John Lloyd Young’s Life At The Top
April 19th, 2007Bergen Record’s Virginia Rohan has written a terrific article about a real Jersey City boy–John Lloyd Young! Young talks to Rohan about his Tony Award-winning role as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys; what he did to prepare for the part; his life before his breakout role; and his future.
When a show called Jersey Boys becomes an overnight sensation, what happens to the life of its actual Jersey-boy star? According to JLY,
It’s taken it over. It’s far more than I expected it would be. … It was only by accident that I realized, ‘Oh, I also have to be an ambassador for this entire production and for Broadway.
Rohan finds Young’s candor about the turmoil that accompanied his triumphs of the past year and a half really striking. JLY states,
It was exhilarating, but it was also emotionally painful. Someone told me ‘the wind blows strongest at the top of the flagpole,’ and I was like, yeah, I guess this means I’m doing something that people are noticing.
By Young’s count, Valli has seen him in the role eight times, and he takes it as a “high compliment†that the singing legend has often said Young’s performance spooks him a bit. “It means I’m getting too close for comfort, and that’s my goal as an actor. … I think it’s more interesting to an audience to look inside somebody and see their vulnerabilities.â€
Young is the son of an “East Coast WASP†dad (who was in the military) and an Italian-American mom, the actor describes his background as “a nice meeting of the stiff upper lip and the simmering, uncontrolled emotions of a hot-blooded Sicilian underneath.â€
Though he looked at photos of the Stephen Crane projects in Newark, where Valli grew up, he already had a “personal context†for playing the role: His maternal grandfather, whom he thanks in his Playbill bio, was a first-generation Italian-American from Brooklyn and then Queens. Young’s mom died of cystic fibrosis when he was 2, but as a kid he spent every summer with his Italian-American relatives in Whitestone. “Those summers were very important to me,†he says. “My father remarried, and I had a happy childhood, but it was detached from my [Italian-American] roots. This show allows me to connect to what I always yearned for — my own history.â€
Thanks to a renegotiation following his Tony win, JLY now does six shows a week–a more manageable schedule. On the day of this interview, Young’s first contract extension was about to expire, but his agents were working on another one. At deadline, word was that he’ll remain with the show for quite a while.
Young also has a one-year talent-holding deal with ABC but says,
I am only interested in leaving the role of a lifetime for something that I’ve either always wanted to do or for the elusive other role of a lifetime, which would render the saying ‘role of a lifetime’ null and void.
John, as far as being an ambassador, how many Tony winning stars would hand-write thank you notes to fans, send out holiday cards, sign autographs and pose for pictures after each and every performance, smile in recognition from the stage, and use their celebrity to promote causes like BC/EFA and St. Lucy’s?
Yes, the book and music are pheonomenal, but part of the excitement of coming back with our friends over and over is to have them experience the graciousness of Christian, Bobby, Daniel, John Lloyd, et al. So many friends ask, “Really? I can see the guys by the stage door? I’ve never been to a stage door before.” And never has anyone from the cast been anything but friendly, polite, and patient, and even more so to youngsters.
I compare this to a day many years ago when I took a young cousin to a baseball team’s photo day, which happens only once a year. Most players were kind, but several obviously did not want to be there and pose, and let my cousin know it. How many times do you think we returned??
You’ve done far more than you “have to”, John, and everyone knows it, and it’s fed the show’s success even more. Thank you.
Comment by Howard Tucker — April 20, 2007 @ 1:17 am
I agree with my friend, Howard, who so eloquently expresses what so many of us feel. I loved other shows (not as much as this one) but some of them had the potential to bring me back to see them for a second and third time. I must say I only saw one of these shows a second time.
What is it about Jersey Boys that has brought me back 13 times?
It is the performers, their congeniality and attention to the fans, their from – the- heart appreciation for the fans. People do things in their lives when they have a sense of ownership – inclusion. This is what the Jersey Boys cast does for all of us, the fans. We all feel part of the show and its success. The attention to and appreciation for the fans by Daniel, John, Bobby and Christian and the rest of the cast are a huge factor in the immense success of the show.
When I speak to anyone who has seen the show, the individual cast members relation with the fans always emerges as the main catalyst for bringing fans back to see the show. These are wonderful guys – the fans know that and the guys appreciate it and show it!
IE
Comment by Irene Eizen — April 20, 2007 @ 10:22 am
John, I feel the way you acted before and after the Tony Awards is why the show’s such a success. You always give all the Jersey Boys credit.I’ve never heard you take all the glory. That’s why you guys are great together. I love the magic the 4 of you have. That’s great chemistry! Thea
Comment by THEA — April 20, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Gosh, how do I follow up two great postings? I am just in complete agreement with Irene and Howard. The cast is so loving and warm. It is nice to see them take their time to talk with fans after the show. I have heard this many times, the cast of Jersey Boys is the nicest cast on Broadway.
Comment by A — April 20, 2007 @ 4:14 pm
I totally agree that at least half of the success of this show is the sincere kindness and appreciation that JLY, Christian, Bobby and Daniel show their fans…whether they are meeting them for the first time at the stage door or greeting them for the tenth time. I had the good fortune of meeting the cast and Bob Gaudio at thweir CD cast signing after Jersey Boys had just opened on Broadway for a couple of weeks. They were just as humble and welcoming when I saw their show the following March and again in August . . . and even recognized me from the first event! This cast entertains and connects with their music . . . and with their audience. You can’t imagine how thrilled I am to return to NYC next week!
Comment by LuluThompson — April 20, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
Does John L Young sing any Wed afternoon performances?
Comment by Daniel Cross — April 29, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Hi Daniel,
JLY does six performances per week (Tues, Weds evenings, Thurs, Friday, Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoons). Michael Longoria plays Frankie Valli at the Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
Comment by Administrator — April 29, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Saw John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys in August of 2012. Oh what a night! This guy is great – I don’t know what else to say. Sorry he’s leaving the show in September – he’s truly going to be missed.
Comment by Louise Recchial — October 18, 2012 @ 6:06 am