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Jukebox musical premiered in 2004

Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is presented in a documentary style format that dramatizes the formation, success and breakup of the 1960s rock 'n' roll group The Four Seasons. The musical is structured as four "seasons", each narrated by a different member of the band who gives his own perspective on its history and music. Songs include "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Sherry", "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)", "My Eyes Adored You", "Stay", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", "Walk Like A Man", "Who Loves You", "Working My Way Back to You" and "Rag Doll". The musical premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2004 and ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017. Since its debut it has been on two North American national tours and two national tours of the UK and Ireland. The show has been produced in London's West End, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, Melbourne and other Australian cities, Singapore, South Africa, the Netherlands, Japan, Dubai, and China. Jersey Boys won four 2006 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical.

In the early 2000s, Bob Gaudio, an original Four Seasons member, sought to make a musical from the band's discography; he noted in a 2008 interview that he was inspired by the success of Smokey Joe's Cafe and Mamma Mia! into believing that a rock and roll musical with existing songs could work. He hired book writers Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, who had difficulty finding a willing director until Michael David of Dodger Theatricals recommended them to Des McAnuff. Brickman suggested creating a show about the band's history, instead of repurposing their songs for an independent story the way ABBA did with Mamma Mia! ; Gaudio liked the idea, noting that although biopics were a common format in film, such a story format was still relatively rare on stage and that, to his knowledge, none had been tried at the time. McAnuff was initially lukewarm to the project and did not like the idea of naming the project after a Four Seasons song, fearing it would look like a cash grab instead of a legitimate artistic work; Gaudio came up with the title on a plane ride, reasoning that the band members were all just a bunch of Jersey boys, and the name stuck. In their research, Brickman and Elice were surprised to find that the members had prison records, which might have prevented their music from being played if it had been publicized when they were active. Other bands of the time projected street tough images, but The Four Seasons cleaned themselves up to be palatable to mainstream listeners. While the Four Seasons as a group made headlines, as individuals they did not receive much press, as groups like the Beatles dominated the media. Brickman noted that each member had his own perspective on what happened during their tenure as a group. Of the three surviving members, they approached DeVito last, who told them: "Don't listen to those guys. I'll tell you what really happened." Elice said that getting DeVito's version was a "eureka moment" and the contradiction in their stories was incorporated in the musical for a Rashomon effect. Family members of the late mob boss Gyp DeCarlo also contacted the writers to ensure that he would be portrayed respectfully. He, Valli, and DeVito decided to step back from the show's creative process because they lacked objectivity, leaving it to Brickman, Elice, and McAnuff to take the story to the stage. Christian Hoff, David Norona, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer played The Four Seasons. At the end of the tryout, Norona, who originated the role of Frankie Valli, was replaced by John Lloyd Young, who originally had auditioned for the role of Tommy DeVito.

The musical began previews on Broadway on October 4, 2005, and officially opened on November 6, 2005, at the August Wilson Theatre. The cast starred Young as Valli, Hoff as DeVito, Reichard as Gaudio, and Spencer as Massi. The musical was directed by Des McAnuff, at the time the artistic director at La Jolla Playhouse, with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. The Broadway production had 38 previews. It reached its 4093rd performance on September 22, 2015, making it the 12th longest running show on Broadway. Notable cast replacements include Andy Karl and Richard H. Blake as DeVito; Sebastian Arcelus and Drew Gehling as Gaudio; and Micheal Longoria, who originated the role of Joe Pesci, and Ryan Molloy, who originated the role in the West End production, both as Valli. The Broadway production closed on January 15, 2017, after 4,642 performances, with Mark Ballas as the final Valli.

Only months after closing on Broadway, it was announced that the musical would reopen off Broadway, following the example of shows such as Avenue Q. It opened November 22, 2017, at New World Stages. The production featured the same script and score as the Broadway production, but four fewer cast members, a smaller theater, and lower ticket prices. Dodger Theatricals produced the off Broadway Jersey Boys, and handled the show's Broadway and touring productions. On March 12, 2020, production was suspended due to the COVID 19 pandemic; it remained suspended until November 2021. The musical reopened on November 15, 2021, and announced on April 22 that it would close on May 22, 2022.

The musical's first U. S. tour began on December 10, 2006, at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, and went to 38 cities. The cast starred Christopher Kale Jones as Valli, Deven May as DeVito, Erich Bergen as Gaudio, and Micheal Ingersoll as Massi. Jersey Boys played at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, where it broke the box office record eight times before moving on to a return engagement in Boston. In May 2007, while the first national tour continued (with Steve Gouveia from the original Broadway cast as Massi), a second company debuted at the Curran and ended as an open ended run at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre, beginning on October 5, 2007. The Chicago cast appeared on stage in the 2007 Emmy Awards in a tribute to HBO's The Sopranos. A special holiday return engagement played at the Curran Theatre from November 20 to December 30, 2007, starring Rick Faugno as Valli, Andrew Rannells as Gaudio, Bryan McElroy as DeVito, and Jeff Leibow as Massi. Most of this cast became the original cast in the Las Vegas production, which debuted at The Palazzo Hotel on May 3, 2008, in the newly built Jersey Boys Theatre. The show temporarily closed on January 1, 2012, and reopened on March 6, 2012, at Paris Las Vegas. On June 7, 2016, it was announced that the Las Vegas production would end on September 18, 2016. In late 2014, a touring production performed in several U. S. cities, including Denver in December. Another production toured 19 U. S. cities from March 2016 to March 2017.

The musical made its West End debut at London's Prince Edward Theatre in February 2008. The creative team were the same as for the Broadway production. Principal cast were Ryan Molloy as Frankie Valli, Stephen Ashfield as Bob Gaudio, Glenn Carter as Tommy DeVito, Philip Bulcock as Nick Massi, Stuart Milligan as DeCarlo and Tom Lorcan as Donnie/Knuckles. The production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Molloy performed the lead role for six years, making him the "longest running star in a West End musical" and "longest serving Frankie Valli". The production moved to the Piccadilly Theatre on March 15, 2014, the same day that John Lloyd Young assumed the role of Frankie Valli. The production closed after nine years on March 26, 2017. In October 2020, it was announced that Jersey Boys would return to the West End at the Trafalgar Theatre in April 2021. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic in the United Kingdom the production was postponed, with previews finally beginning 28 July and opening night set for 10 August 2021. A new cast was also announced. The musical lasted until January 4, 2024.

A national UK tour was launched in autumn 2014, opening at Palace Theatre, Manchester, where it ran from September 4 to October 4. This production has the same creative team as the Broadway and West End productions. The cast includes Tim Driesen reprising his role from the Dutch production as Frankie Valli, with Stephen Webb as Tommy DeVito, Sam Ferriday as Bob Gaudio and Lewis Griffiths as Nick Massi. A second national tour began in December 2017 at the New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham until May 2019. The Melbourne production closed on July 25, 2010 and the Sydney production opened in September 2010. The Sydney production closed on December 18, 2011. Jersey Boys then opened in Auckland in April 2012 with the new touring cast. Jeff Madden from Canada starred as Frankie Valli, with Declan Egan as Bob, Ant Harkin as Tommy, and Glaston Toft continuing on as Nick. The Jersey girls were: Francine and others played by Kat Hoyos, Lorraine and others played by Michelle Smitheram and Mary Delgado and others played by Lisa Adam. running through June 17, 2012. Following from New Zealand, the same cast then returned to Australia starting a national tour Brisbane, return season of Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The show ran until June 30, 2013. An Australian tour played in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane between 2018 and 2019. The initial cast announcement had Bernard Angel as Frankie Valli, Cameron MacDonald as Tommy DeVito, Thomas McGuane as Bob Gaudio and Glaston Toft as Nick Massi. However, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Angel pulled out of the show and was replaced with the Frankie alternate, Ryan Gonzalez, with Daniel Raso as the new Frankie alternate. A "re imagined, semi staged concert production" of the show ran 8 11 February 2024 in Brisbane in the QPAC Concert Hall, again directed by Martin Croft, and with Glaston Toft again playing Nick (the only professional to have played the role in Australia, according to the program). In place of scenery, 10 large vertical LED screens behind the stage showed designs or impressionistic settings.

Due to the success of the national tour's long stop at Toronto Centre for the Arts in Toronto, Ontario, in autumn 2008, a Toronto production opened on December 12, 2008 with a new, mostly Canadian cast that included Jeremy Kushnier and Jenny Lee Stern from the first national tour. This production closed on August 22, 2010, on the show's second anniversary.

A Dutch production, produced by Stage Entertainment, opened at the Beatrix Theatre in Utrecht on September 22, 2013. This production features the songs performed in English and the dialogue performed in Dutch, making it the first time the show has been performed in a language other than English. The cast includes Tim Driesen as Frankie Valli, René van Kooten as Tommy DeVito, Dieter Spileers as Bob Gaudio and Robbert van den Bergh as Nick Massi.

A Japanese production, directed by Shuntaro Fujita, opened at the Theatre Crea in Tokyo on July 1, 2016. The cast includes Akinori Nakagawa as Frankie Valli.

An international tour with an all South African cast ran in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands resort from November 23, 2012, to January 27, 2013. The production then performed in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the Teatro at Montecasino on April 3, 2013, and at Artscape Cape Town on June 19, 2013. This company also performed at the Zorlu Center PSM, the Performing Arts Center in Istanbul, Turkey from November 13–24, 2013 and in South Korea from January 17 to March 23, 2014. The same production performed an edited family friendly version without profanity at Istana Budaya, Malaysia from April 15 to 27, 2014. This cast includes Grant Almiral as Frankie Valli, Daniel Buys as Tommy DeVito, Kenneth Meyer as Bob Gaudio and Emmanuel Castis as Nick Massi. An international tour of Jersey Boys opened at the Dubai Opera in October 2017. This production then embarked on a tour of China from November 2017 January 2018. Jersey Boys is currently playing on Norwegian Cruise Liner, Norwegian Bliss. The show premiered on the new ship in 2018.

Character Description Broadway First U. S. National Tour West End International Tour West End Revival UK Tour20052006200820172021 Frankie Valli Lead vocalist of the Four Seasons, noted for his short stature and powerful upper range. John Lloyd Young Christopher Kale Jones Ryan Molloy Luke Street / Jonathan Vickers Ben Joyce Michael Pickering / Luke Suri Bob Gaudio Songwriter and keyboardist of The Four Seasons. The youngest and last member to join the group, more intellectual and middle class than the other three. Daniel Reichard Erich Bergen Stephen Ashfield Matt Blaker Adam Bailey Blair Gibson Nick Massi Bassist and arranger of The Four Seasons, recognized as a savant by the other members of the group. J. Robert Spencer Michael Ingersoll Philip Bulcock Nick Martland Karl James Wilson Lewis Griffiths Tommy DeVito Founder, guitarist and manager of the Four Seasons from its beginnings until being bought out to cover his gambling debts. Christian Hoff Deven May Glenn Carter Andrew Bryant Benjamin Yates Dalton Wood Joe Pesci An excited teenager who works at the Four Seasons bowling alley and helps introduce Gaudio to the group. He later hires Tommy after Tommy is banished to Las Vegas. Michael Longoria Rick Faugno Jye Frasca Christian Tyler Wood Matteo Johnson George Salmon Bob Crewe A Brill Building producer and composer who gives the quartet its break into the business and begins writing songs with Gaudio. Portrayed as openly gay and having a fondness for astrology. Peter Gregus John Altieri Simon Adkins Ryan Bennett Ben Irish Michael Levi Gyp DeCarlo The head of New Jersey's organized crime syndicate and proprietor of the Sea Breeze Lounge, who employs Tommy in the band's early days and helps bail the group's members out of trouble. Mark Lotito Joseph Siravo Stuart Milligan Neil Stewart Mark Isherwood Jordan James Norm Waxman Tommy's loan shark. Donnie Kehr Miles Aubrey Joseph Prouse Joe Leather Carl Douglas Norton James Mary Delgado Frankie Valli's first wife, and mother to his daughters, of whom only one (Francine) is seen. A tempestuous, "type A" personality who divorces Frankie at the peak of the group's success. Jennifer Naimo Jackie Seiden Suzy Bastone Lisa Anne Lynch Melanie Bright Emma Crossley Francine Valli Frankie's daughter with Mary. Frankie is especially fond and protective of her, despite difficulties posed with his career as a touring singer, which Francine hopes to emulate. Sara Schmidt Melissa Strom Michelle Francis Chloe Carrington Helen Ternent Daisy Steere Lorraine A reporter from Detroit who begins dating Frankie after he splits with Mary. Later splits when she refuses to take in Francine. Erica Piccininni Sandra DeNise Amy Pemberton Kate Leiper Koko Basigara Ellie Seaton Barry Belson The radio disc jockey who breaks "Sherry" to fame with a day long marathon. Belson is based on Joey Reynolds, who "bitterly resent(ed)" not being named. Tituss Burgess Brandon Mattheius Tee Jaye Unknown Jacob McIntosh Damien Winchester

The ensemble—portrayed by various actors from the supporting cast, depending on the production—includes group members Nick DeVito, "Handsome Hank" Majewski, Charles Calello and Joe Long; various police officers, an unnamed "French rap star," the three members of The Angels, the woman who helps Bob lose his virginity (based on Judy Parker but billed only as "Bob's Christmas Present"), one of Nick's girlfriends, a goon, a judge, priest, accountant, nurse, Albert Finney (a record label executive), a radio program director named Davis (based on CKLW's Paul Drew), and singers Hal Miller, Miss Frankie Nolan, and Billy Dixon, among various unnamed onlookers.

The score for Jersey Boys requires a small orchestra with ten musicians: three keyboards, two guitars, bass, drums, two woodwind players, and trumpet. The first woodwind player doubles on alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, and oboe. The second woodwind part doubles on tenor and baritone sax, clarinet, and bass clarinet. The trumpet also doubles on flugelhorn.

Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, " the crowd goes wild. I'm talking about the real, mostly middle aged crowd at the August Wilson Theater, who seem to have forgotten what year it is or how old they are or, most important, that John Lloyd Young is not Frankie Valli. And everything that has led up to that curtain call feels, for just a second, as real and vivid as the sting of your hands clapping together." Charles Spencer from The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Overpaid, over sexed and over here, it will, I suspect be some time before London says Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye) to the PHENOMENAL Jersey Boys." Benedict Nightingale from The Times said, "Oh What a Night. There were times when I felt that the performers were making even the Beatles sound somewhat lacking in musical texture."

An original cast recording was made by Rhino Entertainment, Jersey Boys: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Rhino R2 73271), released in November 2005, which won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. In February 2008, the album was certified Gold, having shipped more than 500,000 copies in the US. In October 2009, the cast album was certified Platinum, selling over 1,000,000 copies in the United States. A movie adaptation of the musical, with John Lloyd Young reprising his role as Frankie Valli, and directed by Clint Eastwood, was released in 2014. A ProShot taping of the musical starring Nick Jonas as Frankie Valli, Andy Karl as Tommy DeVito, CJ Pawlikowski as Bob Gaudio, and Matt Bogart as Nick Massi is currently in the works.

The West End cast of Jersey Boys appeared as a guest act for the Royal Variety Performance 2008, which was staged at the London Palladium on December 11 in the presence of senior members of the Royal family. The Royal Variety Performance is a gala event held annually at a major British theatre, to raise money for the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. In 2010, The West End cast of Jersey Boys performed a show, with the profits going to Children in Need. The show ended with Pudsey Bear joining in to sing a medley, and raised £60,150 for the charity. In 2009 the cast also appeared as a guest act for Children in Need. Jersey Boys Chicago has been honored two years in a row at the Broadway Cares event for being the top fundraiser in the Tour category. In 2008, Jersey Boys Chicago raised $220,000 for BC/EFA. For every ticket sold for every Broadway performance in the month of October 2010, $1 was donated to the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Jersey Boys aimed to raise funds to restore one full music education program in a New York City school. The show eventually raised $43,521, enough to restore the instrumental music education program at PS 85 in the Bronx. Plans were made to donate additional funds raised to a second VH1 Save The Music Foundation grant recipient school. The production was rebranded as The 4 Hitmen, and Hoff, Longoria, Reichard and Spencer counter sued, claiming that the accusations were false, and alleging the use of "bully tactics" in an "effort to injure the livelihood and the reputations" of the actors. On September 23, 2010, Valli and company dropped the original suit, on the condition that the name of the performance is changed to distance itself from Jersey Boys. As of March 2024, this production is still active, and is named The Midtown Men.

The HBO series The Sopranos made several nods to Jersey Boys. For example:
Frankie Valli played Mob captain Rusty Millio, one of a group of just released prison felons referred to the show's fictional journalists as "the Class of 2004". In the Season 6 episode, "The Ride" (May 7, 2006), Marianucci Gaultieri accompanies several other Green Grove Retirement Home residents on a bus trip to see Jersey Boys. The Season 6 episode, "Walk Like a Man" (May 6, 2007), is titled after the Four Seasons' 1963 song. In the 2010 comedy The Other Guys, NYPD detectives Hoitz and Gamble, played by Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell accept two Jersey Boys tickets as a bribe and attend the show.