October 16, 2011

Photo Coverage & Recap: Rick Faugno Weekend!

October 16th, 2011

(Photo Credits: Kathy Johnstone, Linda Lipsius, Krystal Thomsen & JBB Tech Half)

It’s hard to believe that it has been a week since Rick Faugno’s phenomenal final performance as Frankie Valli in the JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas cast. As I thought about a recap, many of Marshall Brickman’s and Rick Elice’s best JB lines popped into my head. I jotted down some thoughts; the Tech Half and I did a quick Photobucket arrangement; and the whole world exploded!

Thinking back to last week’s show on October 9: “Sometimes it just clicks with people.”

“They ask me, what was the high point”: Seeing full house audience’s reaction to the Boys’ struggles in the early days; their excitement with the Seasons’ rise to the top of the charts; their shock during the sit-down scene; their tears of joy during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame scene? Watching the hard-working, talented cast on that stage, taking the audience on an amazing two-hour ride? Seeing “the kid who sings like an angel” one last time on that stage as some of us kept “tearing up”? The standing ovations for Rick as “the song that almost never saw the light of day sells three million copies”? It was all great…

The evening ended much too soon—with one of the best audiences EVER at the Palazzo, with extended applause, laughter, tears, cheers, and a standing ovation for the entire cast! Then, close to a dozen female fans rushed the stage and threw individual long-stemmed roses at Rick’s feet at the very end. He picked them up with a big smile and held them behind his back as the guys ran offstage.

Following the gracious cast taking time with fans for chats and photos, Rick’s send-off party was held at the lavishly hip LAVO Lounge, with the JB cast, “Virgin Alexander” directors Charlotte Barrett & Sean Fallon, Vegas luminaries, including Robin Leach and Las Vegas Sun Entertainment Columnist John Katsilometes, and JB fans Martha Grooms, Kathy Johstone, Linda Lipsius, Linda SooHoo, Stubbleyou, & Krystal Thomsen, along with the JBB Tech Half & I.

Don’t think we were done celebrating! The following evening, we attended Rick Faugno’s one-man show, “Body & Soul” at the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton! Rick was spectacular as he brought a new twist to some of the classics of the last six decades (including two of my personal Wow’s! of the evening—“The Best Is Yet To Come” & “Mack the Knife”), his amazing dance moves, and two awesome original songs as Rick “played like a madman” on the piano!

I could just keep going and going and going…but we’ll keep chasing the music as we thank Rick Faugno for his fantastic five years with JERSEY BOYS and wish him all the best in his future creative endeavors!

3 Comments »

  1. It truly was “Oh What A Night” and ended much to soon..But I second everything Susie said so need to repeat….wish Rick and Joyce nothing but the best and love them both. Till next time XXOOO

    Comment by Kathy Johnstone — October 17, 2011 @ 9:42 am

  2. I miss Rick already!!! So glad we got to see his last performance as Frankie Valli. Why does everyone leave??? Thanks for all the photos, Susie and Dale.

    Comment by Linda — October 17, 2011 @ 9:24 pm

  3. Great write up, Susie. Wish I could have been there! Wish Rick all good things in the future, and have no doubt he will have continued success. With all that talent??

    Comment by Pamela — October 19, 2011 @ 8:22 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post. | TrackBack URI

Please leave a comment