Jeff Madden: From Dartmouth to Jersey
June 16th, 2009
Entertainment Reporter Andrea Nemetz of The Chronicle Herald has a terrific interview with JERSEY BOYS Toronto’s Frankie Valli, Jeff Madden!
Jeff Madden didn’t know that Frankie Valli led a tragic life. Neither do a lot of theatre-goers. That’s part of the magic of Jersey Boys, says Madden, who stars as Valli in the hit musical onstage at Toronto Centre For the Arts, which recently snagged seven Dora nominations, including nods for all four actors portraying Jersey Boys.
“The audience knows most of the songs, but they don’t know anything about the story, how these four guys came from nothing to be huge stars. The story hooks you in, you get so caught up in emotion,” says Madden.
“And Frankie’s story is so incredibly tragic. Two of his daughters have died, he went through three heartbreaking divorces and guys left the band and all he wanted to do was sing in the band but things kept happening. Things happened that should have given him joy, but he was almost robbed of that joy because so much else was happening in his life. It’s almost cathartic to go through that roller coaster.”
Madden’s path to success has been more traditional, paying his dues and earning progressively higher-profile roles.
Visit TheChronicleHerald.ca to find out about Jeff’s early days in bands at school in Dartmouth, getting into theatre while in college, his work with the Shaw Festival, and his amazing ride in JERSEY BOYS!
