JERSEY BOYS: Call it what you will –– bio tuner, jukebox musical, songbook show –– this fiercely enjoyable docu-musical is the underdog story of four blue-collar Italian boys, three of whom grew up on the mean, urban streets of Newark, New Jersey, where, as one narrator comments…”a young man had three ways out of the neighborhood –– join the army, get mobbed up, or become a pop music star.”
FEBRUARY 15, 2025––LONG BEACH
…And that’s exactly what they did. They became a chart-topping hit factory and eventually 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.
There is nothing lucky about the brilliance of JERSEY BOYS. The show triumphs because of superior staging and a strong book that complements some of the most mellifluous pop/rock hits of the last half century. After premiering at La Jolla Playhouse in an out-of-town tryout in October, 2004, the musical installed itself as one of the longest running crowd-pullers in Broadway history from 2005 to 2017, winning four Tony Awards (one for Best Musical), a 2007 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, and a 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. A movie adaptation of the musical was released in 2014, directed by Clint Eastwood.
And now, it’s back in Southern California. After appearing in a run at La Mirada Theatre last spring, directed by T.J. Dawson, JERSEY BOYS is back for another two-week run at Musical Theatre West’s Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, and it’s as superb as ever, which is just about as good as it gets.
The real heroes of JERSEY BOYS, however, are Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, who created a book that is funny, dramatic, informative, and engrossing, transcending the conventions of the jukebox musical and joining the ranks of the very best musicals of the new millennium. And when Director Dawson (helming it again one year later) and choreographer Dana Solimando combine inspiration and ingenuity to give the production its energy and seamless progression, the story moves fluently, liberally spiced with the group's pop rock doowop sounds of the 60's, with each scene dovetailing and melding into the next.
That story traces Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and genius songwriter Bob Gaudio, and the rise of The Four Seasons, as they struggle to make it in the highly competitive world of pop music in the early days (back then, until the late 60's, rock and roll and pop were considered interchangeable).
After going through one identity crisis after another, the group exploded on the national music scene in 1962, cementing the distinctive sound dominated by Valli’s expressively piercing falsetto. Here at the Carpenter, you could almost feel the seats heat up about halfway through Act 1 as a shot of exhilaration hits those ravenous baby boomers with the popsters' first big number one hit, “Sherry.”
A few middle-aged women even stood up and began dancing in their seats, their husband’s heads bopping to the beat. Dominating the intermission was an array of competing leopard-print outfits roaming the lobby, clusters of men with thick wise-guy accents at the concession, and incessant humming coming from the restroom stalls. A whole lot of gold chains. It must have been at this juncture that the Broadway producers back in 2005 realized they had a monster hit on their hands.
The company consists of 15 performers, most of them taking on multiple roles (with numerous costume changes that must have created a controlled frenzy backstage). The stars carry the show, and none brighter than Nicholas Alexander (“In the Heights” – Candlelight Pavilion) as Frankie Valli (who has performed this role before). Mr. Alexander has Valli’s diminutive stature, looks very much like him facially, has Valli’s Italian speaking style down pat, and most critically, possesses a perfect-pitch three-to-four octave singing range that rises into the falsetto stratosphere. With 34 numbers in the show, including the December ‘63 “Oh What a Night,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” "Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” a hauntingly emotional “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Working My Way Back to You,” Mr. Alexander has little trouble showcasing his brilliant ability to channel Valli’s distinctively trained bird-sweet voice.
Anthony Carro (“Spring Awakening”) delivers a commanding performance as Tommy DeVito, the headstrong and conniving founder of The Four Seasons (or so he claims) whose reckless financial dealings get him in hot water with the mob and help sink the group. The fabulous Grant Hodges (Brdwy Nat’l Tour: “Jesus Christ Superstar”) who handles bass, plays a likably restrained, unassuming and long-patient Nick Massi, and Taubert Nadalini (“Bright Star” – MTW) is Bob Gaudio (producer of @ABeautifulNoiseMusical, about his longtime friend Neil Diamond), keyboardist, back-up, and the squeaky-clean mastermind behind The Four Season’s success.
Skylar Gaines (“Newsies” – MTW) has some fine comic moments as swishy record producer and lyricist Bob Crewe, who helps lead the group to the musical Promised Land. Marlana Dunn (Nat’l Tour: “Jersey Boys”) is first rate as Mary Delgado, the brassy girl from the Newark hood who learns the hard way that it’s tough being married to a traveling entertainer.
Somewhat shockingly, we learn that the three real Jersey guys, DeVito, Massi and Valli (whose real name is Castelluccio; Valli is a stage name), were a bit like that Goodfellas movie, committing robberies on the side to make ends meet, and in some cases (DeVito and Massi) served time in prison while they were chasing success.
Fortunately, they were able to leave that life behind –– for the most part –– until DeVito’s huge loan shark debts become a major issue. After years of struggle using various names and lineups, their New Jersey friend Joe Pesci (“Yeah, that Joe Pesci”) introduces them to gifted young songwriter Gaudio, who already had a hit with “Who Wears Short Shorts,” and adds the missing pieces to their puzzle.
The second half of JERSEY BOYS concentrates on the group’s money problems with the mob and Valli and his family misfortunes and tragedies. As one might expect, The Four Seasons’ fame and constant touring cause dilemmas and challenges. When Valli splits from his wife, Ms. Dunn’s Mary Delgado, as well as his subsequent girlfriend Lorraine (Mel Mehrabian), and especially when he goes through the heartbreak of his daughter Francine’s (Giovanna Martinez) lethal struggle with heroin (“Fallen Angel”), it provided opportunities to wield some of their more moving songs (“My Eyes Adored You,” “Bye, Bye Baby”).
The staging features the skillful use of metal stairs and scaffolding leading to a balcony-like gangway that stretches across the rear of the stage, a brain trust credit to set designer Stephen Gifford. A stunning effect is created at one point by inverting the stage, so we are behind the drum kit facing the bright lights and flash bulbs as The Four Seasons perform. Enlivening the show’s impact further are inspired panel projections that beef up the visuals by Jon Infante, Jean-Yves Tessier’s dramatic, concert-style lighting, Alena Milos’s sound and Adam Ramirez’ period-correct costumes –– all can take a deep collective bow.
Eventually, personality conflict and disharmony splits up the group and Valli is forced into a solo act. The show ends decades after the breakup with the group’s 1990 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in one last triumphant encore reunion, with each singer’s personal farewell to the audience, giving their own “Rashomon” interpretation of what happened. By that time, a mesmerized core audience is up again in their seats, smiling, singing and swaying to their last big hit, “Who Loves You.”
But whether the characters are singing or fighting, JERSEY BOYS is at its best when it focuses on the band members’ chemistry. And even though they don’t sing full songs, these actors sound spectacular. Sure, you might hear some occasional squeaks and feedback from the mics, but the sheer, vocal talent trumps any minor technical issues. One thing is for sure –– casting really made the right decisions for these leads.
MUSICAL THEATRE WEST @ CARPENTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN LONG BEACH, PRESENTS––THE TONY®, OLIVIER®, & GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING SMASH-HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL, JERSEY BOYS, THE STORY OF FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS; with Book by MARSHALL BRICKMAN & RICK ELICE; Music by BOB GAUDIO; Lyrics by BOB CREWE; With Direction by T.J. DAWSON, Musical Direction by LYNDON PUGEDA, and Choreography by DANA SOLIMANDO; Associate Music Director/Conductor ANTHONY ZEDIKER; Set Design by STEPHEN GIFFORD; Lighting Design by JEAN-YVES TESSIER; Sound Design by ALENA MILOS; Costume Design by ADAM RAMIREZ; Technical Director is JIM THOMAS MORA; Projection Design by JON INFANTE; Hair/Wig/Make-up Design by KIRKLYN ROBINSON; Properties Design co-designed by GRETCHEN MORALES & MELANIE CAVANESS. The Production Stage Manager is Jill Gold. Assistant Stage Managers are JULIAN OLIVE & MIRANDA VAZQUEZ; Production Manager is CATT FOX-URUBURU; Associate Producer BREN THOR; Original Broadway Stage Production by Dodger Theatricals (MICHAEL DAVID, EDWARD STRONG, ROCCO LANDESMAN, DES MCANUFF); JOSEPH J. GRANO; TAMARA AND KEVIN KINSELLA; Pelican Group in association with LATITUDE LINK RICK STEINER/OSHER/STATON/BELL/MAYERSON GROUP. MUSICAL THEATRE WEST Executive Director/Producer PAUL GARMAN.
The CAST of JERSEY BOYS features: NICHOLAS ALEXANDER as Frankie Valli; TAUBERT NADALINI as Bob Gaudio; GRANT HODGES as Nick Massi; ANTHONY CARRO as Tommy DeVito; DONOVAN MENDELOVITZ as Joey/Recording Engineer/Crewe’s PA/Frankie Vocal Double; MARLANA DUNN as Mary Delgado; MICHAEL RAY FISHER as French Rap Star/Hal Miller/Barry Belson/Detective One/Police Officer/Davis; SKYLER GAINES as Donnie/Bob Crewe/Detective Two/Accountant; GIOVANNA MARTINEZ as Francine/Frankie’s Mother/Angel; MEL MEHRABIAN as Lorraine/Miss Frankie Nolan; Angel/Church Lady/Bob’s Party Girl; ELIJAH MUNCK as Billy Dixon/Hank Majewski/Nick DeVito/Charlie Callelo; DOMINIC PACE as Gyp De Carlo/Judge/Bowling Alley Owner/Al Finney/Priest/Stosh; DAYNA SAUBLE as Angel/Nick’s Date; JOHNNY DIGIORGIO as Norman Waxman/Ofc Petrillo/Joe Long. Swing is JOE ABRAHAM. Understudies are DONOVAN MENDELOVITZ, JOE ABRAHAM, ELIJAH MUNCK, JOHNNY DIGIORIO, MEL MEHRABIAN, DAYNA SAUBLE.
MUSICAL THEATRE WEST’S JERSEY BOYS will run from February 14th through March 2nd at CARPENTER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 6200 E Atherton St, Long Beach, CA 90840.
Performances are Thursday, February 20th at 7:30 pm; Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 2 pm & 8 pm; Sundays at 1 pm & 6 pm. Approx. 2 hours 30 minutes with one 15-minute intermission. Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase by phone at 562-856-1999 or online at musical.org. Fees may apply. Student rush tickets for $15 are available at the Box Office one hour prior to showtime, with a valid student ID.
Chris Daniels
Arts & Entertainment Reviewer
The Show Report
Photo Credits: Take Creative/©Caught in the Moment Photography
