Jersey Boys
Recently Updated
Introduction to "Jersey Boys"
"Jersey Boys" premiered in London’s West End at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 18, 2008, following previews from February 28, running for 3,787 performances across nine years until March 26, 2017. With a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe, this jukebox musical chronicles the rise and fall of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Directed by Des McAnuff, it starred Ryan Molloy as Valli, winning the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Revived at the Trafalgar Theatre from July 28, 2021, to January 4, 2024, for 895 performances, its doo-wop hits and gritty tale have made it a West End staple, celebrating the falsetto sound that defined a generation.
The Creative Team Behind the Show
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice penned the documentary-style book, framing the Four Seasons’ story through each member’s lens. Bob Gaudio, an original Season, composed the music, with Bob Crewe’s lyrics fueling hits like "Sherry." Des McAnuff’s Tony-winning direction, paired with Sergio Trujillo’s choreography, brought 1960s swagger to life. The 2008 cast featured Molloy, Stephen Ashfield (Gaudio), Glenn Carter (Tommy DeVito), and Philip Bulcock (Nick Massi), with the 2021 revival starring Luke Suri and Ben Joyce as Valli. Producers Dodger Theatricals and Trafalgar Theatre Productions, with designs by Klara Zieglerova and Howell Binkley, crafted a slick, nostalgic package that’s kept audiences hooked.
A Four Seasons Journey
Structured as four "seasons," the plot follows Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, and Nick Massi from New Jersey’s streets to stardom. Spring sees DeVito recruit Valli’s falsetto into The Four Lovers, morphing into The Four Seasons with Gaudio’s songwriting. Summer peaks with "Sherry" and "Big Girls Don’t Cry," but mob ties and debt loom. Fall brings strife Massi quits, Valli’s marriage crumbles amid hits like "Can’t Take My Eyes Off You." Winter charts Valli’s solo rise and the group’s fade, ending with their 1990 Rock Hall induction. Songs like "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" and "Walk Like a Man" weave a tale of harmony onstage and discord off it.
Performance and Reception
The 2008 debut dazzled, with The Sunday Express calling it “sheer musical razzmatazz,” fueling a nine-year run and an Olivier win. The 2021 revival, reopening Trafalgar Theatre post-COVID, earned four-star reviews WhatsOnStage praised its “roof-raising” energy running 895 shows. Critics occasionally noted a lean plot, but the hits over 20, from "Rag Doll" to "Who Loves You" and Molloy’s 2,000-show stint won hearts. The 2005 Broadway cast recording went Platinum, and London’s renditions, like Ben Joyce’s 2023 Valli, kept it fresh. Its mix of nostalgia and raw storytelling drew over 1.5 million West End attendees, cementing its status as a fan favorite.
Legacy in West End Theatre
"Jersey Boys" redefined the jukebox musical, its four-Tony haul (2006) and Olivier win setting a bar for bio-shows like "Tina." Its 4,682 total West End performances across two runs rank it among London’s longest-running musicals, outpacing "Blood Brothers." The 2014 Clint Eastwood film and global tours Australia, Japan, Dubai spread its reach, with over 30 million seeing it worldwide. From Prince Edward to Piccadilly (2014-2017) to Trafalgar, its falsetto anthems and mob-laden saga endure. A 2023 UK tour followed its January 2024 London close, proving the Four Seasons’ story still resonates, a timeless echo of rock ‘n’ roll’s golden age.