Jersey Boys Blog

The Jersey Boys Blog Fantastic Fan family continues to grow! It’s our pleasure to present JBB Fantastic Fan Interview #26 with Wendy Eav, who first became hooked on the music of The Four Seasons before she became a big JB fan! Wendy talks about her love of The 4 Seasons’ music; her special connection to Jersey Boys‘ her favorite musical numbers, scene, and lines in the show; and more!

JBB: Tell us about yourself.

WE: Hi, my name is Wendy and I am a sophomore at UCLA studying Economics and Music History. I am a music intern for ABC Television Network, and have been with them for what will be two years. My hobbies include playing the piano, attending music concerts, and researching music bands/artists on the Web. I am drawn to the music world, my life revolves around the music world, and I [you know what] about the music world. I am also a competitive table tennis player, and am a member of UCLA’s table tennis team.

JBB: You’ve mentioned that you became interested in Jersey Boys at first because of your love of The Four Seasons. Tell us about how you got into the 4 Seasons’ music and what are your favorite Seasons’ songs. Have you ever seen Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in concert before?

WE: I actually first discovered the Four Seasons through a television show called “Your Big Break.” It was this game show on UPN in which celebrity look/sound-a-likes competed to determine who was the best impersonator. One of the contestants appeared as Frankie Valli and performed “Sherry.” The song, the act, the dance – just everything about it drew me in! I remember my initial reaction was, “Wow! How does he sing so high!?” I immediately looked up Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons on the internet and found a couple more of their songs. My favorite, though, has to be “Sherry” simply because it’s so unique and it is what drew me in. I also love “Walk Like a Man” (especially the second verse), “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘bout Me),” “Fallen Angel,” and “Big Man In Town.” Unfortunately, I haven’t seen them in concert before, but someday I will catch a Frankie Valli show!

JBB: What was your reaction to the show upon seeing JB for the first time?

WE: “Wow.” Then a couple of seconds later: “I have to see it again!” I thought I had known a great deal about the group prior to the show, but as it turned out, I knew practically nothing. There was just so much history to them that you cannot read online. They are stories you have to hear from the members themselves, and that is why I love Jersey Boys so much! I love that every member has a chance to narrate and speak his side of the story. Also, besides simply telling the audience a story, we also get a glimpse of their personalities – how they speak and how they carry themselves off stage. There’s so much to the show that you don’t exactly catch everything in one sitting; I had to see it again (and again) to get the whole story (every reference, every joke, etc.).

JBB: How many times have you seen JB & what keeps bringing you back?

WE: I have seen Jersey Boys three times (all in LA). The music more than anything is what keeps bringing me back. “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man” went by TOO FAST the first time I saw the show. I was so busy being excited that I couldn’t fully enjoy the performance. I mean, sure, I sang along and did a little dance, but it didn’t really sink in. When I saw it for the second time, I sat completely still and focused fully on The Four Seasons. I was then able to appreciate their choreographed dance, including every turn, twist, and gesture. But don’t worry, by the third time I was back to singing along and having a lot of fun.

JBB: Who have you brought with you to see Jersey Boys, and what was their reaction to the show?

WE: I brought my friend Jonathan with me the first time around and he really enjoyed it. Second and third times were with my friend Diana who enjoyed it more than she expected. In fact, she liked it so much that she found herself asking to borrow the soundtrack and listening to it while at work and at the gym. She’d randomly burst out in a song and then later blamed me for making her obsessed.

JBB: Why do you think people have such a strong connection to Jersey Boys?

WE: As my friend Eric F. describes it, “it makes you feel nostalgic about a period you never even lived through.” That is certainly the case for me. As for others, it may still very well be a case of nostalgia. The music, speech, clothes, etc. were of a different time so seeing the show brings you back there.

JBB: Have you met any of the JB cast members?

WE: I have met Christopher Kale Jones, Deven May, Erich Bergen, Jackie Seiden, Taylor Sternberg, and Eric Gutman,. That same day, I saw John Altieri and Lauren Tartaglia, but I couldn’t get to them in time. So the truth is I am very new to the world of musicals, and I wouldn’t have known about the “stage door” if it wasn’t for the Facebook group “We LOVE the Jersey Boys 1st National Touring Cast!” I’d really like to thank the group and especially Crissy for the tip. I was too excited to say anything except ask for their autographs and a picture.

I actually have an interesting non-stage-door story. While waiting in line at the Ahmanson Theatre for hot tix (for three hours), I met two very nice people. They asked me if I was into theatre, and were shocked to discover that I wasn’t. I explained to them that I was a Four Seasons fan, and had only seen one other musical before (that being Wicked). In short, they were very pleased to learn that younger generations appreciate Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons as well.

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

WE: That would have to be the argument prior to “Walk Like a Man.” I loved that Tommy DeVito was being so difficult and Bob Gaudio was getting so frustrated. And it’s especially funny when Bob Crewe jumps in and says, “Look, Miss Congeniality, it’s a metaphor! This is an anthem for every guy who’s ever been twisted around a girl’s little finger…Well, isn’t it?”

JBB: How about your favorite musical number in Jersey Boys & why?

WE: Absolute favorite would have to be “Sherry” for obvious reasons. I also love “Silhouettes” because that’s when Frankie Valli first comes out,;“My Boyfriend’s Back” because those Jersey Girls really rock it; “I Go Ape” & “I Still Care” because they’re just so funny; and “Fallen Angel” because it’s sad yet beautiful.

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

WE: I have too many favorite lines from the show. I suppose I can narrow it down to three. I remember I couldn’t stop laughing after Bob Gaudio’s monologue: “I’m not drawn to the old neighborhood, my life never revolved around the old neighborhood, I don’t give a @#$% about the old neighborhood.” Then there’s Tommy DeVito joking around while locked up in Ohio : “Oh me, oh me, oh my oh – did some time in old Ohio.” And finally there’s Nick Massi’s monologue about why he left the group: “Let me clear that up. It wasn’t the side deal, it wasn’t the touring, the bad food, or rooming with Tommy… it just came out of my mouth.”

JBB: Anything else you’d like to share about Jersey Boys?

WE: I want to say thank you to the Jersey Boys Blog and everyone in the “We LOVE the Jersey Boys 1st National Touring Cast!” Facebook group (especially Crissy, Samantha, and Pamela) for keeping me and all the other fans up-to-date with Jersey Boys happenings. I came into this as a Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons fan not expecting to fall in love with the cast, but I did and I am glad for it. I’d love to see both the Original Broadway Cast (I hope they stay!) and the Second National Tour Cast some day.

Also, can someone explain the “He’s good, but he’s no Neil Sedaka” joke to me?

Thank you again to Wendy for sharing her wonderful Four Seasons/JB story! We’re always looking for new fans to tell their JB story! 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.