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<\/a>(L-R) Keith Hines, Mark Ballas, Cory Jeacoma, and Matthew Dailey. Photo by Jim Carmody, as is the big one at the top of the page.<\/p><\/div>\n
The show has been around, on Broadway and also in one city or another, for about a dozen years, so I feel like everyone in the world has seen it by now.\u00a0 (The friend I brought to\u00a0this\u00a0<\/em>opening night, however, had not, and she was all choked-up by the end, and could not stop thanking me!)<\/p>\n But even if you<\/em> have seen it before, you really need to also check-out this edition of the show. I saw it at this same theatre just about ten years ago, and enjoyed it enough, but not even close to as much as I did this<\/em> time!<\/p>\n (L-R) Keith Hines, Matthew Dailey, Mark Ballas, and Cory Jeacoma. Photo by Jim Carmody.<\/p><\/div>\n For those of you who have lived under a rock for the past twelve years,\u00a0Jersey Boys<\/em>\u00a0is the story of the ’60s singing quartet, The Four Seasons.\u00a0 Even if you\u2019re a kid\u00a0now<\/em>, you would recognize many of their iconic songs.\u00a0 It was really thrilling\u00a0to hear those classic tunes, such as Big Girls Don\u2019t Cry<\/em>, Walk Like a Man<\/em>, and, of course, Sherry<\/em>, (the one that started it all for the group,) sung in person, and performed by such exceptional singers as these actors are.<\/p>\n The main attractions this go-round are that this is a famous show, of course; the music, (duh); and, let’s face it, folks, Mark Ballas starring as Frankie Valli.\u00a0 Whether or not you\u2019re fan of Mark\u2019s from his many seasons as a pro on\u00a0Dancing With The Stars<\/em>, you have to at least be a tad curious to see him star in a Broadway musical.\u00a0 And let me tell you\u2014he\u2019s fabulous!\u00a0 Even though this is a non-dancing show, he throws in a special move every now and then, to great cheers from the appreciative audience.\u00a0 On opening night last week, just a multiple spin from him elicited screams from all of us.\u00a0 (Yes, led by\u00a0me<\/em>, of course!)<\/p>\n (L-R) Cory Jeacoma, Matthew Dailey, Mark Ballas, and Keith Hines. Photo by Jim Carmody.<\/p><\/div>\n Just like his almost-siblings, Derek and Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas is now a triple threat.\u00a0\u00a0He was always a singer, (as well as a dancer and musician,) and had a band with Derek.\u00a0 I had heard them sing live a time or two, and, I have to admit that, back then, their singing abilities did not live up to their dancing talent. But, wow, has Mark\u2019s vocal talent grown!\u00a0 He\u2019s especially good here, emulating the legendary\u00a0Frankie Valli!\u00a0 (Mark is also half of the duo Alexander Jean with his wife now.) And, as proven with this show, he has acting chops, too. [Important note: Other actors will play the role\u00a0at certain performances during the run, so please make sure you check before purchasing your tickets, if Mark is the one you want to see. And, trust me, he is<\/em>!]<\/p>\n Mark Ballas as Frankie Valli. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.<\/p><\/div>\n On a side note about Mark Ballas, Mr. X (my very own Jersey boy) is still irked that Mark and two of his partners wound-up as runners-ups on Dancing With The Stars<\/em>, when they deserved to win that mirror ball trophy. It happened first with singer Katherine Jenkins on Season 15, but even more painfully with Paige VanZant on Season 22.\u00a0 I agree that they should have been the victors, but I guess I\u2019ve let it go more than Mr. X has. We\u2019re such fans of fairness, so we take those losses personally.<\/p>\n Moving on now, back to this rendition of Jersey Boys<\/em>, in general. I was so enthralled by the entire production that I couldn’t take even one note during the show!<\/p>\n (L-R) Keith Hines, Mark Ballas, Matthew Dailey and Cory Jeacoma. Photo by Jim Carmody.<\/p><\/div>\n I found absolutely no weaknesses this time.\u00a0 None. It\u2019s such a well-constructed musical.\u00a0 The tale of the Four Seasons is shown from the points of view of all four members, so each one gets his moment to shine. And all four actors are outstanding.\u00a0 They all have great voices, (especially Cory Jeacoma as Bob Gaudio,) and play their parts well.\u00a0 The most surprising one to me, though, is Keith Hines as Nick Massi because I don\u2019t remember that role being such a funny one before. And Matthew Dailey, as group founder Tommy DeVito, is the glue that keeps it all together. That guy is a ball of energy!<\/p>\n And I have to give a quick shout-out to David LaMarr, who plays several small roles. We got to hear his pipes only a very few times throughout the show, but that guy can wail! I know there, of course, were no songs for any roles other than the four main dudes in this one, so I hope to see David in another musical in the future, when he can really let lose.<\/p>\n (L-R) Mark Ballas, Cory Jeacoma, Matthew Dailey, and Keith Hines. Photo by Jim Carmody.<\/p><\/div>\n Actually, every single person on that stage is spot-on. Whether they\u2019re delivering the humorous lines that are the hallmark of the script, or getting serious, or singing and dancing, or playing the wonderful music, it all works to the utmost level.<\/p>\n And I adore that the show opens with a boffo musical number, Oh What a Night<\/em>…in French! Of course, that choice is a device to get the audience going right away, and it works! What a perfect way to get the crowd into it from the get-go! (And to annoy Mr. X for the rest of this month\u2014I have not stopped singing it! But at least I\u2019m doing so in English.)<\/p>\n I also really enjoyed the many colorful projections at the top of the set. I honestly don\u2019t remember seeing them all those years ago. (Some people have told me that they\u2019re the same as before, and others have mentioned that they\u2019re updated images. Either way, they\u2019re all right up my alley.)<\/p>\n Frankie Valli himself, saying hello to the audience at the end of the opening night performance of Jersey Boys, the musical of his Four Seasons. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n So, the performances are solid, the writing is very clever and witty, the singing great, and the sound system at the Ahmanson makes it all even better. And the musicians do themselves proud. When I saw it, many of us didn\u2019t exit the theatre until the band was finished playing, even though the show was over.<\/p>\n The only teensy complaint I can see anyone having with Jersey Boys is that it\u2019s a tad long. But there\u2019s really nothing to cut out of it! We really want all the music to stay, and since the songs accompany each member\u2019s story, there\u2019s nothing that can go. Nor should<\/em> go. So, just know that going in, and take a nap before you see it, if necessary. I promise you\u2019ll be leaving the Ahmanson invigorated, so you won\u2019t be going to sleep soon after. You\u2019ll need time to digest, and celebrate, what you just saw.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Mark Ballas. Photo by Jeanine Anderson.<\/p><\/div>\n Being that it was opening night, Frankie Valli himself, (whom I was very excited\u00a0to spot sitting across the aisle from me, enjoying the show,) came out during the bows, and the already-appreciative crowd went wild.<\/p>\n I got to see him again at the private, intimate champagne post-show reception to celebrate opening night. Ahmanson Producing Director Douglas C. Baker gave a rousing speech, and the cast was in great spirits.<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Shirley Ballas. Photo by Robyn Shreiber.<\/p><\/div>\n And I\u2019m absolutely thrilled to report that Mark Ballas was darling to me! I had met him once before, (which he pointed-out was nine<\/em> years ago, but I told him I like to call it just one<\/em>,) and was glad to see that he\u2019s even nicer as a grown-up. (Yes, he\u2019s in that category of life now\u2014he\u2019ll turn thirty-one tomorrow! Wow. Where has the time gone? Oh\u2014Happy Birthday to Mark, by the way.)<\/p>\n We spent a few minutes laughing, and then I got to congratulate his mother, the beautiful Shirley Ballas, on her son\u2019s achievements. We talked about her upcoming gig as a judge on Britain\u2019s Strictly Come Dancing<\/em>, and she assured me that she\u2019ll be fair. She seems to be such a regular, down-to-earth person that the rest of our long conversation was basically just a normal one! She was almost as excited for me as I<\/em> was that I had met her fellow Brit dance celeb, Sir Matthew Bourne, the night before! How lovely is that<\/em>?<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and Frankie Valli, the first time Jersey Boys played in LA. Photo by Judy Young.<\/p><\/div>\n I was so involved with the Ballas fam that I missed speaking with Frankie again, whom I had interviewed many years before. But I can tell you that I observed a true love fest amongst the entire assemblage for the duration of the reception.<\/p>\n I must congratulate everyone involved with this production on their excellent work, and wish them a fabulous run. And I hope that all of you<\/em> go see Jersey Boys<\/em>, and have as great a time as I<\/em> did!<\/p>\n Jersey Boys<\/em>\u00a0running through June 24, 2017<\/strong> JERSEY BOYS I dare you to leave\u00a0Jersey Boys\u00a0at downtown Los Angeles\u2019 Ahmanson Theatre without a smile on your face! The show has been around, on Broadway and also in one city or another, for about a dozen years, so I feel like everyone in the world has seen it by now.\u00a0 (The friend I brought<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Ahmanson Theatre \u00a0135 N. Grand Ave. \u00a0213-972-4400 \u00a0www.CenterTheatreGroup.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"