Jersey Boys Blog

Jersey Boys Blog is excited to present an interview with Bob and Judy Green, Kyrsten Green’s parents, who talk about a thrill of a lifetime–seeing their daughter Kyrsten in a BC/EFA walk-on role in Jersey Boys!

JBB: Tell us about yourselves.

The Green Family: We are Judy and Bob Green, and we reside in Orwigsburg, PA, a small town near Allentown, PA. Both of our children are currently attending college; our daughter Kyrsten at West Virginia University, and our son Jordan at Penn College. Kyrsten is a Broadcast Communications major and Dance minor, and Jordan is a Business major. Kyrsten has been a dancer as long as she’s been walking. Jordan is involved in sports. Judy is a real estate broker and I operate a wireless communications business. We’ve been hooked on Broadway for a long time.

JBB: When did you first hear about Jersey Boys, and what sparked your interest in the show?

Bob Green: I took notice that the show opened on Broadway when were in the city for a day trip in December ’05. We didn’t have time to see it that day, but knowing it was about Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, I put it at the top of my ‘must-see’ list. I have been a fan of the group since I was a teenager.

Throughout high school, I played drums in a local group (The Livin’ End) and we learned many of the early Four Seasons’ songs. We were fortunate to have a lead singer (Peter) who had the vocal range to do Frankie’s parts. We went on to win a number of Battle-of-the-Bands in PA; with our featured song being none other than….”Sherry”!

JBB: How many times have you seen Jersey Boys, and what keeps bringing you back?

BG: We’ve seen the show twice but we plan to revisit whenever possible. We’ve been telling everyone we know what a great show it is since the first time we saw it. The folks who have taken our advice all agree, it’s a winner!! We’re planning to go this summer with a group of friends who haven’t seen it yet.

JBB: Congratulations on winning the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) Jersey Boys walk-on role for your daughter Kyrsten! How did you become acquainted with the BC/EFA campaign and the walk-on role opportunity?

BG: We had seen the show for the first time last November (’06) when Kyrsten was home for Thanksgiving break. It seemed that Jersey Boys was all we talked about through the Thanksgiving weekend. We bought the CD and the show grew on us even more.

One Sunday morning I was surfing the web and I found the Jersey Boys Blog website. I also ran across Charity Folks online auctions, where, among many other things, a Jersey Boys Walk-On auction was in process. I thought this would make a great Christmas gift for Kyrsten, while giving much needed help to the fight to find a cure for AIDS.

JBB: What was it like to see your daughter on stage in the hottest Broadway show? What stands out as the most memorable part of the event?

BG: Over three months elapsed between Christmas and the scheduled show date. In January, the arrangements were finalized with the people from Charity Folks and BC/EFA. Arrangements were made with Michael Clarkston, the stage manager, and Lee Austin of the Jersey Boys wardrobe department to accommodate Kyrsten. We must tell you that all of these people were GREAT and they went above and beyond the call of duty to be sure the experience was all it could be.

We were told that Kyrsten needed to be at the theatre early on the day of the performance for wardrobe, makeup, hair, and rehearsal. Frank Conway from BC/EFA met us at our hotel and walked Kyrsten and I to the theatre. Inside the stage door we met Bobby (J. Robert) Spencer who chatted with us for a few minutes. I quietly told Kyrsten “break a leg” and made my way back to our hotel.

About a dozen of our family’s closest friends came to see Kyrsten’s ‘Broadway Debut.’ The fact that these fine folks took time from their busy schedules to be part of the experience meant so much to Judy and myself. We toasted Kyrsten before, during (at intermission) and after the performance. My wife told me she thought I was more excited than my daughter; I think it was just parental pride spilling out.

Kyrsten’s role was that of a bar patron in the “Moody’s Mood for Love” scene. She was then supposed to watch the rest of the show from back stage with the stage managers. Judy and I were seated in the second row. It seemed like forever ’til the show progressed to that scene. Then…. there she was… She looked so grown up. She played opposite Peter Gregus. They were a couple on at date at the club. This was an indescribable feeling, seeing my little girl on that stage, in that show, with those terrific actors. The scene went perfectly, although I did have my fingers crossed when she had to ascend the stairway in those high heels to make her exit. (I kept thinking – please don’t miss a step!) Anyway, Judy said I was noticeably more at ease for the rest of the show.

Here’s the good part: At the end of the show, right after the “Who Loves You” finale the full cast was on stage taking their bows. I figured I’d sneak a few pictures of the cast as a remembrance of the show before we were to head backstage to meet Kyrsten. As it turned out, Peter arranged for Kyrsten to be allowed to come on stage for a bow with the cast. He even introduced her and she received her own round of applause. I managed to take a few pictures of this through my tears of joy.

JBB: What did this incredible experience mean to you as a family?

BG: When we say this is the thrill of a lifetime, we really mean it. Our whole family, our best friends, Broadway; it doesn’t get much better than this! The memory of this event will last forever for all of us. All this and helping BC/EFA, too.

No matter where life may lead Kyrsten, she can always look back at her one night as a ‘Jersey Girl.’

JBB: Anything else that you’d like to share about Jersey Boys or your family’s big event?

BG: After the show Jordan, Judy, and myself went backstage to meet Kyrsten and the cast members. They are all wonderful people and are very deserving of their success. They all took time for pictures and to chat with us. Throughout this whole experience, everyone treated us like royalty. Special thanks to Peter and Jennifer and the others who took Kyrsten under their wing!

I spoke to JLY privately and related the story of my band winning trophies with the song, “Sherry.” He told me it must be like “tripping through the time tunnel” for me. John, you have no idea how true that is….. and THANKS!

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Bob and Judy Green once again for sharing their family’s exciting experience as their daughter Kyrsten made her ‘Broadway debut’ at the August Wilson Theatre with Jersey Boys’ cast and crew!