CLEVELAND - Making its return to Cleveland, ‘Jersey Boys’ has been seen worldwide by over 26 million people and counting. The shows popularity is proof that the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is still speaking to crowds like it was decades ago.
The Four Seasons were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January of 1990. Now 30 years later, the show telling their story is back in Cleveland playing before singing crowds.
“We definitely get some loud singers in the audience, they love it,” says Eric Chambliss, who plays Bob Gaudio on the tour.
“I like it…I feel like I’m more at a concert when people sing out. I feel like they’re a part of it. I love it actually more than if they don’t sing,” adds Jon Hacker, who plays Frankie Valli.
Despite all the great music tucked inside Jersey Boys, it’s the story surrounding the music about the creation of the group and what they went through, that continues to pack audiences into the theatre each night.
Corey Greenan, who plays Tommy DeVito, says, “People come in because of the music, then they see this story of these four guys. This could have gone a completely different way for these guys. They could have been in jail or in the mafia, but they ended up being these international pop sensations that defined a generation.”
The story of The Four Seasons led to their music, which led them to enshrinement at the Rock Hall. It also led to multiple different cast playing the group and introducing their tunes to a whole new generation.
“I think it’s timeless. I think the lyrics and what it invokes, they just invoke such a feeling in people. I don’t know if it’s love or happiness. I think their lyrics are brilliant and I think they’re timeless,” says Hacker.
You can hear the music and see the story of Jersey Boys at Connor Palace through January 26th.