Category: Plays

@showsiveseen "Jersey Boys" #musical closing weekend at Village Theatre. Starring @Lorenzo Pugliese as #FrankieValli from the #FourSeasons. Great voices! #Review: showsiveseen.com/12868 Production Video: Nyhuis Creative Director/Choreo: Michael Berresse Stage Mgr: Laurel Nichols  Music Director: RJ Tancioco  #TheFourSeasons #JerseyBoys #Jersey #newJersey #musicaltheatre #theatre #showsiveseen #4Seasons ♬ December, 1963 (Oh What a Night!) – The Four Seasons

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Jersey Boys musical at Village Theatre. The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. Great voices. Get your tickets before it closes this weekend!

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? No, I’ve seen the national tour twice.

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Three times already might be enough for me!

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

If A Random Stranger Asked What Show They Should See This Weekend, Would I Mention This Production? Yes

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Based on a true story, this jukebox musical charts the rise of Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito as they navigate ambition, loyalty, and fame to create the legendary sound of The Four Seasons band.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: They were just four guys from Jersey until they sang their very first note. They had a sound nobody had ever heard… and the radio just couldn’t get enough of. But while their harmonies were perfect on stage, off stage it was a very different story — a story that has made them an international sensation all over again. Go behind the music and inside the world of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon, Jersey Boys.This scintillating new production is full of electrifying performances of chart-topping hits including: “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” “My Eyes Adore You,” and so many more!

Type: Jukebox Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Mostly dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Obviously, you’ll appreciate this show more if you’re remotely familiar with the music from The Four Seasons.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: 11

Total Actors: 13

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours

Other Rave(s)

• Voices: In a jukebox musical centered around a legendary vocal group, stellar singing is essential. Thankfully, the cast more than delivered. Special shoutouts go to Robbie Serrano (whose voice was crisp and clear), Ethan Carpenter (a familiar face on Seattle stages whom I rarely get the pleasure of hearing sing), and Ben Dow. Lorenzo Pugliese (portraying Frankie Valli) was a standout. His performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” earned him an extended ovation with some audience members standing up with enthusiasm. Finding someone who can not only hit those iconic high notes but also channel Valli’s distinctive look and presence is no small feat. Pugliese nailed it.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

• Real Life Foreshadowing: The line “Frankie, you’ll be on the road ’til you’re 90” felt painfully prophetic. It’s even become a trend on TikTok to point out how eerily lifeless Frankie Valli now appears on stage with the obvious lip-syncing support. What kind of mob deal is forcing him on stage?
• Bromance: This production leaned into the bromance between Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio. I didn’t notice this in the national tour performances.
• Orchestra Placement: It was weird to only see the drummer visible on stage without the rest of the band. Showcasing the full orchestra would have added to the visual experience. Curiously, the musicians weren’t in the orchestra pit, but were instead hidden behind the curtain. Perhaps this decision was driven by space constraints.
• Visual Vibe: For a jukebox musical, the scenic design was oddly dark and almost brutalist, with concrete-style backdrops and faded billboard advertisements evoking a has-been urban atmosphere. The production truly came alive during the American Bandstand scenes when the four leads, sharply suited up and lit under individual spotlights, delivered “choralography” and smooth harmonies to vintage microphones. Those moments captured the script’s energy and charm.
• Energy: The performance lacked the pep I felt from the national tour. It might have been the curse of post–opening performance lull or the unusually dim visual aesthetic. Afternoon matinees also often struggle with energy. Additionally, the audience skewed older than usual and didn’t help with the vibe either. Then again, having seen this show three times now, it’s possible that some of the freshness has naturally worn off for me.

Theatre Company: Village Theatre

Venue: Village Theatre

Venue Physical Address:

• Village Theatre’s Francis J. Gaudette Theatre: 303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA 98027
• Everett Performing Arts Center: 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA 98201

Ticket Affordability Options: See the theatre’s official page about discounts and pay-what-you-can performances

Dates:

• Issaquah: 3/18/25 to 4/27/25
• Everett: 5/3/25 to 5/25/25

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking:

• Issaquah: Free street parking and certain free parking lots. Lot parking availability is very difficult to find though. I’ve basically given up on that. I usually end up parking on Rainier Boulevard North. As a last resort, you can always find parking at the library but it’s a little far. Remember, there’s a bottom floor parking lot under the library’s main parking lot that mostly only locals know about.
• Everett: Free street parking and some paid parking lots/garages.

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Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

• https://villagetheatre.org/see-a-show/jersey
• Program

Pictures: See production pictures below by Auston James.

Cast and Production Team: See after pictures below.