Jersey Boys 2nd Natl Tour Has Triumphant Return to Pittsburgh!
September 10th, 2012Check out a sneak peek of Sharon Eberson’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette marvelous review of the second national tour JERSEY BOYS production in Pittsburgh:
“Jersey Boys,” the musical based on the lives of The Four Seasons and its breakout star, Frankie Valli, returned to Pittsburgh packing the chart-topping hits and compelling story that catapulted the show to worldwide acclaim. Seeing the show again feels like a reunion with old friends who have dropped by to relive the glory days and the rough times, accompanied by a soundtrack to die for.
Not your typical jukebox musical, “Jersey Boys” is based on the band’s true-life story. Lead singer Frankie Valli’s trademark falsetto is delivered by Brian Weinstock. His Frankie is both nervous and nervie when we meet him as a teenage street singer. He encounters back-room baddies sporting the Italian-New Jersey flavor and profanity-laced dialogue of TV’s “The Sopranos” and is discovered by the charismatic Tommy DeVito, a singer-musician who recognizes that Frankie “has the voice of an angel.”
Colby Foytik captures the complexities of Tommy, a character at once lovable and magnetic, dangerous and self-serving. His energy as a narrator propels the story, while each of the band members takes a turn addressing the audience.
PG VIDEOWith bassist Nick Massi (Brandon Andrus), Tommy and Frankie struggle mightily before being introduced to Bob Gaudio (Jason Kappus) by a future Hollywood actor — you won’t be surprised to find out he’s a Jersey boy. Gaudio is bursting to write for Frankie’s voice, and suddenly The Four Season explodes on the scene with three No. 1 songs: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man” — a high point of any “Jersey Boys” production.
Click HERE to read the entire review.
