Jersey Boys – A struggle to fame

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were a popular band in th 60′s, which some of their songs are still well known. Their story, and how they got to be famous, was full of struggles and negativities – but they still made it. Jersey Boys is a Broadway production that realistically shares their story with every audience who comes to hear.

This Broadway show has traveled to hundreds of infamous cities like Las Vegas, London, New York, and Chicago and has captured the hearts and imaginations of thousands! Jersey Boys received a Tony Award for the best musical in 2006 – which was well deserved. The production did disappear for a bit, but is now back in full swing, with new actors, but with the same amazing story line!

Frankie Valli, along with three of his friends, had a dream to become a famous band. They were known by a different name growing up, but went famous with the name of Four Seasons. Jersey Boys tells their story in a way that has never been heard. From their friendship and hardships to momentous occasions – everything is covered.

Frankie Valli and his friends were blue collar kids who were raised on the streets of Newark. As you can imagine, this was not the best setting for a group of kids to become successful, let alone, famous. They didn’t let their circumstances get to them, as a matter of fact, it all made them much stronger individually and together.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons created their own beat and wrote all of their own songs. (It was this new beat that began to catch the attention of fans as it was very different than what people were used to.) Before the boys even reached the ripe age of 30 they had sold over 175 million albums. You may be wondering who the Four Seasons are, and the names may not ring a bell, but songs like Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Rag Doll, and Oh What a Night ought to jog that memory a bit.

Due to the nature of the story, musicians and the streets or Newark, Jersey Boys is not a family production. This is a musical intended for older teenagers and adults as there is quite a bit of cursing along with some adult content. All of this appears randomly throughout the show so attempting to cover a child’s ears and eyes is not really an option.

This is a fairly long show at three hours, with only a 15-minute intermission about half way through. It is such an enthralling story that the time just flies by and you don’t realize that you’re sitting there so long. Audiences, even the impatient ones, were not phased by the length.

You can purchase your Jersey Boys tickets online or by calling the box office. With how quickly the shows are selling out, it is highly recommended that you do purchase tickets in advance. While there are last minute tickets for sale on the day of the performance, the likelihood of getting decent seat is slim, if you can even get a ticket. For those waiting until the last minute, tickets will typically be on sale by 11 o’clock in the morning the day of the performance.

This is definitely one of those shows where you do not have to be a Broadway fan to enjoy it. Jersey Boys is one of those stories that enthralls just about any audience, and is worth taking an evening away from everything to learn about the story behind the Four Seasons. Don’t miss your chance!