Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG), which recently presented the first international production of “The Bridges of Madison County” and the newly re-imagined production of “Saturday Night Fever,” is set to premiere a brand-new production of the Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys,” a biographical musical based on the story of the legendary American doo-wop group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, on September 23 at Meralco Theatre in Pasig City.
Starring acoustic balladeer Nyoy Volante in the coveted role of Frankie Valli, lead vocalist of the Four Seasons, and Asian Pop Superstar Christian Bautista in the role of Bob Gaudio, singer-songwriter and keyboardist of the Four Seasons (the full cast will be announced at a later date), will run for a limited 15 shows only, on the weekends from September 23 until October 16.
Now in its 11th year on Broadway, “Jersey Boys” officially opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on November 6, 2oo5. In 2006, the show won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young, who also played the role of Frankie Valli in the movie adaptation in 2014), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Hoff), and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley). It also won Best New Musical at the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards in London and Best Musical Show Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. As of September 22, 2015, after setting a record of at least 4,093 performances, “Jersey Boys” has surpassed “Miss Saigon” as the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history.
To date, the show has been seen by more than 23 million people worldwide and is currently playing in New York, Las Vegas, London, and in numerous cities across North America and the U.K. In Asia, an international touring production, starring an all-South African cast, played Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia from November 2012 to April 2014.
Directed by Bobby Garcia, “Jersey Boys,” featuring the music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, the Four Seasons' record producer, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, who creatively present the story of the Four Seasons' formation, meteoric rise and descent via four symbolic seasons told from different points of view, has some unique offerings for Filipino theatergoers: Mr. Garcia's brand-new staging, Driscoll Otto's lighting design, Edwin Tan's costume design, and Faust Peneyra's set design.
“Jersey Boys is such a well-crafted biographic musical. It manages to both be a celebration of the unforgettable music of the Four Seasons and at the same time a gritty but heartfelt true-to-life tale of friendship, family, and stardom. Like any good musical, it has a fantastic story and bringing that story to life while at the same time honoring the legends who created the music is the challenge—it is also what excites me about the show,” Mr. Garcia said.
“Jersey Boys” tells the story of the 40-year-friendship of four sons of Italian immigrants in New Jersey. They went from singing on street corners in the various housing projects in northern N.J. to singing on national television as their songs, featuring Frankie Valli's trademark three-octave range and falsetto and a distinctive doo-wop sound, charted 24 Top-30 hits from 1962 to 1968. Their most popular songs such as “Big Girls Don't Cry,” “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Can't Take My Eyes Off You,” “My Eyes Adored You,” and “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” defined the boomer generation who took illegal drugs, sex, rebellion, and rock and roll to a whole new level.
Considered as America's most popular singing group before The Beatles, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, alongside the Beach Boys, Motown, and Memphis soul, fought their way to the top of the music charts even during the phenomenal “Beatlemania,” The Rolling Stones, and British Invasion in the mid-60s.
“'Jersey Boys' is one of those nights at the theatre that leaves you feeling so good. I think it's those songs. There is an energy to them that lifts you higher and higher. We also have assembled a truly first-rate cast whom I think will bring these legends to thrilling life!” Mr. Garcia said.
Interviewed by Billboard, Mr. Valli said, “It [the Broadway musical] has created a new awareness [about the Four Seasons], especially with younger people.”
★★★★★
“Oh, what a fantastic night you’ll have!”
UPN 9 TV
★★★★★
“The most exciting musical in years!”
Chicago Tribune
★★★★★
“A can’t-stop-the-music-tidal-wave!”
The Star-Ledger
Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, May 24, 2016; visit www.TicketWorld.com.ph or call Ten Bridges Media Corp. (632) 650 5144
PRODUCTION Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, in cooperation with Ten Bridges Media Corp., presents the Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys” for a limited engagement only.
DIRECTOR Bobby Garcia
MUSIC/LYRICS Bob Gaudio (music), Bob Crewe (lyrics), Ceejay Javier (musical direction)
SETS Faust Peneyra
COSTUMES Edwin Tan
LIGHTS Driscoll Otto
MAIN CAST Nyoy Volante, Christian Bautista
WHEN Weekends from September 23 to October 16, 2016
WHERE Meralco Theatre, Pasig City
INFORMATION Tel: (632) 650 5144 or www.facebook.com/ATEGasia
TICKETS www.TicketWorld.com.ph or Ten Bridges Media Corp. (632) 650 5144
