Charting the rise of four working-class guys from street corner singing to stardom, “Jersey Boys” is the story of the Four Seasons, the rock & roll band fronted by the legendary Frankie Valli, who hit high notes across the world with “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like A Man”.
Nearly 40 musicians have been members of the Four Seasons in the band’s 50-plus year history. This show, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, is the story of the originals: Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi, and Valli, the latter a kid from Newark, N.J., whose ringing falsetto became the band’s trademark and made him one of the most instantly recognisable vocalists in the world. Plenty of highs, then, but “Jersey Boys” plumbs the lows, too. Like most successful bands, the Four Seasons weathered musical rivalries, infighting, alcohol addiction and rocky personal relationships. But how many bands can you think of that had run-ins with the Mob?