Rock n roll group The Four Seasons were at the top of the industry in the 1960's. They had the world at their feet but then suddenly the band disbanded. It came as a shock to their fans as well as the music fraternity in general. Jersey Boys the musical puts The Four Seasons under the spotlight once again and takes the audience on a trip down memory lane providing a stunning insight into the rise and fall of this famous group.
It was the success of juke box musicals like Mamma Mia! that paved the way for Jersey Boys. Bob Gaudio was among the very first members of the group. He got together with Bob Crewe and the two of them decided to come up with a musical on The Four Seasons. Book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice were asked for help. Directorial responsibilities were handed over to Des McAnuff and they all went to work on a musical that was about to become one of the most successful stage productions of its era.
The Beginning
The first time Jersey Boys took to the stage was at the La Jolla Playhouse on 5th October, 2004. The musical then made its way to Broadway with previews commencing on 4th October, 2005. The stunning August Wilson Theatre provided the stage for its official opening on 6th November. Jersey Boys has been a constant hit on Broadway ever since then. It has now become the seventeenth longest running production in Broadway history.
Subsequent Productions
The immense acclaim of Broadway production paved the way for a national tour that started at the end of 2006. It began at the Curran Theatre and made its way to thirty-eight cities all across the United States. After captivating hearts in the U.S., Jersey Boys made its way to the West End in 2008 with the premier at the Prince Edward Theatre. Fans bought in thousands and just like its Broadway predecessor, it turned out to be an award winning production as well. It has since gone on to be played in Australia, Netherlands and South Africa among other places to cement its place as a truly iconic theatrical creation. Jersey Boys is on another national tour right now. It will soon be making its way to cities throughout the country as part of a road trip that is scheduled to carry on till 2014.
Awards
Jersey Boys has won the most prestigious awards in the business. The original Broadway production won four Tony Awards including Best Musical. It also won two Drama Desk Awards, three Outer Circle Critics Awards and two Drama League Awards. Not only that, but it also managed to scoop one Grammy for its efforts. The West End production also fared very well. It earned five Laurence Olivier Awards nominations, winning one.
What You Can Expect
Jersey Boys has fans and critics raving about it for years now. Jukebox musicals hardly get any better than this. The production, direction, music, script and performances; everything about this musical is top notch. It takes the audience through a captivating and nostalgic journey that touches almost every aspect of what made The Four Seasons so special.