Photo Coverage: A Sneak Peek At Jersey Boys 8/09/2005 by Craig Brockman for http://www.broadwayworld.com/ After having broken records in its smash run at California s La Jolla Playhouse, the Four Seasons musical Jersey Boys will open at the newly named August Wilson Theatre on Sunday, November 6th after beginning previews on October 4th. On Thursday, September 8th, the press was invited to take a sneak peek at the musical Jersey Boys and BroadwayWorld was there. JERSEY BOYS features a book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, music by Bob Crewe, and is directed by Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff. Performances begin Tuesday, October 4 and the officially opening night is Sunday, November 6 at the Virginia Theatre, soon to be the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). JERSEY BOYS is the new Broadway musical about The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide all before they were thirty. The cast of JERSEY BOYS is lead by Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), Daniel Reichard (Bob Gaudio), J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi) and John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli) as The Four Seasons. The cast also includes Tituss Burgess, Steve Gouveia, Heather Ferguson, Peter Gregus, Donnie Kehr, John Leone, Michael Longoria, Mark Lotito, Jennifer Naimo, Dominic Nolfi, Erica Piccininni, and Sara Schmidt. JERSEY BOYS is produced on Broadway by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Pelican Group, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella.
Adrian Bryan-Brown welcomes the press Des McAnuff (director) describes the show and his involvement
Rick Elice (Book) talks about the structure of the show.. along with fello book writer, Marshall Brickman
Daniel Reichard (Bob Gaudio) serves as narrator for part of the show. Daniel (as Bob) plays a tune for the boys
who quickly join in for the song. (l-r) Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), John Lloyd Young (Frankie Valli), Daniel and J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi) The Jersey Boys
John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli
J. Robert Spencer and Daniel Reichard Before they were The Four Seasons, the group sang back up vocals to other recording artists
one played by Tituss Burgess another by Erica Piccininni
and another by Donnie Kehr
Peter Gregus portrays a record producer who brings the Jersey Boys into the studio Daniel and Peter
John and Peter The group toasts to a hit song
Sara Schmidt
Jennifer Naimo Erica Piccininni
Erica and Christian take a ride (with J. Robert in the backseat) Sara and John
Listening to a song the boys just wrote Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons appear on TV
Daniel at the Keyboard
J. Robert on Bass Christian Hoff on Guitar Des watches the scene
John John (as Frankie) lays down a song in the studio while Michael Longoria acts as the sound engineer.
Christian strikes a pose J. Robert
Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio make a deal The musical shows the ups and downs of the group including gambling, the mob, prison, and more
Avoiding a fight Frankie and his wife argue about his time spent away from his family
Daniel and John J. Robert Spencer (as Nick Massi)
Performing a bittersweet ballad. Daniel, Donnie and John
The Girls Sara, Erica and Jennifer Tituss and Michael
Donnie, Des and Christian a TOMMY reunion Book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice pose for BroadwayWorld
a parting shot of The Jersey Boys!