July 22, 2009

Joseph Leo Bwarie’s Thoughts on Playing Pop Legend Frankie Valli

July 22nd, 2009

JB Natl Tour
The Jersey Boys national tour Four Seasons: Steve Gouveia (Nick Massi), Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), Josh Franklin (Bob Gaudio), and Matt Bailey (Tommy DeVito) [Photo credit: Joan Marcus]

Jenna Scherer states that it’s never easy to play a legend. It’s even harder to play a living one. But Emerson College alum Joseph Leo Bwarie, who plays iconic crooner Frankie Valli in “Jersey Boys,” is up to the challenge.

The touring production of “Jersey Boys”hits the Shubert Theatre starting Thursday, and Bwarie couldn’t be more stoked to take the stage a few doors down from his alma mater. In fact, the only thing he might be more enthusiastic about is the music he gets to sing nightly.

Here’s a preview to Scherer’s fascinating interview with Bwarie:
Herald: Is it a lot of pressure playing Valli, a guy who’s still alive and very much involved in the show?
Bwarie: When I went in for my final callback, the real Frankie Valli was sitting there. That was a little nerve-racking. Like, ‘This is you, but it’s me, but it’s you.’ To play a real-life legend who still at 75 is on tour and working, that’s a lot of pressure, yeah. But he’s been really supportive. He and (Four Seasons producer) Bob Gaudio always say how amazing it is that the guys who play Frankie can do it. Frankie never sang 27 songs and spoke for two-and-a-half hours every night like we do.

Herald:Do you think the story of ‘Jersey Boys’ is an essentially American one?
Bwarie: It is the most American story. They were working class kids in New Jersey who were truly from the wrong side of the tracks. They were not up to good. But the right people met at the right time, and the right sound was created. It’s about these guys that shouldn’t have been stars that became stars because of their talent, which is basically the American Dream.

Read Bwarie’s full interview on BostonHerald.com.

3 Comments »

  1. I saw the show last night and it was fabulous. Thanks for such a wonderful evening.

    Comment by Janice — August 5, 2009 @ 12:20 pm

  2. WE SAW THIS CAST IN BOSTON AND THERE ARE NO WORDS TO TELL YOU HOW FABULOUS THEY ARE. WHAT A GREAT SHOW. WE WILL ALL BE WAITING FOR THE JERSEY BOYS BACK IN BOSTON. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME WE SEE IT, AND COUNTING. THANKS GUYS YOU REALLY REALLY ROCK! MARY & THE GANG

    Comment by MARY GALLAGHER — October 2, 2009 @ 1:11 pm

  3. Joseph was excellent in the role of Frankie! His portrayal was passionate, fresh and kind of sexy. His voice is great.

    Comment by Jackie — November 29, 2009 @ 11:05 pm

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