Jolla, which I’m sure puts less pressure on them. They look a lot more comfortable now.

JBB: Have you had a chance to meet any of the Jersey Boys cast members?

ML: No, but that is because I leave the theater immediately after the end of the show. I get nervous around famous people like John Lloyd Young, Christian Hoff, etc, etc. And Erich Bergen! (Kathryn from the “Jersey Boys” MySpace pages will get a kick out of that last bit). I will make sure, though, to talk with Steve Gouveia after I see the Second National Tour so I can congratulate him on his journey with the show. To go from Joey Pesci, to Hank Majewski/Joe Long, and finally to Nick Massi is just amazing.

JBB: What makes you feel so connected to Jersey Boys?

ML: As I said before, I’ve lived in Belleville before, so that’s one reason why I feel connected. It is also the fact that these guys had to work hard for their success; it wasn’t just handed to them on a plate. I have some similarities to the real Nick Massi, as well, but there are too many to list here.

JBB: What is your favorite Jersey Boys scene and why?

ML: Oh, definitely the sit-down during the Second Act. It was strange watching it for the first time, what with it being a musical and all. I don’t feel comfortable saying “musical,” because it is more of a play with music. My second favorite scene is when they go to jail in Ohio (“Big Man in Town”).

JBB: What is your favorite musical number in Jersey Boys and why?

ML: This is a very difficult question, but I would have to say “Cry for Me” is my favorite song in the show. It’s just so great watching the Four Seasons become the Four Seasons. “Big Girls Don’t Cry” is a very close second.

JBB: Do you have a favorite line from the show?

ML: Frankie – That’s a very unusual fragrance. I never smelled anything like that before. What do you call it?

Mary – Soap.

I nearly fell over in my chair the first time I heard that.

JBB: Prior to seeing Jersey Boys, were you familiar with the Four Seasons’ music? If so, do you have a favorite Four Seasons song?

ML: My father introduced me to the Four Seasons and the Four Lovers when I was 13 years old. He had an old record player that still worked, and he would often put on stuff from the 1950s and early 1960s. He got me interested in Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, the Temptations, and other great artists from that time. I believe the first Four Seasons record he put on was “Dawn (Go Away)…,” and I was sucked in after hearing the opening of “Big Man’s World.” I love every song that showcases Nick’s incredible bass vocals, and this is certainly one of them. I didn’t realize it was Nick providing lead on “Don’t Let Go” until a month ago when I read a comment left on some Blog post; before reading that, I thought it was something from their days performing back-up.

I break down my favorite Four Seasons songs into different eras: the Nick Massi era, the Joe Long era, and the post-Joe Long era.

• Nick Massi Era: “Sherry”; “Walk Like a Man”; “Rag Doll”
• Joe Long Era: “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”; “Beggin’”*; “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”
• Post-Joe Long Era: “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)”; “Who Loves You”; “Streetfighter”

* – This was actually the song that inspired me to play bass. Whenever I perform this song now, I always play my Fender Jazz Bass. The song also doesn’t include any falsetto, which is good news for me (I’m a bass, like Nick).

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Michael Lennon for taking the time for this insightful interview on Jersey Boys and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons! We’re always looking to interview JB fans that want to share their love of the show! If you would like to be featured in a JBB Fantastic Fan Interview, feel free to contact us! Please click on the Contact Page and send us your contact information.