Jersey Boys Live at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur 2014


[Special Music Event]
 

 
The four what? Chances are you do know their songs. Just that you don’t know who is the artiste. Well watch this YouTube video below.

 
And this one too.
 

 
Told you!
Well I was lucky enough to be invited to watch the multi-award winning musical JERSEY BOYS at the Istana Budaya Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur and the good news is that the show runs from 15 till 27 April 2014. 
JERSEY BOYS is organised by Milestone Production Sdn Bhd, and depicts the true-life story and the remarkable rise to stardom of one of the most successful bands in American pop music history – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons – 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. Apart from featuring the band’s 60’s American pop worldwide hits, JERSEY BOYS also tells the story of the inspiring journey of The Four Seasons from the mean streets of Newark, New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records globally – all before they were thirty!
As the members came from humble beginnings, watch as fame and wealth changes them while they have run ins with loan-sharks and gangsters, and even affairs with women (that’s why guys want to become famous pop/ rock stars and actors – because it’s easy to get any girl you want!). All part of the true story which is told from four (4) different angles – by each of the Jersey Boys. 
 

 
It was evident that a lot of thought was put into the sets as even a lamppost can appear out of nowhere. The outfits follow the fashion of the 50’s to the 70’s and I must say that the actor who plays Tommy DeVito got his Italian American accent spot on as it sounded so natural. The singing too was very good, and after some research on YouTube I believe this cast in Kuala Lumpur is like their best ensemble of actors. 
The musical starts off slowly (but look out for Tommy singing “Earth Angel” early on. The show slowly builds up to a crescendo and along the way look out for hits such as Walk Like a Man, Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry and of course the two hits that everyone knows – “Oh What A Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. Girls will love the slick dance moves of the group while the music is something everyone can appreciate – music from an era before songs were all about violence, materialism and sex.
 

 
JERSEY BOYS, winner of 54 major awards including the 2006 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album, 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and winner of the Best Musical Tony Award® on Broadway, in London and Australia is not a tribute band but a full-scale Broadway musical that takes audiences behind the music” to tell the story of the group through each of the four members’ perspectives. The storyline weaves a tale about friendships, hardships, fights and the success resulting from a New Jersey “handshake”. The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and 3000 performances later is STILL running to full houses. JERSEY BOYS is the 14th longest-running show in Broadway history; having surpassed the record previously held by Hello, Dolly!
 

 
Here are some interesting facts:
The lights

 609 Lighting Cues
 401 Conventional Lighting Units
 96 Source 4 PARCAN lamps on the stadium wall for the concert

 
The Sound

 65 microphones used in the show, both wireless and hard‐wired.
 The full sound system includes 120 speakers.
 75,000 watts of amplification are used to power the used to power the sound system.

 The costumes

 196 total costumes/looks in the show, incl. some vintage suits, ties and dresses.
 Tommy has 12 costume changes, Nick has 11, Frankie has 15 and Bob has 10.
 Frankie runs through 1 pair of pants each week, with repairs every other day. (He slides on his knees in the number “Beggin’”.)
 9 seconds ‐ Fastest quick change in the show, for Mary Delgado to get out of the car and into her robe for “My Eyes Adored You.”
 12 quick changes for Frankie Valli. His shortest quick change is 15 seconds.
 5 hours – time spent per week hand‐beading repairs to the “Snowflake” dresses.
 Originally beaded by machine (cost: $300 per yard).
 102 shirts in the show, including reproductions of vintage shirts (patterns are printed on fabric by computer and then made into shirts. Cost: over $200 per yard).
 4 heels broken on stage (so far!)
 75 costumes/looks for the male swing.
 37 costumes/looks for the female swing.
 87 shoes used in one performance.
 2.4 miles ‐ Distance a dresser will walk/run during a day, including day work, pre‐show call, working the show and post‐show work.

 
 

 
I’m not one who really goes for musicals but Broadway musicals are rather rare in Malaysia so if you have never been to one yet I urge you to go. Widen your horizons a bit and listen to something other than K-pop and Lady Gaga. I for one really enjoyed the songs which although is not from my generation (I wasn’t born until the 80’s) are still classics and part of music history.
 
TICKET SALES INFORMATION
Tickets are now available through all Ticket Charge channels. Prices of tickets range from RM200 – RM680 per ticket. 
For more information on ticket sales, head over to http://www.ticketcharge.com.my .
 
SHOW INFORMATION – www.milestone-entertainment.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerseyboys.malaysia