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| 2012 Marquee and 2017 Marquee |
Back in March of 2012, people thought that it was the last time
that Jacksonville Florida would get a chance to see the Broadway hit musical
telling the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. “Jersey Boys” is back in town once again, at
the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, and it is a must-see show. Ticket sales are going well, yet, if you hurry,
you’ll still have the opportunity to see this fantastic presentation while it’s
in town.
As stated before, “Jersey Boys” is NOT recommended for all
ages. The show contains smoke, gun
shots, strobe lights, drug & blood references, sexual innuendos and authentic
"profane Jersey language." Recommended
for mature audiences only!
The cast has changed, nonetheless, the voices still meld
together perfectly as you will sing along to familiar Frankie Valli and the
Four Seasons tunes. If you take a look
at your program from the show, you will notice that actor Aaron De Jesus has a striking
resemblance to the real Frankie Valli in mannerisms, looks and vocals. Cory Jeacoma, Keith Hines and Matthew Dailey
round out the foursome with their dynamic singing, lines and strutful dance
moves. You almost want to get out of
your seat and march along to the rhythm of the beat.
The music from the Jersey Boys Orchestra will have you
wondering if the horn section is LIVE or is it Memorex. The drummer (Mark Papazin) is usually present
on stage and keeps a precise beat, while the keyboardists, guitarists and bass
players give a quality in-studio sound.
The ladies in the cast, (Kristen Paulicelli, Leslie Rochett, Jenna
Nicole Schoen and Jesse Wildman) add a little glitz and glamour to the
stage. These ladies can also act, sing
and dance the night away.
Frankie Valli, who came to fame in 1962 as the lead singer
of the Four Seasons (and appeared live at the Times Union Center JAX on March 5,
2014), is hotter than ever in the 21st century. Thanks to the volcanic
success of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and
times of Frankie and his legendary group, such classic songs as “Big Girls
Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” are
all the rage all over again. The real Frankie Valli is also packing
venues around the world and has toured almost continuously since 1962. Don’t forget to check your program for “The
Ones That Got Away” (familiar songs) that you didn’t get a chance to hear.
The majority of the 71 chart hits of Frankie Valli and
the Four Seasons (including 40 in the Top 40, 19 in the Top 10, and eight
No. 1’s) came during the 1960’s, but the music didn’t just disappear. The songs have been omnipresent in such movies
as: The Deer Hunter, Dirty Dancing, Mrs. Doubtfire, Grease. Conspiracy Theory, and
The Wanderers. As many as 200 artists
have done cover versions of Frankie’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” from Nancy
Wilson’s jazz treatment to Lauryn Hill’s hip-hop makeover.
Frankie
Valli and the Four Seasons have influenced many other great recording
artists. That was acknowledged in dozens
of recent tributes collected for Jersey Beat, the new Four Seasons boxed
set. For example, from Barry Gibb:
“Frankie Valli to me has become one of the hallmark voices of our generation.
From the deepest emotions of his real voice to the power of his falsetto, he
created a style that we all still strive to emulate.” From Billy Joel: “I wrote ‘Uptown Girl’ as the
flip side to the story of ‘Rag Doll.’ I always loved that record.” And from Brian Wilson: “In the early ’60s the
Four Seasons were my favorite group. I thought they were fantastic. The voice blend was fantastic. The competition helped me to get cracking. It inspired me, because they made good music. I went to the piano thinking I could top their
music.”
DATES: TIMES:
Tues., Feb. 14, 2017 º7:30 p.m.
Wed., Feb. 15 7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Feb. 16 7:30 p.m.
Fri., Feb. 17 °8 p.m.
Sat., Feb. 18 2 & 8 p.m.
Sun., Feb. 19 º1:30 & 7p.m.
LOCATION: Times Union Center Performing Arts
Moran Theater
Jacksonville, FL 32202
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