Review Roundup: JERSEY BOYS Relaunches National Tour; What Are the Critics Saying?

Jersey Boys relaunched its National Tour last year, kicking off its 15th touring season in engagement in Detroit, MI at the Music Hall, December 12-18.

The cast is led by Eric Chambliss (Bob Gaudio), Matt Faucher (Nick Massi), Devon Goffman (Tommy DeVito) and Jon Hacker (Frankie Valli) as The Four Seasons.

The ensemble includes Justin Albinder, Amy Coelho, Kenneth Quinney Francoeur, Samantha Gershman, Katie Goffman, Antonio King, Connor Lyon, Kevin Patrick Martin, Sean McGee, Hamilton Moore, Alec Michael Ryan and Bruno Vida.

Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, directed by two-time Tony Award®-winner Des McAnuff and choreographed by Tony Award®-winner Sergio Trujillo. The production includes Music Supervision, Vocal/Dance Arrangements & Incidental Music by Ron Melrose and Orchestrations by Steve Orich.

Let's see what the critics are saying...

Detroit Reviews

Carmichael Cruz, Click On Detroit: Jon Hacker stars as the falsetto-serenading Frankie Valli who brings down the house with his solo rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes of You." Hacker, who comes directly from the Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, takes audiences on Valli's journey from wide eyed 16-year-old newbie to fatherhood and all the way to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Hacker's voice is crystal clear hitting Valli's high notes with incredible ease, switching effortlessly back and forth between song and book scenes.

Dallas Reviews

Hollywood Hernandez, Selig Film News:

Whether you are young or old, you'll enjoy the story of these four young men. I've seen the play every time it's been in Dallas, and it never disappoints. It's the music that carries the show, but the story of the four young men, as its tracks forty years of their lives, is the cherry on top,

Spokane Reviews

Don Chareunsy, Spokesman: The acting and vocal performances are top-notch all around. The two standouts are Jon Hacker as Valli, who astonishes in one of the most vocally challenging musical roles out there for a leading man, and Eric Chambliss as Bob Gaudio, the 1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees' writer and producer.

Seattle Reviews

Kelly Rogers Flynt, BroadwayWorld: Jon Hacker portrayed Frankie Valli, no...Jon Hacker was Frankie Valli. Sometimes people are so right for a role that they completely disappear, and Jon Hacker, for all intents and purposes, was not on the stage. There was only Frankie Valli and that voice that takes you back in time and envelopes you with its magic. The other real magic of the night came in their work as an ensemble. I believe these four actors are just as tight as the Four Seasons were themselves.

Durham Reviews

Paul Bolton, BroadwayWorld: Notable in this production are the pitch perfect sounds of the instrumentals, the gorgeously gifted women in the show, and the supporting cast who kick off the beginning of the show impressively. Of course, the comedic moments with Joe Pesci (Justin Albinder) provide a perfect counterpoint to some of the more serious subject matter. Some particular musical standouts are the vocals of Sean McGee on "Oh, What a Night and Bruno Vida on "My Eyes Adored You".

Houston Reviews

Luke Evans, BroadwayWorld: Granted, the script remains weak, mostly held together by the hoppy doowop numbers and a loose, meandering plot that does not justify its nearly three-hour runtime. The narrative is relatively shapeless and the script is riddled with borderline-sexist jokes that feel outdated even for 2004, when the show was originally written. For viewers who lack a nostalgic connection to the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys pretty much lives and dies on the charm of its stars and the energy of its numbers. To this production's credit, neither of these elements disappoint.

Washington, DC Reviews

David Friscic, BroadwayWorld: Director Des McAnuff uses the musical numbers as underscoring for the interesting and tumultuous life history of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is an ingenious distillation of pivotal events from the lives of the main characters as a group and as individuals with their own joys and personal demons. In Act Two, the show becomes more book-driven, and it plays without a hitch. Like the book of the Emilio and Gloria Estefan's On Your Feet! this musical is driven by an intelligent and well-honed narrative that propels the show and adds emotional heft to the musical numbers. Easy sentiment is eschewed for honest writing that portrays the pitfalls of the road, the vagaries of friendship, and the allure of fame. Subject matter that is tragic such as death in "Fallen Angel" is managed with sensitive maturity.

Honolulu Reviews

Robbie Dingeman, Honolulu Magazine: The production values shine with the stellar falsetto of the lead actor, Jon Hacker, who plays Frankie Valli, and all the engaging main players: Eric Chambliss as Bob Gaudio, Matt Faucher as Nick Massi and Devon Goffman as Tommy DeVito. along with a multi-talented supporting cast. This show reliably brings in more men per row than your typical musical theater audience, and the whole crowd warmed to the show even more after each song.