Jersey Boys Blog

Jersey Boys Blog continues to be amazed at the response to our interview invitation for the JBB Fantastic Fan Interview series! This week, we’re delighted to present an interview with Pamela Singer, who is still a “Jersey Girl” at heart. Along with talking about how she discovered Jersey Boys, and what she thinks makes this show so special and unique, Pamela also fills us in on one of her favorite groups of all time–Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

JBB: Tell us about yourself.

PS: First of all, I’m proud to be a Jersey Girl through and through, having grown up in the great Garden State. Although I’ve lived in Los Angeles, and New York City has been home for some time now, I’ll always be a Jersey Girl at heart. My siblings and I were brought up with a strong appreciation for the arts, especially music and musical theatre. We took piano and guitar lessons, and loved to imitate our musical idols. No real musical talent on any of our parts though, but we did show excellent taste in artists! Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (okay, not the original ones!) were a major part of my teenage years, and intrinsically linked to my history. I’m now a Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist, at a large, NYC hospital. It’s difficult work, but very rewarding.

JBB: When did you first hear about Jersey Boys, and what sparked your interest in seeing the show for the first time?

PS: I first heard about Jersey Boys in the summer of 2005, while reading the Arts and Leisure section of the Sunday Times. That iconic picture of the group facing the audience had real impact, then and now. My first thought was ‘What a great idea. This is going to make a fabulous show, and finally give Four Seasons’ music its due’. I couldn’t wait to get tickets. Little did I know the explosive impact the show would have.

JBB: What did you think of Jersey Boys upon seeing it for the first time?

PS: I saw Jersey Boys for the first time in November 2005, and was blown away by the performance. The show was electrifying, and exceeded all my expectations, which were high to begin with. I’ve been going to the theatre since I was five, and have rarely experienced the joyous pleasures so inherent to this show. What makes it so special? A unique combination of great music, great writing, and an incredibly talented cast, led by one superb John Lloyd Young. In addition, it has that intangible quality that makes all great shows great. For me, it was an effortless ability to take me back to another time and place, while simultaneously keeping me in the moment, a very powerful combination.

JBB: How would you describe Jersey Boys to people who have not seen the show and may not be familiar with the Four Seasons’ music?

PS: Anyone who hasn’t seen the show is missing something special. It’s rare that a musical pulls the audience in from the beginning, and holds that connection until the end. The audience becomes a character in the show. You not only see and hear Jersey Boys, but feel it as well. Jersey Boys defies every known musical theatre genre, and is in a class by itself.

JBB: Have you met any of the Jersey Boys cast members?

PS: Yes, I’ve met all four Jersey Boys, and they couldn’t be nicer or more genuine, especially John Lloyd Young. These guys really care about their fans, and go out of their way to give back. After seeing the show for the first time, I emailed John, telling him how much I enjoyed the show and his performance. He wrote back several hours later, thanking me for my comments, saying he was happy I’d liked the show so much. Since then, he has been gracious and responsive, both in person and with continued correspondence. By the way, I’ve seen the Boys perform at several benefits around town, and can attest to their amazing talent away from the August Wilson stage.

JBB: What was your favorite line in Jersey Boys?

PS: It’s a tie between Tommy’s ‘We put Jersey on the map. You ask four guys, you get four different versions’, and Frankie’s ‘The best part was when it was all still ahead of us. Four guys under a street lamp making our sound’; bookends on a great story.

JBB: What’s your favorite Jersey Boys scene and why?

PS: The scene where the boys meet Bob Gaudio and sing with him for the first time on “Cry for Me” is special. Both the characters and the audience sense the bond that’s forming, musically and otherwise, and there’s a palpable excitement as to what’s ahead.

JBB: Do you have a favorite Jersey Boys musical number?

PS: Another tie, between “Dawn” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” “Dawn” has great harmonies and guitar riffs, while “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has beautiful vocals and raw emotion.

JBB: Why do you think people keep coming back again and again to see Jersey Boys?

PS: People keep going back to Jersey Boys because in addition to being a fabulously entertaining show, it’s a meaningful one as well.

JBB: How many times have you seen Jersey Boys, and what keeps bringing you back?

PS: I’ve seen the show five times so far, and look forward to seeing it again. No matter how many times I go back, it’s never exactly the same for me, and I’m always discovering new things to appreciate. I’ve brought my mother, sister, and many of my friends. Seeing it with my sister was especially poignant, and took us both back. My friends tease me about being such a Jersey Boys enthusiast, but have all loved the show.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

JBB: You’ve also been a fan of the Four Seasons. How did you get into their music?

PS: Growing up in NJ, I had very eclectic taste in music. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were one of my all time favorite groups. I started listening to their music in my early teens, and loved their unique sound. My sister and I had most of their albums, and played them repeatedly. Also, any self respecting Jersey Girl had to appreciate that these Jersey Boys made good!

JBB: Have you seen Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons in concert? If so, what did you think about their performance?

PS: Yes, over the years I’ve seen Frankie and The Four Seasons (albeit in restructured groups) in concert many times. As a teenager, their concerts were a real treat. They always put on fabulous shows, playing for hours. In addition to great music and vocals, there was a real rapport with the audience, not unlike the current Jersey Boys! I recently had the pleasure of seeing Frankie and his new Four Seasons perform in NJ, which really brought things full circle after all these years. Frankie still exudes amazing talent and charisma, playing straight to the audience’s heart.

JBB: What’s your all-time favorite Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song?

PS: “Save it For Me” and “Happy Birthday Baby.” For my sixteenth birthday, we rented a bus and took 30 of my friends to a Four Seasons concert at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ. Somehow, my mother got backstage, and asked Frankie to dedicate “Happy Birthday Baby” to me. What a thrill. And yes, I was the coolest girl in high school, at least for the next week!

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Pamela Singer once again for this marvelous interview! If you would like to be featured in an upcoming JBB Fantastic Fan Interview, we’d love to hear from you! Please click on the Contact Page and send us your contact information.