Jersey Boys Heads to Nashville!
March 15th, 2009
Joseph Leo Bwarie, left, Josh Franklin, Erik Bates and Steve Gouveia perform as the Four Seasons in Jersey Boys. (Photo Credit: Joan Marcus)
Fiona Soltes of The Tennessean notes that The Four Seasons are, of course, best known for their music — but don’t be too quick to categorize their story as a musical revue. Jersey Boys is, instead, a true-to-life drama about commitment, drive, friendship, debts, bad habits and more than a little prison time. And it just happens to include some of the most memorable tunes in history.
The piece, which opens its three-week run at Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, not only garnered the 2006 Tony Award for best musical, but also has continued record-breaking runs and rave reviews. As of this spring, it has six ongoing productions worldwide in addition to the national tour.
Soltes talks with Bob Gaudio, writer Rick Elice, and Broadway cast member Miles Aubrey about the success of JB and the audience’s connection with the monster hit. Here’s a preview:
All because it tells the truth — in four versions. Each member of the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll band gets a turn at telling it like it really was, with various parts of the story falling into distinct “seasons.” The actors, portraying Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi and Frankie Valli, each play their own instruments and perform songs like “Walk Like a Man,” “Oh, What a Night,” “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” live in the process.
And the result, says Gaudio, who now lives in the Nashville area, is something that’s “extremely accurate, sometimes scary beyond accurate.”
Who are the current four seasons?
Comment by Patricia — March 15, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
My wife and I went to opening night in Nashville. It was absolutely incredible. One of the most enjoyable and entertaining nights of my life! We are returning to see Jersey Boys again this coming week.
Comment by Randy — March 21, 2009 @ 12:35 pm