JERSEY BOYS

Hi there!

Once a year for over 20 years Brad and I have gone to Las Vegas so he can attend a trade show.  It is also an excuse to get away for a fun weekend of Vegas shows, dinners in great restaurants and time to be away together, just us.  On our last trip to Vegas we saw the 2006 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical, JERSEY BOYS. WE LOVED IT!!!

Running on Broadway for more than 8 years, Jersey Boys tells the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the 1960’s rock group The Four Seasons. The iconic and classic songs made famous by Frankie Valli  & The Four Seasons are flawlessly sung by an amazingly talented cast that sounded just like they were being performed by the original group.

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I enjoyed it so much that I’m sure I’ll take in a repeat performance in the future. In fact, the touring show is coming to Southern California this month so I may have to get tickets.  Here is a link to the tour schedule, as it may be coming to a city near you too. If you haven’t seen it, run, don’t walk, to a theater near you!

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Watching the show you can’t help but sing along to the feel-good songs that everyone of a certain age knows every word to.  The story of their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the songs that influenced a generation. Songs like Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, and Oh,What a Night left me feeling like watching it all over again, right then and there.

Well, last night I got another Jersey Boys fix:  I went to see Jersey Boys, the movie. While it was different in many ways, it was based on the Broadway hit show.  It too was so enjoyable I will be buying the DVD as soon as it comes out. Check out the official movie trailer:

Actor John Lloyd Young who played the role of Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys on Broadway was cast by director Clint Eastwood t0 portray Valli in the film.  Having played Frankie Valli thousands of times on Broadway, he flawlessly brings Valli to life again on the big screen.

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Christopher Walken is perfectly cast as Mob Boss Angelo “Gip” DeCarlo. Somehow he was a bad guy with a sympathetic heart.  Several scenes were shot in what was depicted as DeCarlo’s home, a beautiful Spanish style mansion with a great-room to die for.  I want to see the movie again just to take in more of that home.

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The audience in the Blue Jay Cinema where we viewed the film was filled with folks old enough to remember seeing The Four Season on the Ed Sullivan Show back in the day.  It left me wondering if perhaps Jersey Boys the film might soon influence a new generation of fans of The Four Seasons.  I was absolutely shocked to learn for the first time this morning that my 17-year-old, cool-dude, son Austin has a boatload of The Four Seasons songs in his iTunes library.  He even informed me that his skier idol, Tom Wallisch, uses the song “Beggin” as the soundtrack on this ski video.

What’s old really is new again.

So, go see Jersey Boys, both on stage and on screen.  You’ll be glad you did, no matter what age you happen to be.

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