The Odds Are–Jersey Boys Will ROCK Vegas!
May 6th, 2007In today’s San Diego Union-Tribune, the headline states, “Las Vegas to roll the dice on Jersey Boys.”
Las Vegas has a spotty record hosting full-scale Broadway musicals. But if any show can beat the odds on the Strip, it’s Jersey Boys. The La Jolla Playhouse megahit, now a top seller on the Great White Way, will open early next year at a new 1600-seat theater being built at the $2.6 billion Palazzo casino and resort.
The company is headed by billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who announced last week that he was bringing the Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Playhouse former artistic director Des McAnuff, to his new development.
Jersey Boys (book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio) charts the rags-to-riches-to-breakup story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Currently the hottest ticket on Broadway, the show’s first touring version was extended in San Francisco and visits San Diego in October. A second national tour will open for a sit-down run in Chicago, and a London production is in the offing.
After the success of several Cirque de Soleil-style spectacles at Vegas casinos, a string of Broadway shows followed. Several had truncated runs. A 90-minute version of the Jack O’Brien-directed “Hairspray†folded after four months at the Luxor. “Avenue Q†– the hipster puppet-and-people musical for downtowners – opened in a specially constructed theater at the Wynn last year instead of touring. “Avenue Q†lasted nine months there; it launches a tour this summer after a monthlong Old Globe-sponsored run at the Spreckels Theatre downtown.
The jury is still out on two major Broadway hits that opened recently in Vegas: “Monty Python’s Spamalot†settled into the Wynn Las Vegas in April and “The Producers†(about to close on Broadway) landed at the Paris hotel-casino in February.
Wonder what the odds are for Jersey Boys becoming the most successful Broadway show EVER to hit the Strip?
With the exception of “Mamma Mia”, the shows I’ve seen in Vegas have been abbreviated versions of the originals, with the rationale being that the theatergoers’ attention spans are limited by their eagerness to get into the casinos to gamble.
I’d like to think the absolutely huge buzz “Jersey Boys” has received all over the world will indeed make it the most successful Broadway show ever to hit the strip. Detractors in Vegas have commented on each of the above shows: “Avenue Q” (too New York), and “Hairspray”, “The Producers”, and “Spamalot” (based on movies–been there, done that). “Jersey Boys” is a total original with a marvelous book, and recognizable iconic music. I hope the Vegas audience is treated to the unabridged version!
And indeed, clients of mine in Spain, Germany, Holland, and especially England want to see “Jersey Boys” when they visit the US. The test will be when I’m in American Samoa next month!
Comment by Howard Tucker — May 11, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
I think, without a doubt, Jersey Boys will be among the top (3) of the Most successful production in Vegas, if not the Most successful. Right here in Los Angeles, from what I have heard, it has been averaging at least $1.2 million every week….what more in Vegas.
Wow ! I can just imagine whoever the cast will be for the Jersey Boys production in Vegas will hit it big. Hope they announce it soon.
Comment by Mila — August 30, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Can’t wait! If the production team of Brickman & Elice, plus GaVa, decided to keep it at 2.5 hrs, then we’re all in for a treat! The cast will be different (hopefully with some already familiar faces within the cast…..), but am sure that the usual high quality of the cast will shine through and we’ll enjoy the show as we’ve done in NY and in CA.
I think that if they tweak or change the script to edit songs or eliminate parts altogether, it will take more work to do so. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”!!!!!
Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — August 30, 2007 @ 5:53 pm