Jersey Boys

SYNOPSIS

Jersey Boys

A journey to the Prince Edward Theatre in the West End means stepping back in time to witness the career of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons in the 1950s and 1960s.  It will be a compelling ride, one that will see audiences witnessing the highs and lows of a band that managed to score a Top 100 Billboard hit in every decade from the 1950s to 1990s, with songs that included “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”.

The show is “Jersey Boys”, a West End smash hit that continues to bring in huge crowds after opening at the Prince Edward Theatre in February 2008. It is a sure fire crowd pleaser, one that tells a compelling story and recreates some smash hit songs, and unlike “We Will Rock You”, another show based on the work of well known band, the story at work in “Jersey Boys” is all real.

The story of “Jersey Boys” is penned by the team of Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, taking the audience on a trip down memory lane as they revisit some classic songs of the past decades, appealing to fans of The Four Seasons and newcomers alike.

The band named themselves after a bowling alley in New Jersey, with Franki Vallie beginning his career as a solo artist before teaming up with Tommy DeVito to lay the foundations of a group that was span many years. Once they were joined by Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi there was no looking back.

There was no plain sailing for The Four Seasons and whilst they had numerous successes, their lows were often devastating. However, their career began with a memorable high, with the release of their first single “Bermuda/Spanish Lace” in the early 1960s. It was a huge success and they were soon snatched up be Vee Jay Labels, eager to nurture the band and see what other tricks they had up their sleeves. The results were further songs that would stand the test of time, including their signature track “Sherry”, cementing their status at the top. But this good fortune would be short lived and with the financial troubles of Vee Jay Labels, their fall from grace was inevitable. But help was just around the corner, with Mercurey Records eager to take over where Vee Jay Labels left off, allowing them to release further hits that would carry them through the 1970s.

The Four Seasons would release many more hits, many of which make it into “Jersey Boys”, such as “Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got)”, “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)”, “My Eyes Adored You” and “Walk Like A Man”. However, it would be their ill-considered decision to switch to Motown that would be their undoing, but whilst the Four Seasons are no more, their legacy continues.
The current West End production has the seal of approval from Jersey Boy himself Bob Gaudio, with critics and audiences agreeing that it is a force to be reckoned with. One thing is for certain, it will continue to wow audiences for some time to come.

“Jersey Boys” continues at the Prince Edward Theatre where it is currently booking until 2010.

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