Jersey Boys
Rarely have I experienced a theatrical production that has left me so thoroughly enthralled that I didn't want to leave my seat, wishing for more. And yet, that is precisely what happened during the unforgettable musical performance of Jersey Boys at Mercury Theater Chicago. The production was exceptional in every sense of the word and left me speechless, struggling to describe how much I enjoyed it. The music was electrifying, the performances were outstanding, and every aspect of the show came together seamlessly to create a truly unforgettable experience. Exceptional, remarkable, phenomenal, incredible, enthralling and riveting. I can't mention enough superlatives to express how this play captures you from beginning to end. Mercury Theater Chicago continues shelling out hit productions, and Jersey Boys is A Must-See of the must-see plays. Four kids from New Jersey, Tommy Devito, lead guitar and baritone; Nick Massi, bass guitar and bass vocals; Bob Gaudio, keyboards and tenor vocals (whose hit, "Short Shorts," written by Gaudio when he was only 15) and lead singer with the unique falsetto voice, Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, known as Frankie Valli, formed a group that, after numerous name changes, changed its name from The Four Lovers to The Four Seasons after a New Jersey bowling alley. Tommy, Nick, Bob, and Frankie had been playing together for years, but their luck changed when they met Bob Crewe, a talented producer and songwriter.
Crewe recognized their potential and signed them to his label as a backup band for his other stars until the group could find its identity. The group became frustrated with being backup singers and left Crewe; however, they came back under the name The Four Seasons and began producing hit after hit. Their unique sound captivated audiences nationwide. But behind the scenes, the group had their fair share of struggles. Tommy, the group's cataclysmic lead guitarist, had a penchant for gambling, spent jail time for petty robberies, and often found himself in debt to dangerous individuals. Nick, the bassist, also spent time in jail and struggled with alcoholism, and Bob, the keyboardist, was usually at odds with Tommy over creative direction. But through it all, the group, now led by Frankie Valli and the musical and lyrical genius Bob Gaudio, held the group together through the highs and lows of their careers, family issues, and even Tommy's million-dollar debt, becoming one of the most successful musical groups in history, selling millions of records and earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The two-act production featured some of The Four Seasons' greatest and timeless hits. Act One thrilled the audience with Oh What A Night, I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Earth Angel, Sunday Kind of Love, I'm in the Mood For Love, Walk Like A Man, and their number-one song, Sherry, which Gaudio amazingly wrote in fifteen minutes. Act Two featured Stay, Let's Hang On (To What We've Got), Rag Doll, and Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. Let me add more superlatives when discussing the outstanding cast: Michael Metcalf (Frankie Valli), Adrian Aguilar(Tommy Devito), Jason Michael Evans (Nick Massi), and Andrew MacNaughton were phenomenal, spectacular, and magnificent as The Four Seasons. Their chemistry was magical, and their energy flow on stage mesmerized the audience, who sometimes cheered over the actors as they clamored for more. Carl Herzog, who played Gyp, DeCarlo, and others, was sensational, and Grant Alexander Brown killed it as Joe Pesci. Adam Fane provided a show-stopping performance as Bob Crewe. Fane, known as (almostfanemous) on Instagram, desires high praise for this performance as Crewe and Fane's improv to the prop mic falling from its stand was priceless. Kudos to the band (Linda Madonia, Justin Kono, Jonathan Golko, Samuel Shacker, Cara Strauss, and Greg Strauss) behind the scenes for providing another amazing performance.
Jersey Boys also introduces us to the musical side of the real Joe Pesci. Who knew that the "Okay-okay-okay" guy from Legal Weapon, The Irishman, Casino, Goodfellas, and Home Alone was instrumental in bringing in singer and songwriter Bob Gaudio, who would go on to write many of the group's biggest hits? In his twenties, Pesci was also part of a group singing and playing guitar for the pop band Joey Dee and the Starliters. Most record labels own the copyright and master copies of their artists' records. Valli and Gaudio each hold a 50% stake in their recording catalog and other assets associated with the group. Valli, who also performed as a solo artist, is the only remaining group member and is still touring, which will end this year via Valli's farewell tour. Valli credits the worldwide fame of Jersey Boys with reinvigorating his name and helping him reach a younger audience.
Many consider Valli and The Four Seasons one of the best-selling musical groups ever, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. The touring lineup of the group has changed throughout the decades. However, two distinctive groups of The Four Seasons achieved widespread success, with only Valli being the sole original member of both groups. Three original Four Seasons, Gudio in 1989, Nick (2000), and Tommy (2020), have all gone to Rock & Roll heaven. Still, they developed a bond of brotherly love and commitment that lasted a lifetime despite the trauma of climbing the ladder of success. L. Walter Stearns, the producer of Jersey Boys, shared the compelling story of the journey that he and his team (Eugene Dizon, Christopher Chase Carter, Kristi J. Martens, and Johnnie Schleyer) embarked on to bring this iconic musical to the stage at Mercury. The project took years of hard work, navigating the creative process, casting, rehearsals, and technical aspects of the show while maintaining a steadfast commitment to the excellence and authenticity of Jersey Boys — captivating audiences and earning critical acclaim. The end result was definitely worth it, as this production is 100% a Must-See musical.
The cast of Jersey Boys had better get used to staying at one hotel for a long time because the production should be at Mercury Theater Chicago for a long time. Rest the velvet Valli vocals, Metcalf. You are going to be using it a lot this year.
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Mercury Theater Chicago
Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
Lyrics by Bob Crewe
Extended through July 28, 2024
For Tickets, click on the above link. For additional reviews, click below.
