Australia's New Jersey Boys Announced.
The four leading men cast by Broadway director Des McAnuff to play Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in the hit musical Jersey Boys have been announced.
After auditioning 450 artists nationwide, the cast is a combination of exciting and emerging Australian talent. They will star in the keenly-anticipated season of Jersey Boys, which opens at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in September 2018.
Stepping into the shoes of the charismatic singer Frankie Valli is Bernard Angel, who played Joe Pesci in the original Australian production. He will be joined by Cameron MacDonald as Tommy DeVito, Thomas McGuaneas Bob Gaudio making his career debut after graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts and Glaston Toft, reprising his portrayal of the band’s musical marvel Nick Massi.
Jersey Boys director, Des McAnuff said: “I’m thrilled to be coming back next year with our glistening new production. We have now taken The Four Seasons around the world but all of us involved in the show regard Australia as our favourite destination. The new company is nonpareil...”.
The success of Jersey Boys is due to the timeless songs and compelling story. Co-writer of the book, Marshall Brickman, said: “The songs that are part of the world’s soundtrack and the story that moved millions to laughter and tears, is more alive than ever. A wildly-talented new cast will take you back to the first time you saw Jersey Boys and had to go back a second time, and a third, to make sure you weren’t hallucinating...”.
Jersey Boys tells the true-life story of four guys from the wrong side of the tracks, the rise to stardom of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, one of the most successful bands in pop music history. The band sold more than 175 million records and were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame for their worldwide hits, including Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Walk Like a Man, Bye Bye Baby, Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry, which all feature in the musical.
The original Australian production opened on 4 July 2009 playing four years closing in Perth on 30 June 2013, having played to 1.6 million people throughout Australia and New Zealand. Jersey Boys is the 12thlongest running musical in Broadway history and has played to over 25 million worldwide. It has won 64 honours and awards worldwide including the 2010 Helpmann Award, 2006 Tony Award and Olivier Award for Best Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Jersey Boys continues to tour throughout the United States, United Kingdom and is opening Off Broadway this November.
Rick Elice, co-writer of the book said “A bit of celebration seems mandatory, in honour of the sensational cast we just lined up for Jersey Boys next September at the Capitol Theatre. This show was made for Sydney, because Sydney's a melting pot, just like the places in New Jersey where The Four Seasons grew up. Oh sure, the show's scooped up 64 international awards including four Tony’s; sure, it continues to play all over the world, plus it's the 12th-longest-running show in Broadway history; and sure, there is nothing like being in the theatre and hearing a couple of thousand people all laughing and cheering at the same time. That's the best. And let us not forget to mention that the story of The Four Seasons comes with all those incredible songs. But for the story of Jersey Boys to really take you on that joy ride, you've got to have a brilliant cast, and now we do. Des and his team will get 'em ready, and next September, Sydney can hop on the Jersey Boys rocket.”
Jersey Boys will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in September 2018 for a strictly limited season. For further information visit JerseyBoys.com.au
Jersey Boys is proudly supported by the NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Jersey Boys is produced in Australia by Dodger Theatricals, Rodney Rigby and TEG-Dainty.
Tickets from $69.90*
Performances from Wednesday 29 August, 2018. Opening Night Thursday 6 September, 2018
Performance Times ** - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 7pm, Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 2pm & 6.30pm
Bookings - Tickets on sale from 5pm Friday 27 October from jerseyboys.com.au
*Subject to availability. A transaction fee of $8.90 per booking applies. Price based on C Reserve Tuesday to Thursday evening performances.
**Subject to change. Exceptions include: Saturday 1 September 8pm only and Sunday 2 September 3pm only
Images: Cameron MacDonald, Bernard Angel, Thomas McGuane and Glaston Toft. Photographer: BrianGeach.
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