Jersey Boys

By Kristine McKenzie

Fame, fortune, drama, tragedy – Jersey Boys, the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical at the Palazzo, has all the makings of an E! True Hollywood Story – along with one amazing soundtrack to accompany it.

The show is a musical documentary that tells the often turbulent, rags-to-riches story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

It follows the lives of the four blue-collar boys from the tough streets of Newark, New Jersey, as they became one of the biggest pop music sensations of all time. The story is told from the viewpoints of all four band members: Tommy DeVito, who founded the group and kept them together until they finally hit it big with “Sherry” in 1962; Frankie Valli, the best-known member of the group with his trademark falsetto voice; Bob Gaudio, who penned the group’s biggest hits; and Nick Massi. Some people will also be surprised to learn that it includes the story of actor Joe Pesci, the friend who introduced DeVito to Gaudio and helped launch the group’s rise to success.

Jersey Boys often plays like a soap opera – except that this story is real. As Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons rose to fame, they sometimes led messy lives that included jail time, mob ties, money problems, divorce and personal tragedy. The story isn’t always pretty and definitely includes the occasional profanity to match.

Although the production is playing in a new custom-built theater at the Palazzo, there is nothing overly technical or elaborate about the sets or effects in Jersey Boys – it is the story that is compelling and the incredible music that is the true star of this show.

For two years, The Four Seasons sang background for other acts while working on their own group. Finally, in 1962, Gaudio came up with a song that showcased Valli’s remarkable falsetto. When the band sang “Sherry” on American Bandstand, they soon found themselves with a No. 1 record and the fame that came along with it.

“Big Girls Don’t Cry and “Walk Like A Man” followed and both hit No. 1 in 1963.

When it was all said and done, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons had an astounding 71 chart hits, including eight No. 1 songs.

No matter what your age, you will recognize the songs and won’t be able to stop yourself from tapping your feet and singing along.

Jersey Boys offers two hours of hits like “December, 1963 (Oh What A Night),” “My Eyes Adored You,” “Let’s Hang On (To What We’ve Got),” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Who Loves You.”

The music of Jersey Boys will definitely bring back memories for those who were around during The Four Seasons’ heyday and will introduce the musical legacy and story of the group to new generations who weren’t.