October 28, 2007

“The Plan” Becomes “The Party” and Oh, What A Night It Was!

October 28th, 2007

You wanna begin at the beginning. You ask eight Jersey Boys’ fans how it happened, you’ll get eight pretty similar versions. And this is where all of ‘em start. Back in August ’07 at the beautiful Petrossian Restaurant on 58th Street. A few guys (and gals) celebrating and talking about Jersey Boys and the 4 Seasons–and “The Plan” took shape.

More ‘sit downs’ (by phone, thousands of miles away) with Irene and Buz Eizen. Bells were going off big time for Irene! With the assistance of a couple of guys–one was a Jersey guy (David Cace) and the other a Brooklyn guy (Charles Alexander), the Jersey Boys Fans Unite to Support BC/EFA idea was born!

Sunday, October 21, 2007–Jersey Boys Fans Unite to Support BC/EFA: Irene, you were confident an event like this could happen! It did happen–at the fabulous Marriott Marquis Hotel in the beautiful View Bar, overlooking Times Square!

The incredibly multi-talented Jersey Boys cast, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and the Four Seasons–yes, Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Joe Long all together! WOW! An Oscar winner, Tony winners, Grammy winners, and the greatest musical group of all time–all in one place–meeting, greeting, and welcoming the fans!

It was an amazing experience to meet so many Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondents and JBB Fantastic Fans last Sunday evening! In her moving speech, Irene said that Jersey Boys Blog “continues to make a great show a greater experience”! Irene, all we did was build the house–you and the other fans have made it a home!

The Jersey Boys cast, Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice, the Four Seasons, and the fans–all came together for this incredible evening to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and raised $40,000 for BC/EFA!

14 Comments »

  1. Susie and Dale, thank you so much. What a surprise! You showed the magnets, thats so funny. Here I’m enjoying the pictures, and then I start cracking up. You two are the best, you made my day..Thanks again, have a wonderful week..Jody

    Comment by Jody Cardillo — October 29, 2007 @ 12:01 am

  2. Jody, Your Jersey Boys Addiction Distraction Disorder magnet is on our refrigerator. I love it, and it means a lot to my wife, who’s ready to send me to rehab, I think. While I’ve seen the show 51 times, she’s maxed out at 7. Can you imagine that? I think she’s ready to start a Jersey Boys abandoned spouses support group.

    The great thing about the party was that it wasn’t just the presence of the Jersey Boys and Four Seasons or the planning by Irene and David and me or the promotion by Susie and Dale or the generous sponorship by Eisner that made the evening special. It was also the people like Jody and Wanda who brought tokens of their wit to enliven the party. And all the people who took pictures that will preserve the evening in our memories. And all the people who paid a lot of money for tickets and auction items to support BC/EFA, including people like Howard who gave tickets away. EVERYONE made this a night to remember. Thanks to all, Charles

    Comment by Charles Alexander — October 29, 2007 @ 7:24 am

  3. Susie and Dale,

    Thank you for the extraordinary coverage of the event. As I have said many times, this was a team effort. I may have first mentioned the idea but it took the efforts of many fans, cast members, and other people to make this a reality.

    It’s funny but when you don’t accept anything less than the best, you seem to get it all the time. For the most part, this event was the best because our expectations were high. Expectations foster action so yes, it did happen.

    I hope someday I can help organize another similar event and maybe benefit another charity as well.

    Thanks, again, my friends. IE

    Comment by Irene Eizen — October 29, 2007 @ 8:00 am

  4. Thanks to everyone who was involved in making “The Plan” A Reality. It was a memorable evening which I will never forget.

    Thanks All and Have a Good Day!

    Comment by Damaris Dugan — October 29, 2007 @ 10:05 am

  5. Susie and Dale, What can I say?? The foundation that you two built had to come first, so my appreciation, gratitude and love to you for that! You are the greatest!

    Irene – You know how I feel about you and all that you do!!! Words are not enough and just count me in for any help you may need should you plan another event such as this for a good cause.

    Charles, Thank you so much for the nice compliment about enlivening the party. It was my pleasure, from the heart and done on behalf of all of us.

    All of you are the very best and I am so blessed to have met all of you.

    Much love and appreciation, Wanda

    Comment by Wanda — October 29, 2007 @ 10:47 am

  6. And, Wanda, you are one terrific lady, warm and caring,charming and beautiful with a spark that is likes a magnet and brings people together. How lucky I feel to know you and have you as my friend. Here’s to many wonderful times together. Love, irene

    Comment by Irene Eizen — October 29, 2007 @ 12:05 pm

  7. Susie and Dale, I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet you both last Sunday. It was a fantastic night that I know I will never forget. Thank you so much for sharing your memories and for creating this wonderful place that all of us addicts can come.

    Comment by Melissa — October 29, 2007 @ 12:14 pm

  8. Susie,
    Once again you have outdone yourself. These pictures are outstanding. I almost thought I was there with you. Thanks again.
    Peace
    Sharon

    Comment by Sharon — October 29, 2007 @ 3:49 pm

  9. Susie and Dale,
    You have the story about how THE PLAN began to take seed historically accurate! My husband who has seen Jersey Boys four times would also like to join the support group for spouses Charles Alexander mentioned. I have seen the show over 50 times and it takes a very good husband to let his wife do this. I love our Jersey Boys Fan Club cards. It just makes us all so official. I love the magnets too! They are special and I have them with me all of the time. Of course, the best part is all the new friends we now have because of our shared passion for this show and its cast. I don’t know what I would do without this BLOG. So, thank you for all you both do to keep this Jersey Boys experience going, and going, and going!!!

    Comment by Beverley Micciche — October 29, 2007 @ 6:32 pm

  10. Hello Susie & Dale,

    Greetings from the OC! I’d like to express my appreciation as well – for your extraordinary efforts to bring your vision – on how to support this wonderful show called The Jersey Boys – to a realization. It has evolved to the “Ultimate” source of JB News & also, the Best JB Fan Site Ever.

    The Oct 21 Charity Event is truly a milestone in your wondrous journey. And the JBBlog was the conduit that helped make it happen. And it all started with eight JB Fans at the Petrossian…

    Congratulations!!

    Your fan.

    Comment by Angel — October 29, 2007 @ 8:22 pm

  11. Susie and Dale, thanks for the great summary and Charles for the gracious comment. I believe in all our cases, the contributions we’ve made pale in comparison to the sheer joy and wonderment we’ve experienced over the past two years.

    I’ve told my story before…arriving from Germany, turning on the Tony’s to Christian’s powerful acceptance, empathizing and e-mailing him, and immediately receiving a very personal response from this magnificent and caring actor who just won the biggest award on Broadway. That led to Susie and Dale’s permitting me to post on the Blog and rekindle a passion for Broadway that had been dormant for 35 years. The Blog in turn led to recognition and friendships that will last a lifetime, culminating in Irene’s masterpiece of last Sunday night.

    I couldn’t have dreamed this scenario a short two years ago. No one is keeping a scorecard, but giving back a little does as much if not more for me as for any recipient. Thanks for providing the opportunity.

    Comment by Howard Tucker — October 29, 2007 @ 10:24 pm

  12. Susie and Dale, What a pleasure to meet you both last week! (I can’t believe it has only been a week. I’ve talked non-stop to all who will listen about my adventures in NYC!) You are both gracious, warm, and welcoming people…much like the fans that the JB and the JBBlog has brought together. It was so much fun reconnecting with Audrey, Beverley and Howard…meeting the architects of the plan, Irene and Buz, and fans Wanda, and Jody & Jen, the two Dina’s, Courtney, Lauren, Arlene, Mike and so many others. The opportunity to meet and talk with this amazing cast and the creators of Jersey Boys, the Four Seasons, and authors Charles and David, was certainly never
    anything that I thought would happen to me. The Plan, the setting, the event, the worthy cause, and the people present turned it into one amazing evening. Thanks to all who had a part in making the evening so memorable and magical!

    Comment by LuluThompson — October 29, 2007 @ 11:07 pm

  13. Hi Lulu: It definitely was a huge event of epic proportions!!!!! (oops….. Oscar speech, not Tony’s…..) It also was an honor meeting you and other fans as well! I’ve also talked co-worker’s ears off, as well as sharing my comments and news on the bulletin board and on this great forum on which to network with Jersey Boys fans from all walks of life!

    It truly was a gift of unity that the fans, Original Four Seasons, Jersey Boys OBC Cast and BC/EFA shared that evening. I can’t stress it enough and even though I’ve already thanked them, Thanks again to all organizers, fellow fans, OBC cast and special guests for that special night!

    Comment by Mike B. Magbaleta — October 30, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

  14. First, thanks to Susie and Dale for your coverage and so much more. It’s hard to imagine what my experience as a Jersey Boys fan would be like without ‘the BloB’, oops… I mean ‘the Blog’. I certainly try to follow many of the cast sites, but your site is a living, breathing entity- just like the show. When people don’t understand going to the show multiple times, it’s because they don’t get how it seems to interact with life. I’m in the audience as a participant, not a spectator.

    I’ve quoted FF Brian Estrada before: “[the cast] really inspired me to believe in myself. Although I never have directly talked to them about such issues, they have motivated me to do things I have never done before, and take chances. I will always owe something to them, even though all they did was sing, act, and dance their asses off.” My comment on that interview reflected my amazement that such a dynamic could be happening on both coasts and now- in multiple cities.

    You just want to say thanks when something comes along that is so unique and powerful. Thanks to the CAST (!) and creative team (!) who have given us something personal and so special; thanks to Susie and Dale for handing us a ‘microphone’ to express it. And now, thanks to Irene, and the powerful team she put together, for realizing there was something that needed sharing. We owe you… for a night that was unparalleled; one that continues to make me smile- remembering so many wonderful people and moments.

    I definitely have to say thanks to all my fellow FANS for being there when that ‘Jersey Boys Addiction Distraction Disorder’ kicks in. You know how it is- you come from a show, you get charged up, you’re ten feet tall… and then it’s midnight and what’re you supposed to do? Check out the Forum! Sure, we all have families. Families we rarely see (unless they wait in line with us); families we don’t share the computer with, but now… we have a family that understands!

    Comment by Audrey — October 31, 2007 @ 12:27 am

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