Jersey Boys in Windy City–Nothing Short of Amazing One Year Later
October 23rd, 2008Philip Potempo of NWITimes.com states that Jersey Boys still hitting all the Broadway high notes after first year and treating audiences to a theater experience that ranks as nothing short of amazing.
Broadway in Chicago announced last month that actor Jarrod Spector, who had been playing Valli for the Chicago run, would be leaving the show for Broadway. The Chicago company of “Jersey Boys” has since welcomed Chicagoan Cory Grant to the role of Valli beginning Saturday, Sept. 27.
A native of Winnetka, Ill., and graduate of New Trier High School, Grant returns to his hometown after 10 months in the Broadway ensemble of “Jersey Boys.” Potempo was curious to see how Grant would fill the famous shoes of Valli, in addition to crooning with that famous falsetto voice. Potempo reported that he had been impressed with Spector from the first two times he enjoyed the show and he was happy to discover Grant is every bit as great as Spector and even looks more like Valli.
So far, in just the past year, “Jersey Boys” has delighted more than 750,000 theatergoers, according to Broadway In Chicago President Lou Raizin.
As for the show’s staying power, the musical’s producer Michael David is convinced it will stay around the Loop for a long time.
“What a wonderful year this has been, and we are profoundly grateful for it,” David said.
