September 27, 2010

Joseph Leo Bwarie Reflects on Living His Dream

September 27th, 2010

Joseph Leo Bwarie
Joseph Leo Bwarie (Photo by: Joan Marcus)

The JERSEY BOYS national tour is opening this Thursday at Philadelphia’s Forrest Theatre for a run through December 12. Sally Friedman of the Courier Post has a marvelous feature interview with Joseph Leo Bwarie! Below is a preview:

If ever there were a dream role for an actor, it’s the golden opportunity to play Frankie Valli himself. And recently, Joseph Bwarie, that most lucky fellow, took some time out from the national tour to reflect on the enormous pleasures — and occasional perils — of the role. A former child actor from Sherman Oaks, Calif., Bwarie will be the first to tell you that this experience is like no other in his life — and one that he honestly believes will never be replicated.

“This may sound like a cliche, but this show has magic. It’s in a class by itself,” says Bwarie, who stepped into the role in 2007 after an ironic string of circumstances. Long before he ever auditioned for the part, he remembered his dad playing the music of The Four Seasons on the radio of the family car, a Toyota station wagon.

“Dad always had the oldies station on, and I found myself really liking their music. I probably wouldn’t have admitted it then, but there was some quality in it that reached me.”

That all came rushing back when friends of the actor who had seen the Broadway production kept calling him to say, “You’ve got to play Frankie Valli! It’s the role for you.”

When singer Carole King, who was in the audience when Bwarie was performing at a benefit, said the very same thing, the actor was, in his words, “awed and amazed.”

Visit CourierPostOnline.com for the full interview.

5 Comments »

  1. It is great to hear the enthusiasm that Joseph has shown throughout his career with Jersey Boys. He is absolutely wonderful! I only hope he continues his run for a very long time…or at least until the show comes back to Atlanta. Life on the road cannot be easy, but these guys bring magic to the stage city after city. They are all amazing!

    Comment by Carolyn — September 28, 2010 @ 8:24 am

  2. Joseph is in a class by himself. I have met him at vaious stage doors and he is always a gracious young man. He has a mesmerizing voice and stage presence. The folks in Philly are lucky to have him as their “Frankie” and I look foward to seeing him again on Dec 4th.

    Comment by gladys — September 28, 2010 @ 10:00 am

  3. Another great interview with Joe. I’d like nothing more than to see him continue with Jersey Boys until the tour ends, but I am also excited to see what great things are in store for this incredibly talented man in the future.

    Comment by Pamela — September 28, 2010 @ 10:34 am

  4. A talent like Joseph is a rare find indeed.

    Comment by Gigi — September 29, 2010 @ 11:18 am

  5. Joe is an absolutely fantastic Frankie, and such a nice guy as well. I’m looking forward to seeing him again in Philadelphia…but also looking forward to what the future has in store for this phenomenally talented gentleman.

    Comment by Shelley — September 29, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

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