Jersey Boys Blog

Photos 1-27 courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com

Reporting all the Jersey Boys’ news updates, weekly box office grosses, cast members’ concerts and benefit appearances, and of course, the JBB Fantastic Fan Interviews and JBB EXCLUSIVE Interviews is generally the most entertaining and enjoyable part of my day. So, why has it been so tough to post a good-bye and a thank you to Daniel Reichard now that he has played his final performance as Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys?

How could you not connect to Daniel’s portrayal of Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys at La Jolla Playhouse in the fall of 2004? This young, young, young, young man (to quote Bob Crewe) introduced himself as: “Hi. Bob Gaudio. Last piece of the puzzle.” That young man brought the house down with “Cry For Me” (a song I suspect not many people in the audience had heard before) and his hilarious saga of losing his virginity as he belted out “Oh, What a Night”! His portrayal from his early days as a teenage songwriting genius to “Bobby Businessman” was F***IN’ AMAZING, as Joe Pesci would say! A year later, in his Broadway debut, Daniel Reichard’s portrayal of Bob Gaudio was even more phenomenal than a year before in La Jolla–with the crowd going insane with wild cheers and ovations as he, Bobby, Christian, and John Lloyd brought the Four Seasons’ story to the stage!

On our return NYC visit, shortly after Jersey Boys’ big Tony win, we had the marvelous opportunity to interview Daniel before a Sunday performance. Interviewing Daniel was a blast! He began by telling us that his family checks the blog daily to see what’s going on with him and the show! Finding out about what it was like to grow up as the second youngest of nine kids in a Cleveland suburb was especially fascinating, considering the Tech Half and I also “did some time in old Ohio.” Then, we talked about the early days at La Jolla Playhouse, his Broadway debut, his passion as a concert singer, and of course, the Tony win! Here’s a bit of what he said about that magical evening:

Performing at Radio City Music Hall for the show was a big enough thrill. I remember coming offstage, beaming and trembling. I thought to myself, ‘Well, if we don’t win for Best Musical, at least we gave them hell out there…and I just played Radio City!!’ When Julie Andrews said ‘And the Tony goes to…Jer…’ I jumped out of my seat. We were all so elated. My entire family (except my one sister who lives in Japan with her family) was sitting in the first mezzanine at Radio City, so that added to the overwhelming excitement.

It may be hard to believe, but our second interview with Daniel was even more fun than our first! More stories from his days as a kid–in particular–how he used to make mixed tapes that his mom would send off to the older siblings in college. These mixed tapes, in fact, were the inspiration for his upcoming summer show! It was incredible to hear the passion for his upcoming concert, and for singing in general! Those stories, along with Daniel’s thoughts on how Jersey Boys had evolved, recording the Jersey Boys Original Cast Recording (including recording “Cry For Me” in two takes), Bob Gaudio’s “listening party,” and the inspiration he has received from the guy he was playing eight times a week, were awesome!

During the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Bob Gaudio tells the audience, “that none of this could’ve happened…without me.” That line is true about Daniel, too! Daniel’s beautiful voice, his amazingly convincing portrayal as the young Bob Gaudio, and his commitment to giving his best every time he entered the stage were a big part of the magic of Jersey Boys!

We wish Daniel all the best as he moves on to perform in “Candide” in April, and for whatever he chooses to do in the future! Not that I’m one to make predictions (okay, back in ’04, I did predict that JB would take home two Tonys), but perhaps a Grammy or another Tony may be in Daniel’s future!?! It could happen!

Daniel Reichard–thank you for the last three years of playing Bob Gaudio; for giving so many fans so much joy on stage, at the stage door and in your phenomenal concert performances all over New York; and personally, for giving me and the Tech Half some of our most memorable interview experiences!