Jersey Boys Blog

By Howard Tucker, Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondent

I believe that Douglas Crawford holds a personal record, having been a member of four Jersey Boys companies: on Broadway and in Chicago, Las Vegas and the First National tour of Jersey Boys.

But this is only one of the highlights of his distinguished 20-year career as an actor, singer, playwright, and director. In addition to Jersey Boys, he created the role of Kenickie for the First National Tour of Tommy Tune’s revival of Grease (before going on to making his Broadway debut in the show) and performed opposite Ben Vereen and Jack Black in Jesus Christ Superstar in Hollywood.

HT: Let’s go all the way back for a minute, Doug. What is it about Columbus, Ohio that generates Jersey Boys legends? Our Jersey Boys Blogmistress, Susie, also grew up in Columbus. Were you a child star in Ohio? Did you come from a showbiz family?

DC: (Laughs) Interesting, huh? I don’t believe when most people think of Jersey Boys that Ohio comes straight to mind! Great place to grow up, however - great people there. Those talented Bogart boys (Matt is now “Nick Massi” on Broadway) also hail from “The Buckeye State!”

We moved from Columbus when I was 10 to Tulsa, Oklahoma, but my parents and my sister, Pam, have since moved back, so Ohio has always seemed like home to me. I certainly was no “child star,” but I probably thought that I should be (laughs again)!

Growing up, I was very blessed to have parents that supported the arts and always took my sister and me to the theater. We would often make trips to New York City around the holidays and do the five-shows-in-three-days kind of weekend. For me as a child, the theater was an extraordinary and magical place where dreams became realities live in front of me! I was hooked and knew at a very young age what it was I wanted to do.

Neither my mother nor my father were involved in “the Biz,” but my dad’s brother, my Uncle John, is an extremely talented artist, painter, actor, singer and comedian. Back in the day, he and a young Jonathan Winters used to write, perform and made an appearance on “The Ted Mack Show” together. He was always performing and doing musicals, so I probably owe him a debt of gratitude for paving the way for future Crawfords! Read the rest of this entry »

“Songs My Idols Sang (And Danced)” Starring Rick Faugno at the South Point Casino, January 24, 2010 (Photos Courtesy of Linda Soo Hoo, Stubbleyou, & JBB Tech Half)

By Stubbleyou

…overheard from a sixtyish-year-old man with an Australian accent, to his friend, enthusiastically, while entering the Showroom at South Point Hotel and Casino in anticipation of Rick Faugno’s one man show: “…the best show I have ever seen in Las Vegas!” My ears perked up and I set them to eavesdrop mode. Probably talking about Jersey Boys, I thought. But no – it became clear he had seen Rick’s show on one of its two earlier dates, and it was this show, not JB, Phantom, or anything by Cirque, Cher, or Streisand, about which this gentleman waxed poetic. A good start, I thought…

Rick sets the parameters from the get-go: This is not Jersey Boys, there will be no Four Seasons songs, and he will be playing himself, not Frankie Valli. Nevertheless, I must steal a line straight out of Jersey Boys to sum up my reaction to this show:

HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!

Okay, we already knew the man can sing. But sing he did, and in style and feel beyond what he shows in JB. In keeping with the name of the show, “Songs My Idols Sang (and Danced),” he worked his way back through a catalog of standards ranging from ballad to big band to bluesy and jazzy. The idols, performers such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Tony Bennett, and Sammy Davis, Jr., presented Rick with a rich palette of material from which to choose. Rick’s versatility was there for all to hear and appreciate, in his comfort and competence across the board. A few songs ended with beautifully sustained vocal notes, drawn out for several seconds, which he polished off with perfect wavering of pitch. I know there’s a term for this, but I don’t know what it is (you say tremolo, I say vibrato?) but it sounded great.

Rick really connected with his audience when he spoke to us. After each musical number (some song, some dance, some both – how he never sounded out of breath is beyond me!) he told a personal anecdote about his life. Some were about his relationships with people instrumental in the evolution of his life, theatrical and personal, over the years – mother, father, grandmother, mentor, teacher, director, and present-day sweetheart and soulmate, actor-singer-dancer Joyce Chittick. Many of these reminiscences were accompanied by a slide show of photos that spanned several decades, looking as if they came from a family photo album. This added to the intimacy of Rick’s recollections. One could easily feel as if Rick was talking to you across a coffee table, sofa to sofa, rather than in a Vegas showroom. (The room, by the way, is a great venue in that every seat is a good one, it is on the small side, and it is in the style that some call “old Vegas” – some long tables radiating out from the stage as well as a few tiers of round booths. Very comfortable). Read the rest of this entry »

Intermission Impossible blogger Chris Davis sat down with JB national tour Four Seasons–Matt Bailey, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Steve Gouveia, and Ryan Jesse for some barbecue & conversation! This two-part video interview is a treat!

Exciting news! Tony winner John Lloyd Young will debut his single, “Love Believes” on iTunes on Valentine’s Day–2/14/10!

Lindsay Thomas (Photo by: Mark O’Neill)

It is with sadness that Jersey Boys Blog has to share the news to our readers that Lindsay Thomas, who played Francine in the original JERSEY BOYS Toronto cast, passed away yesterday of cancer at the age of 31.

Lindsay was a graduate of Sheridan College’s music theater performance program. In addition to JERSEY BOYS, her stage credits include the Broadway, national tour, and Canadian productions of the hit musical Hairspray, along with appearances in Anne of Green Gables, Somewhere in the World, Grease, Aladdin, The Boy Friend, City of Angels, and The Crucible. Lindsay also worked frequently at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where she played Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Her other Stratford credits included My One and Only, The Music Man, Fuente Ovejuna, Oliver! and Don Juan.

She is survived by her partner, actor Gareth Potter, her parents, Marilyn and Derek Thomas, and her brother, Gareth Thomas.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Lindsay’s family, friends, castmates & colleagues, and her fans.

Another fantastic review for JERSEY BOYS in Memphis! Here’s a sneak peek to Chris Davis’ review on the Memphis Flyer Intermission Impossible blog:

So what makes Jersey Boys such a hit with the boys who hate musicals? Maybe it’s got something to do with the absence of show tunes. On the other hand, if you like Mid-Century American pop it’s hard not to be taken in by spot on covers of Four Seasons hits like “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man” or by the uncanny replication of The Angels singing “My Boyfriend’s Back” like it was 1963 all over again. Mix all that solid gold bubblegum with a compelling story about bad ass gangsters, fast girls, amazing cars and bowling and you’ve got the recipe for Jersey Boys. The cherry on top of this big banana split: Joe Pesci—yes THAT Joe Pesci— emerges as a pivotal character. What’s not to love?

Physically and vocally Joseph Leo Bwarie is a dead ringer for Valli and he’s given incredible support by Matt Bailey, Steve Gouveia, and Ryan Jesse who are equally convincing as Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio. Sarah Darling, Denise Payne, and Kara Tremel work overtime playing a variety of mothers, wives, b-girls, and entertainers. Although the Jersey Boys get all the glory these three women play over 50 characters and are, along with the rest of a tight ensemble, the show’s secret stars.

Jersey Boys has its priorities right. The songs are perfect, the acting is solid and the story is well told. Only the set—a minimal creation as Broadway musicals go and extremely functional— can be described as a miserable failure. Bright Roy Lichtenstein-inspired projections bring warm and welcome colors to a lean industrial-feeling environment. But Pop Art is too self-conscious and the campy images work hard to undermine a show that’s as sincere and straight up as a Bon Jovi fan from back in the day.

Visit MemphisFlyer.com to read the full review.

Fun video on WREG–JERSEY BOYS national tour cast members (Matt Bailey, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Steve Gouveia, and Ryan Jesse) answering viewers’ questions!

Catch the GREAT CANADIAN BIO on one of Canada’s greatest exports, Des McAnuff. Follow Des’ musical upbringing in Canada all the way to New York, California and Australia. He’s the man behind the theatrical stagings of “Tommy”, “Jersey Boys” and “Old Man River”. And now, he’s returned home to be the Artistic Director at Stratford, one of Canada’s most prestigious theatres. The documentary features interviews with Pete Townshend, Billy Crystal, Christopher Plummer and many more. The film runs on Bravo! Canada on Feb. 7 at 8 pm ET and repeats on Feb. 12 at 7 pm ET.

Ramona Zacharias has a fabulous interview with JERSEY BOYS Toronto’s Bob Gaudio, Quinn VanAntwerp. The 23-year-old is on stage eight times a week playing the legendary member of The Four Seasons. Here’s a preview:

“This show has really been a dream come true for me,” VanAntwerp enthuses. “Playing Bob Gaudio every day is like spending time with someone I really look up to and who inspires me to learn and grow.”

Read the full interview with Quinn on Suite101.com.

Sarina Singh, reporter for TheTicker.com, Baruch College’s newspaper, states that it’s easy to know that you have witnessed a spectacular production when your feelings at the end of the show exceed your expectations. This seems to sum up the mind-set of most of the audiences who see Jersey Boys on Broadway. This documentary-style musical based on the lives of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons could have been a cheesy and unrealistic production. However, the audience learns, hates, and ultimately falls in love with the characters, all while sitting on the edge of their seats as the plot thickens.

The acting choreography, songs and stage settings were all done unexpectedly well, making this musical a wonderful experience. Jersey Boys has been successful on Broadway for so long because its actors fully immerse themselves in the lives of this famous quartet, singing the songs as if they were their own, feeling their happiness, heartache and success as if it were happening on stage at that very moment, rather than 50 years ago in New Jersey.

Visit TheTicker.com to read Singh’s full rave review.

JERSEY BOYS Broadway remained strong during the final week in January. The show grossed $1,067,889 and had a 97.8% attendance rate. JB was one of only three shows last week that grossed over a million dollars.

The 22 shows grossed $13,619,685, remaining almost unchanged from the previous week.

Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending January 31, 2010.

1. Wicked $1,337,056
2. Billy Elliot: The Musical $1,075,181
3. Jersey Boys $1,067,889
4. The Lion King $939,523
5. A Little Night Music $905,001
6. West Side Story $813,378
7. A View From The Bridge $731,939
8. Mama Mia! $573,759
9. Mary Poppins $550,048
10. South Pacific $541,860

From BroadwayWorld.com: Toronto’s very own JERSEY BOYS are coming out for a special Valentine’s Day event, in addition to announcing a new promotion for discounted seats to the huge popular show at The Toronto Centre for the Arts.

The Tony, Grammy, Olivier and Dora-Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS will perform on the Waterfall Stage at First Canadian Place on Thursday, February 4th at 12:15PM and 1:15PM in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The performances will be themed for the occasion, including the romantic hits My Eyes Adored You, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and Who Loves You?

The Toronto production of Jersey Boys recently announced an extension through to May 23rd, 2010, including a special promotion for the month of January to benefit Raising the Roof, a charity that helps deal with youth homelessness. For February, there will be a special promotion running in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Tickets booked between now and February 14th using the promo code “LOVE” will save up to $45 off the regular ticket price.

Attention music lovers! Travis Cloer, who plays “Frankie Valli” in the Las Vegas company, will be holding a concert of his best selling album “SETTING THE STANDARD”. The show will feature songs from not only this album, but also from his upcoming release “SETTING THE STANDARD VOL. II,” as well as some other classic jazz standards. The concert is Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7:30pm & 9:30 pm at The Cabaret Room at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door and can be purchased by calling 702.798.5595. For more info you can visit www.liberace.org or www.traviscloer.com. Travis has been wowing audiences on Broadway and in Vegas as Frankie Valli & is delighted to offer this concert for fans. Here’s what people have been saying about his CD “SETTING THE STANDARD”:

“This album needs to be put in your CD player and placed on repeat!” ; “Breathes new life into familiar tunes & makes you experience them for the first time.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to see and hear Travis perform these great songs LIVE and experience for yourself the subtle smoothness and magic of his voice!

A Reminder to All JB Fans: This year, the Laurence Olivier Awards is creating an exciting new award, the Audience Award, giving theatregoing audiences the chance to crown their favorite long-running London show. No surprise–West End JERSEY BOYS is on the list! Until 12:00 on February 1, you have the chance to pick the show you would like to see in the category’s shortlist. Click HERE to nominate JERSEY BOYS for the favorite long-running London show!

Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard, Michael Longoria, and J. Robert Spencer

News from BroadwayWorld.com: Members of the original cast of the Tony Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys” will dazzle in a concert performance like none other on Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m. at Westport Country Playhouse, benefiting the Westport Arts Center.

The event, in honor of the Westport Arts Center ’s 40th anniversary, marks only the second time the four “Jersey Boys” performers have appeared in Connecticut . The awe-inspiring, toe-tapping and arm-waving concert will be performed by Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and J. Robert Spencer, bringing to life the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and the era. To keep the energy going, there will be an after-party in the Sheffer Rehearsal Studio with an open bar, D.J., savory snacks and plenty of dancing.

To purchase tickets, call Westport Country Playhouse at 203-222-4177, or visit the website at www.westportplayhouse.org.

The Westport Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating arts experiences that contribute to individual growth and enrich the community. For more information, contact the Westport Arts Center at 203-222-7070, visit www.westportartscenter.org, or visit the gallery, M-F, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , Sat. and Sun. from noon to 4 p.m. , at 51 Riverside Avenue , Westport.

News from BroadwayWorld.com: For the second straight week, the Grammy-winning JERSEY BOYS Original Broadway Cast Recording remained at Number Two on Billboard’s Top Cast Album Chart for the week ending January 23, 2010. This marks the 210th consecutive week that the RIAA Certified Platinum has been on the chart.

From MyFoxMemphis.com: The January 29th showing of Jersey Boys at The Orpheum Theatre has been cancelled due to severe weather conditions.

No refunds will be given, but tickets will be exchanged for a later performance of Jersey Boys based on availability.Exchanges must be made by Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 5:00 pm. Jersey Boys is scheduled to run at the Orpheum through Sunday, Feb. 14. Ticketmaster customers should call 1-800-653-8000 or go to their point of purchase to exchange their tickets. For those who purchased their tickets through the Orpheum, call 901-525-3000.