Theatre Under The Stars is wrapping up its 2021-2022 comeback season with the national tour of the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys, on stage now at the Hobby Center. The Tony-winning musical tells the story of "The Four Seasons", and ultimately Frankie Valli's, rise from the streets of New Jersey to international stardom. Featuring Frankie Valli's top hits as well as a variety of songs you may never have heard before, Jersey Boys has something in it for everyone (although note that the production contains "authentic, profane Jersey language"). Jersey Boys had the crowd singing and clapping along from the first song to the last and even treated the audience to an encore performance of "Happy Birthday" to celebrate the Hobby Center's 20th year.
Jersey Boys contains a highly-talented cast, all with beautiful voices, some of whom have starred in Jersey Boys on Broadway. The entire cast, especially the quartet, had a chemistry that felt like actually being in the room with the original Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio. This chemistry was visible in both their jovial, performance scenes as well as dramatic Jersey mob scenes with tension you could cut like a knife. Jon Hacker's youthful rendition of Frankie was topped off with his smooth high notes, just like the original, while David Goffman came off as much of a prick as as his character Tommy implies.
Featuring the original design team as the original, Tony-winning 2005 Broadway production, Jersey Boys contains a bare-bones scaffolding set that keeps the focus on the actors rather than any show-stopping sets or effects. The story speeds through many montages throughout the Four Season's career, and the set adapts as much, with many scenic props and furniture to make quick transitions between locations and environments. The props felt authentic for the years the show takes place, and a keen eye can even notice where the show adapts with trends chronologically, such as the microphones getting progressively more modern and costumes working through the various fads. With sparse sets, lighting takes a central role in defining spaces and feelings, and the late Howard Brinkley's (Hamilton, In the Heights) design was beautiful throughout while also serving these jobs.
No matter your familiarity with Franki Valli's music, Jersey Boys makes for a lovely night out and will keep you humming the tunes all the way home. Jersey Boys is on stage at the Hobby Center through May 22nd. For more information about Jersey Boys and the recently announced TUTS 2022-2023 season, please visit tuts.com. For more Broadway updates, tune into my KTRU specialty show “Showstoppers” weekly on Sundays from 1:45 to 2:45 pm on air and online at ktru.org.
The Company of JERSEY BOYS. Photo: Joan Marcus