
Michael Lomenda, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Quinn VanAntwerp and Matt Bailey play Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in 'Jersey Boys'. (Photo by Joan Marcus)
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“Oh What A Night!” it was indeed as Jersey Boys opened at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.
If you have not seen this show, I’m “Beggin’” you to go and immerse yourself in the feel-good music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. I’m “Swearin to God” you will not leave this Tony Award-winning musical without singing, whistling or playing the tunes over and over again with a smile on your face.
The show features an outstanding cast with the extraordinary Joseph Leo Bwarie playing Frankie Valli. “My eyes adored him”! Seriously “I couldn’t take my eyes off” of how much he resembled and sang like the actual “bunny that keeps on going” Valli, who had legendary hit records for a stretch that seemed endless.
Four Seasons members Tommy (played by Matt Bailey), Nick (played by Michael Lomenda) and Gaudio (played by Quinn VanAntwerp) were also amazing, but the star here is “Frankie Valli with an ‘I’!”
The show highlights the ups and the downs of the remarkable story of four kids from Newark who sang on corners under lampposts before hitting it big. And big they “Stay” as most of the music became famous Billboard singles, setting records like “most weeks at No. 1”, “most top-10 singles”, and “most No. 1 singles”; making the charts in the ranks amongst some of the most famous singers of all time like The Beatles, Elvis and Michael Jackson.
With over 100 million records sold this group endured the glory and the hardship that goes along with fame and stardom and the show tells it like it was: the good and the bad, the highs and the lows.
Act one favorites included “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, and “My Eyes Adored You.”
Act two highlights were “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and for the grand finale “Who Loves You?”
Jersey Boys plays at the Ziff Ballet Opera House through March 20.


I am so envious, I wish I could make this but where I am now (downrange) precludes that. When I return I hope to catch one or more of their shows! I grew up in the Catskills listening to Cousin Brucie playing original music these guys are recreating.