A Jersey Style Birthday Bash–The Palazzo Celebration!
May 12th, 2008Oh, What A Gala–Saturday, May 3, 2008–Jersey Boys Opening Night at The Palazzo!!
Photos by the Tech Half and Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar.
Walking into the magnificent Palazzo on Saturday evening, May 3, 2008 for one of the most exciting things ever to hit Las Vegas–Jersey Boys Opening Night Gala and Frankie Valli’s 74th birthday celebration–was a night like no other!
The minute we entered the Jersey Boys Theatre area, we were welcomed, first at the box office, then by the associates at Frankie’s, the Jersey Boys Store! It was so great to hear, “Hey, you guys are with the blog! Have fun tonight!†Then, one of the associates shared a funny story from the previous week. She told us that there was this “really tall, good looking guy with silver hair who came into the gift shop.†She asked him if he had seen Jersey Boys yet. The tall, handsome man said, “Yes, I’ve seen it about 2,000 times!†She later found out it was the real Bob Gaudio!
We began our evening at a marvelous pre-show cocktail party at the totally swanky Dos Caminos restaurant, hosted by Gordon Kelly, Dodger’s Marketing Manager. It was a pleasure to meet so many of his colleagues who are working on Jersey Boys online, along with JB Podcasters Christy and Steve Holden and JB tour publicist Kent McIngvale!
Following the marvelous gathering, we found our terrific seats—sitting right next to Christy and Steve Holden! We see so many stars! Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, Bob Crewe, Frankie Avalon—just to name a few! The cast was RED HOT! The critics have already raved about the energy and electricity of Opening Night–so I’ll just mention a few of my most favorite moments:
- Jeremy Kushnier telling the audience, “I’m the guy you wanna talk to, because the whole thing started with me and his incredible rendition “Silhouettes”!
- Erich Bergen’s “Cry for Meâ€!
- Jeff Leibow’s rant in Gyp DeCarlo’s basement!
- Rick Faugno’s “Beggin’,†“CTMEOY,†and “Fallen Angel” (Not a dry eye in the house!)
- Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Bob Crewe joining the spectacular Vegas cast at curtain call for a thunderous standing ovation!
Following the amazing standing ovation, the Gala attendees were guided to the escalators to the Venetian ballroom by gorgeous sign-toting greeters and a phenomenal waterfall projecting the JERSEY BOYS logo. On the way to the ballroom, it was wonderful to chat with “Jersey Babys” Executive Producer Danielle Gaudio-Lalehzar and her husband Sal!
The ballroom? Check out the photos! Everything from a backdrop of Four Seasons’ photos, album covers, and memorabilia going back nearly 50 years; a video montage; Go-Go dancers on an amazing dance floor with some of the greatest music of the last 40 years; and how about the coolest classic cars on display?!?! Of course, there was a luscious array of gourmet foods, sumptuous desserts, and cocktails (how could anyone resist the oh so smooth “Walk Like A Manhattanâ€)!
Without a doubt, one of the most wonderful memories of the evening was seeing Jersey Boys Erich Bergen, Rick Faugno, Jeremy Kushnier, and Jeff Leibow’s accapella rendition of “Happy Birthday†to the legendary Frankie Valli! The whole room EXPLODED as these incredible talented men serenaded the man of honor! Frankie then blew out the candles on his cake and thanked everyone associated with Jersey Boys!
Meeting the many Jersey Boys cast members, the creative team, and other musical and artistic geniuses was among the evening’s highlights! Along with the incredible cast members and their families, it was terrific to chat with Jersey Boys Producer Michael David, Four Seasons attorney Peter Bennett, JB orchestrator Steve Orich and his wife Judy; “Jersey Babys” artistic director Shannon Gaudio; “Jersey Babys” arranger and co-producer (and Frankie Valli’s musical director) Robby Robinson; Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice; and also had a terrific time chatting with Jonathan Rodriguez’s proud parents!!
We would like to say special thanks to Gordon Kelly, Dodger Theatricals Marketing Manager for this incredible Opening Night Gala invitation and to the cast and creative team for such a spectacular show, the most wonderful evening, and for supporting the blog!
Great write-up, great pix. Frankie looks SO happy and relaxed in the photos.
Now, where can we hear the birthday song?
Comment by stubbleyou — May 13, 2008 @ 12:31 am
Susie and Dale, this was a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s wonderful to see all the joy and love among the Jersey Boys family, but even more wonderful to see that you and Dale were there. You are so deserving, and to be greeted with “hey, you guys are with the blog” must have been a real thrill.
Also nice to see pix of Danielle and Shannon Gaudio and Robby Robinson while listening day after day to “Jersey Babys”, which all my co-workers have come to love too. Great to see Steve and Christy as well, who have done some classic interviews on the Podcast. (Loved the recent Tommy DeVito ones.) And Kent McIngvale, who is loved by the touring cast, was there to boot! The list goes on and on!
I second your thanks to Gordon Kelly for his including you both and validating three years of your contributions and helping build a mind-boggling legion of fans and keeping us all up-to-date on everything Four Seasons and everything Jersey Boys.
Comment by Howard Tucker — May 13, 2008 @ 2:43 am
SU – It sounded like the same arrangement by Ron Melrose as used to sing Happy Birthday to Katie Couric by the OBC. I think I saw/heard it on the Vegas Happens Here web site.
Comment by David Cace — May 13, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Great coverage of the Vegas gala–loved the photos! What a great time everyone must have had!
Comment by Cheryl — May 14, 2008 @ 8:42 am
You can feel the excitement and pizzazz of the whole event- start to finish- in your report, Susie. The consummate Vegas event celebrating the ideal Vegas show! I can just hear the thunderous applause you described when Frankie, Bob and the others came up on stage.
Having followed the show’s growth and broad expansion over the last couple years, the guests that you chatted with have become household names. Forget the Oscar winners, the Emmy winners…you can hire those folks. But- Michael David, Gordon Kelly, Rick Elice & Marshall Brickman, Danielle & Shannon Gaudio, Steve Orich, Robby Robinson and Kent McIngvale- now those names are music to the ears of devoted JB fans. (oops, I don’t want to leave Peter Bennett out…for legal reasons:))
Thank goodness I had the good fortune to be in that theater on the opening night of previews and experience firsthand the magic, star quality and warmth of this cast. Now, about that really tall, good-looking guy who’s seen the show about 2,000 times…he’s really messin’ with the curve in our “Number of Times You’ve Seen JB’ poll. Can someone have a talk with this guy or at least get his secret? Okay, okay…I guess there ARE advantages to being a musical & creative marvel in your own time.
Susie & Dale, we trust we’ll be seeing your exposé of such amazing events in the years ahead. A special thank you to Tech Half and Danielle Gaudio for such extensive photo coverage, too. We really depend on all you do.
Comment by Audrey — May 15, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
Susie and Dale,
What wonderful coverage! Thanks for the detailed report and great photos.
I am so glad that you were able to attend the Gala Event and be a part of the celebration–you deserve it!
Thanks again for taking so much of your time to maintain the blog and keep us all up-to-date on Jersey Boys’ happenings…God Bless!
Comment by Dina F. — May 17, 2008 @ 2:51 am
The music and the personna of The 4 Seasons led me to my career as a musician, music teacher, and bandleader. The Seasons’ music was always unique sounding, highly creative, and pleasure to experience. I saw the Broadway version of “Jersey Boys” last summer and will go to see the Touring show in Pittsburgh in 2009. CONGRATULATIONS on your unparalled success, and finally getting the recognition and attention you have worked so long and hard for all these years.
Comment by R. A. MILLER — May 18, 2008 @ 12:21 am
Love Jersey Boys Awesome….Saw it and i would not mind seeing over and over again, went out and bought all the cd’s i could of Frankie Valli and the four seasons, such great talent, Bob you are a great songwriter and singer and Frankie you sing awesome. Thanks for letting other generations fall in love with your music and talent….I was born in the 70′s and i call only tell you that i love Jersey Boys…..
Comment by Mari Gaines — May 21, 2008 @ 5:11 pm
my wife and i saw frankie valli and the 4 seasons 40 yrs ago @ the coconut grove we went to see frankie again when he preformed @ pechanga casino last year the show was great he still has the drawing power he really is like the energizer bunny we saw jb @ the oc performing arts what a fab show we have been fans for over 40 yrs grew up on their music continued and well deserved success
Comment by TOM AND FRANCESCA — June 20, 2008 @ 6:00 pm