Jersey Boys Natl Tour Awesome in Omaha!
March 8th, 2017Absolutely splendid JB national tour review from Omaha! Check out a sneak peek:
The traveling Broadway show — presented by Omaha Performing Arts — started a six-day run Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theater.
Guys who play Valli in the show attend an intensive Frankie Camp to learn the character, and De Jesus must have been an attentive student. He was made for the part: short in stature but long on talent. If anything, his crisp and clear falsetto voice is a tad higher than Valli’s. For me, he ceased being an actor and became the lead singer of the Seasons.
The show takes you through Valli’s earliest ventures into music with DeVito, who, like Massi, had several stays in jail. It tells the story of how Joey (Jonny Wexler), later known as actor Joe Pesci, introduced songwriter Gaudio to the guys, which changed everything. He’d already written a couple of hits, including “Short Shorts.”
There’s marriage, divorce, group battles over money and other issues, encounters with mobsters, a musical breakup and family tragedy.
All four of the guys nailed the Jersey persona. Hines was particularly good as the taciturn Massi, spouting his lines in a somewhat menacing monotone. A scene in which he becomes uncorked is especially funny.
Visit Omaha.com to read the whole review!