Jersey Lads at Adelaide Fringe
Promise Adelaide specialises in creating opportunities for South Australia’s up and coming under 21 year-old music and theatre stars. The supremely talented young non-profit performance company secures rave reviews every time it puts on a show. Promise Adelaide now presents a tribute to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons during Adelaide Fringe 2016. Lesley Reed reports.
The hottest, freshest tribute to the multi-award winning Broadway and West End Musical Jersey Boys and legendary rock 'n' roll hall- of- famers, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, will stun Adelaide when home town four piece group Jersey Lads hits the Adelaide Fringe stage.
Slick moves and tight four-part harmonies are a feature of the performance as the group deliver their very own tribute to the music of Jersey Boys, performing classics such as 'Sherry', 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You', 'Beggin', 'Big Girls Don't Cry', 'Bye Bye Baby', and more.
The group is led and directed by Promise Adelaide’s co-founder Ben Francis, who scales the falsetto heights of Frankie Valli. Ben and his fellow performers, Lachlan Williams, Tom Russell and Kyle Hall weren’t born when Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons achieved their phenomenal success in the sixties. Until recently the lads were all at school together at Adelaide’s Scotch College.
These young performers have impressive CV’s already, given their tender years. Along with their rapport as friends and a shared passion for music, their performance in Adelaide Fringe 2016 will be mature and impressive and reflect that extensive past experience.
The Jersey Lads are all successful performers in their own right, having worked professionally from London to New York, in musical theatre, opera, stage plays and film. It’s difficult to comprehend the wide range of achievements already chalked up by these fine young artists:
At sixteen Ben Francis has performed extensively in both the United Kingdom and Australia as an actor, singer and musician. His credits include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy), High School Musical (Ryan), The Little Mermaid (Prince Eric), Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow) and The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic). Ben is a regular performer with the State Opera of South Australia, having performed in La Boheme and Carmen. In 2015 he returned to the State Opera where he worked intensively with world-renowned director Gale Edwards on the Page to Stage Workshop of an opera based on Tim Winton’s novel, Cloudstreet. Ben has also played lead roles with Independent Theatre. He has performed in venues such as Euro Disney, Hong Kong Disney, Sadlers Wells Theatre in London’s West End and in The Royal Albert Hall. He currently attends Scotch College on a Performing Arts Scholarship. Off stage, Ben’s experience includes that of director, musical director, orchestral conductor and producer. As a co-founder of Promise Adelaide, and since its inception in October 2014, Ben has provided opportunities for over one hundred young performers while raising in excess of $9000 for charities including beyondblue, The Cancer Council and The Heart Foundation.
Kyle Hall is eighteen years old and developed a love of performing at the age of eleven. He has played numerous principal roles for theatrical production companies including Adelaide Youth Theatre, Mighty Good Productions and Pelican Productions. As a dancer, he has competed successfully in State, National and International Hip-Hop and contemporary competitions. In 2014, Kyle won an Australia-wide musical theatre competition with JOIP Productions and was given the opportunity to fly to New York and attend The Broadway Dance Centre. Kyle is also the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter in Runaway Weekend, a pop/rock band.
At seventeen, Lachlan Williams has performed for many years in amateur and school musical productions. With a keen passion for music, Lachlan plays the piano and double bass and is self-taught on guitar and electric bass. His music interests are wide with a current focus on the history of popular and heavy rock music and musicians. Lachlan also enjoys playing bass in Unplugged, a cover band based in Adelaide, originally formed to raise money for the Leukemia Foundation.
Tom Russell’s acting career took off when he was chosen for the lead role of Chook in the feature film Last Ride opposite Hugo Weaving. It was selected for inclusion at the Toronto Film Festival and won the Black Pearl Award at the Middle East International Film Festival. In 2009 Tom was honoured with an AFI nomination for Best Young Actor for his performance in the film. Tom went on to play the pivotal role of Young Fish in Screentime’s adaptation of Tim Winton’s bestselling novel Cloudstreet. Tom also has several other feature film credits to date and is highly experienced in musical theatre.
The idea of the Jersey Lads show sprang from a performance of the song ‘Sherry’ at the Big Barbershop Day Out, an annual acapella workshop held at Adelaide’s St Peter’s College.
“Everyone loved it,” says Ben Francis, “from kids who don’t even know who Frankie Valli is, to staff who grew up with his music.”
Later, the boys’ love of the harmonies and universal appeal of the iconic sound led them to extend their repertoire and add in the signature snazzy suits and crisp choreography. Secured by an agent, they are now juggling rehearsals for the Fringe with performances, work and study.
It’s abundantly clear each one of the brilliantly talented young Jersey Lads performers can proudly ‘Walk Like a Man’. And you can say you saw their fantastic talent early in their stellar careers when you attend a Jersey Lads performance at the Adelaide Fringe.
Quite possibly one of the best tribute acts you’re ever likely to see.
Photos: Mason Digital Photography
WHERE AND WHEN:
Sat 20 Feb - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM- Sold Out
Hotel Tivoli
Thu 25 Feb - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM-
The Norwood Hotel
Fri 26 Feb - 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM- Sold Out
The Norwood Hotel
TICKETS:
Adult: $28.00, Companion Card, Concession: $20.00, Honey Pot
BOOKINGS: www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix
More 2016 Adelaide Fringe Previews
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