Initially scheduled to run through Oct. 5, the engagement of the Tony-winning musical had already been extended several times. A new Canadian cast, which will be announced shortly, will step into the production in mid-December.
Jersey Boys is being presented in Toronto as part of the launch of Dancap Productions Inc. Heading the cast are Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), original Broadway cast member Steve Gouveia (Nick Massi), Canadian native Jeremy Kushnier (Tommy DeVito) and Andrew Rannells (Bob Gaudio) with Jonathan Hadley and Joseph Siravo.
Variety recently announced that the new company will feature Jeff Madden as Frankie Valli with Adrian Marchuk as the Valli alternate. Jeremy Kushnier is expected to continue on as DeVito.
In a statement producer Michael David said, "After our first eight weeks of performances, it has become ever so clear that Jersey Boys and the great city of Toronto seem meant for each other. We are most excited to join with Aubrey Dan and Dancap to perpetuate that relationship – hopefully for a very long time to come."
Director Des McAnuff added, "I'm thrilled to see that Jersey Boys is a big hit in Toronto. I'm proud of the entire company and pleased for Aubrey Dan and everyone at Dancap. As the new Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, I've truly been enjoying getting reacquainted with Canadian theatre artists and meeting new ones. We will populate Jersey Boys with great Canadian talent on stage and off. This makes six productions of Jersey Boys currently running; I look forward to the Toronto production being the strongest of them all." Jersey Boys, according to press notes, is "the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. It's a journey of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide — all before they were 30."
The creative team includes Tony-winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo as well as Klara Zieglerova (scenic design), Jess Goldstein (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Clark (projections design), Charles LaPointe (wig and hair design), Steve Orich (orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (music direction, vocal arrangements and incidental music).
Jersey Boys premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in October 2004 before arriving in November 2005 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. The Broadway production garnered four Tony Awards: for stars John Lloyd Young and Christian Hoff, lighting designer Howell Binkley and for Best Musical.
The award-winning production features music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and a book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice.
There are currently five productions of Jersey Boys: New York, London, Chicago, Las Vegas and the North American tour. A sixth production will open in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2009.
Jersey Boys is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner. The original Broadway cast recording is available on the Rhino Records label.
The Toronto Centre for the Arts is located at 5040 Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue. Tickets, which begin at $55, are available by calling (416) 872-1111 or by visiting JerseyBoysToronto.com. For Dancap Members and/or groups of 20 or more, call (416) 644-3665 or (866) 950-7469 or visit dancaptickets.com.
