BWW Interviews: Bye, Bye Baby - Aubrey Dan says Farewell to Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys has been a smash hit musical ever since it opened on Broadway in 2006. Critically acclaimed and warmly received by the public, the show now has productions running in many different cities, including a very successful and wonderfully talented Canadian Cast. The Toronto Production comes to a close this Sunday August 22nd, 2010 after two years at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. In honour of the show's closing BWW is taking a look back at some of the unique and fun events the Toronto Production has done during its run, and also sat down to talk with Dancap President Aubrey Dan about saying goodbye to the show, and about what comes next:

After 2 Years in Toronto, how do you plan on saying goodbye to Jersey Boys?

Well, for the public we have been saying goodbye for awhile now. Our advertisements for the last little while have been thanking the public for their support and for coming out to see the show. And as a formal goodbye we will have a goodbye tombstone created for the Toronto Production.

For the cast and company we plan on having a great party! That's the best way to say goodbye really, we will all have a fun celebration as a way of saying thank you.

What will you miss most about the show once it's gone?

I will miss the people the most. I really feel so fortunate to have such a talented group of people in my life and it has been a real joy and pleasure. It has basically become a part of my daily life to know what is going on with them and keep track of their lives, like they are an extension of my own family. In many ways I see more of them than my own family! And we all gelled so well together and have a really tight bond, so I will miss that day to day comfort of just being together.

Jersey Boys has quite a few "super-fans" involved with all the productions - do you have a favourite fan story?

One of the most popular ones would probably be of Toronto's super-fan Frances Fong-Lee who saw the show more than 100 times. A lesser known story that is close to my heart is about a fan named Mark Bloom who came to see the show two years ago during the first week of the run. He purchased a premium ticket and sat in Row 1, which we were discovering didn't have the best sightlines. We quickly made the decision that Row 1 would be for rush/lotto tickets or obstructed view seats. I felt badly that he didn't get the best experience possible, so I called him up and asked if he would like to come back and see the show again on Dancap. He was so touched, and we ended up becoming penpals. For the last two years we have been exchanging letters and emails and I have gotten to know him and his family and feel like we have become really good friends.

When Mark heard it was closing, he called me up and said that he wanted to be there, in "his seat" which he first saw the show in two years ago. So now I finally get to meet him in person and share this special night with him, and I'm really looking forward to it. It just goes to show that through the problems you solve you can create new and wonderful opportunities and relationships.

Moving on from Jersey Boys, South Pacific recently opened to rave reviews at The Four Seasons. Any chance for an extension beyond September 5th?

Unfortunately there won't be an extension for this particular company as it is a tour and they are headed off to Michigan. It has however had an overwhelming reaction from the public so see it while you can!

Miss Saigon and South Pacific have brought a lot of new people to The Four Seasons. What do you think of the venue as a place for Broadway shows?

It's a spectacular venue. We did a survey post Miss Saigon that showed that 75% of people who attended had never been in the venue before. Having Broadway shows there is a great opportunity for cross pollination of this world class venue. It really is an undiscovered jewel in Toronto.

What can you tell us about what Dancap might be doing next?

Can't say much yet, but I will say that we will be announcing our new subscription series in the Fall and it's going to be great. It reflects the vision that Dancap started with which is to bring quality theatre to Toronto. We want people to be able to fall in love with theatre on a continuous basis - and we will continue to strive to make that possible.

For a look back at Jersey Boys in Toronto, check out some of these other features from BWW over the last two years:

Exclusive Interview with Toronto's Jersey Boys Jeff Madden, Jeremy Kushnier, Michael Lomenda and Quinn VanAntwerp

Photo Coverage of Jersey Boys Sports Night in Toronto

Photo Coverage of Jersey Boys 1 Year Anniversary Celebration (with Bob Gaudio)

Photo Coverage of 2009 Dora Awards

Dancap and Jersey Boys Support CIBC Run for the Cure