• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
    • Submit Event
  • About Us
    • Our Contributors
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • On Screen Dayton
    • On Screen Dayton Reviews
    • Road Trippin’
      • Cincinnati
      • Columbus
      • Indianapolis
    • Spectator Sports
    • Street-Level Art
    • Visual Arts
  • Dayton Dining
    • DMM’s Brunch Guide
    • Restaurants with Private Dining Rooms
    • Dayton Food Trucks
    • Quest
    • Ten Questions
  • Dayton Music
    • Music Calendar
  • On Stage Dayton
    • On Stage Dayton Reviews
  • Active Living
    • Canoeing/Kayaking
    • Cycling
    • Hiking/Backpacking
    • Runners
  • How to Support Dayton Businesses, Nonprofits During COVID-19

Dayton Most Metro

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Band of Brothers

January 25, 2012 By Russell Florence, Jr. 1 Comment

(L to R) Brandon Andrus, Brad Weinstock, Jason Kappus and Colby Foytik as The Four Seasons in Jersey Boys (Photo by Joan Marcus)

“Jersey Boys,” which captured the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical and remains one of the most popular jukebox musicals on the Great White Way, enjoyably depicts the triumphs and pitfalls of legendary 1960s hitmakers The Four Seasons.

Sleekly directed by Des McAnuff in one of his finest efforts and presented at the Schuster Center courtesy of the Victoria Theatre Association’s Premier Health Partners Broadway Series, “Jersey Boys” chronicles the talented blue-collar troupe from their rocky evolution in the 1950s to their 1990 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Instead of adopting the common jukebox trend of shoe-horned songs taking conceptual precedence (a shortcoming of “Mamma Mia!” and “Million Dollar Quartet”), librettists Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice wisely craft terrifically authentic, fully developed central characters (not caricatures) that resonate as strongly as the assortment of pop classics which smoothly accent the story. In addition to constructing infectious momentum in the middle of Act 1 with three knockout numbers in a row (“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man”), Brickman and Elise’s delightfully personable, occasionally gripping narrative, full of intriguing revelations, evenly spotlights the rise and fall of the group within the appropriate backdrops of spring, summer, fall and winter.

As Frankie Valli (born Francis Castelluccio), the admirable Carlos Valdes possesses a firmly distinctive, Valli-esque falsetto and a delightfully youthful spunk which effectively dissolves as Frankie matures. Delivering superb renditions of “Moody’s Mood for Love” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Valdes greatly connects in the darker Act 2 as the philandering Frankie comes to grips with the pains of touring and his fractured relationship with his drug-addicted daughter. Colby Foytik is a charming scoundrel as troublesome Tommy DeVito, whose shady financial dealings plague the troupe beyond belief. The marvelously understated Brandon Andrus, bearing a striking resemblance to Craig Bierko, substantively embodies the unassuming, plain-spoken Nick Massi with a sharply droll attitude. As Bob Gaudio, who composed the hit “Who Wears Short Shorts” at age 15, Jason Kappus endearingly blends with his fellow cohorts, who are crisply choreographed with suave masculinity by Sergio Trujillo.

Barry Anderson (a standout as the Four Season’s flamboyant producer/lyricist Bob Crewe), E. Clayton Cornelious, Kaleigh Cronin, Thomas Fiscella, Natalie Gallo (a lovely inclusion in “My Eyes Adored You”), Ruby Lewis (leading a feisty “My Boyfriend’s Back”) and Christopher Messina are notable in featured roles.

A particular draw for men who enjoy musicals served with testosterone, “Jersey Boys” wholeheartedly entertains as a prime source of toe-tapping nostalgia.

“Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons” continues through Feb. 5 at the Schuster Center, Second and Main Streets. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Act One: 75 minutes; Act Two: 60 minutes. Brad Weinstock and Hayden Milanes are also cast as Frankie Valli. Tickets are $42-$111. For tickets or more information, call Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or visit www.ticketcenterstage.com

Filed Under: On Stage Dayton Reviews, The Featured Articles

About Russell Florence, Jr.

Russell Florence, Jr. is a member of The American Theatre Critics Association and The Drama League. In addition to his role as arts and culture editor of Dayton City Paper and theater critic for Dayton City Paper and Impact Weekly, he served as a Dayton Daily News freelance writer and editorial page contributor. He has also written features for such theater publications as Spotlight Ohio and The Sondheim Review. Over the past 25 years, he has seen over 1,000 shows locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally encompassing New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Toronto, Madrid, and Rome among other destinations.

Reader Interactions


Comments

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Featured Events

  • Tue
    19
  • Wed
    20
  • Thu
    21
  • Fri
    22
  • Sat
    23
  • Sun
    24
  • Mon
    25

Leadership Dayton Class of 2022 Information Breakfast

8:30 am | Virtual Event

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Spaghetti Tuesday

5:00 pm | The Trolley Stop

Burger Night

5:00 pm | Watermark

Jazz with Gail and Larry

5:00 pm | Spirited Goat Coffee House

Tuesday Trivia

7:00 pm | The Dublin Pub

Jan Story Slam

7:00 pm | ZOOM

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Trivia w/ DagaTrivia

6:00 pm | Eudora Brewing Company

Wednesday Trivia

6:30 pm | Troll Pub at the Wheelhouse

Open Mic with Blues Breakdown Band

7:00 pm | Hank’s Local

Gem City Market Walking Warriors

7:00 pm | Gem City Market

Wednesday Night Trivia w/ Dan Profitt

7:00 pm | Oinkadoodlemoo & Brew

Marvel Cinematic Universe Trivia

7:00 pm | Toxic Brew Company

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Know Your Knots 101

6:00 pm | online

January Salon, Featuring Katie Clark Gabbard

6:00 pm | ZOOM

Jenna Drees Live Music in the Loft

7:00 pm | Moeller Brew Barn

Bingo

8:00 pm | Trolley Stop

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Tinned Gourmet Seafoods Tasting Event

5:00 pm | Salt Block Biscuit Company

Latin Dance Party

5:30 pm | The Salvation Army Kroc Center

Route 88

6:30 pm | Mr Boro’s Tavern

Clayton Anderson with Jacob William

7:00 pm | JD Legends Entertainment Complex

Music Bingo!

7:00 pm | Devil Wind Brewing

Derik Zoo

8:00 pm | Wiley’s Comedy Club

Cooking Class: Three Kings’ Day: A Puerto Rican Celebration

8:30 pm | DLM Culinary Center

RiverScape Virtual Winter Yoga

9:30 am |

2nd Annual Ice Breaker Fest

4:00 pm | Fifth Street Brewpub

Ronald McDonald House Cooking Together

6:00 pm | your house

Dave’s & Confused

6:00 pm | The Phone Booth Lounge

DPAA presents Beethoven 8 and Florence Price

6:00 pm | Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Live Music With Generations Band

6:30 pm | Sojourners Brewstillery

Until Rust & Friends

6:30 pm | Courtyard Lounge

Derik Zoo

7:15 pm | Wiley’s Comedy Club

DPAA presents Beethoven 8 and Florence Price

8:30 pm | Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

Chili Fest

10:00 am | Findlay Market- Cincy

Rivers and Streams of the Miami Valley — and How Citizens can Make a Difference to Protect Them

2:30 pm | zoom

DLM Virtual Class! Sunday Supper Chicken & Dumplings

5:00 pm | ZOOM

Winter Restaurant Week

| tba

25% off Pizza Monday

11:30 am | Oregon Express

More Events…

DMM E-Newsletter


Give us your email address and we'll send you our DMM E-Newsletters
Email:  
For Email Marketing you can trust
Back to Top

Copyright © 2021 Dayton Most Metro · Terms & Conditions · Log in