John Michael Dias and Michael Ingersoll Share Stories from the Stage
May 5th, 2009
John Michael Dias and Michael Ingersoll speaking at Highland Park High School. Photo by Blake Sobczak / North by Northwestern.
Jennifer Schaefer of NorthbyNorthwestern.com has a terrific feature on JERSEY BOYS Chicago cast members John Michael Dias and Michael Ingersoll! These two actors followed two very different paths to Chicago’s Bank of America Theater, where they can currently be seen portraying two members of ’60s pop sensation Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons in the hit show JERSEY BOYS.
Last week, the actors told their stories to two groups of students and community members as part of Highland Park High School’s FOCUS on the Arts 2009. FOCUS, a biennial arts outreach program. The two stars of Jersey Boys took the opportunity to share with the community their rise to fame, and the life of a working actor in a hit show.
Playing a character based on a real person made Ingersoll “proud to carry on that legacy,†but he said he avoided an approach that was too historical, choosing to focus on telling the story instead.
“There’s more pressure to do them justice while still bringing a little of yourself to the role,†Dias agreed. Meeting the real Valli (who was in Chicago for a concert last month) gave him the opportunity to incorporate some of the performer’s mannerisms, including his quiet and modest demeanor, into his portrayal.
i wish they had come to my high school!! i’ve had the privilege of seeing michael ingersoll twice and he’s just amazing!
Comment by jill — May 17, 2009 @ 9:13 pm