Photo Flash: Nikki Blonsky & Jersey Boys at SF Pride
By: BWW Jun. 25, 2007
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The San Francisco tour cast of Jersey Boys, as well as Hairspray film star Nikki Blonsky and stage and TV star Jai Rodriguez (The Producers, Rent, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy") appeared at San Francisco's 37th Annual Pride Parade, Sunday, June 24th.
The cast of Jersey Boys appeared in the Pride Parade and later gave a brief presentation on the Main Stage at the Pride celebration. Hairspray star, Nikki Blonsky performed "Good Morning, Baltimore" on the Main Stage, following an introduction and crowd-rousing speech by film-director Adam Shankman. Jai Rodriguez performed later that afternoon.
The film version of Hairspray is directed by Adam Shankman (Bringing Down the House) and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. The cast features John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle, Zac Efron as Link Larkin, Elijah Kelley as Seaweed, James Marsden as Corny Collins, Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton and newcomer Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, who helps to integrate a Baltimore dance show-and wins the heart of Link in the process.
Hairspray is originally based on the 1988 John Waters comedy. The new version of the film is based on New Line's hit Broadway adaptation of the film, which debuted in 2002, and went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Director.
The San Francisco cast of Jersey Boys appeared in the Pride Parade riding in a classic 1965 convertible as the special invited celebrity guests and handed out CD samplers to onlookers.Jersey Boys plays San Francisco's Curran Theatre (445 Geary Street) through September 30. Winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical, Jersey Boys is written by Academy Award winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo.
The second tour cast features Drew Gehling as Bob Gaudio, Steve Gouveia as Nick Massi, Jeremy Kushnier as Tommy DeVito and Jarrod Spector as Frankie Valli. The musical, according to production notes, "is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons - Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, and how this group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sound and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty." Jersey Boys features such Four Seasons hits as "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," "Oh, What a Night" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." For tickets to Jersey Boys in San Francisco, visit www.shnsf.com.
Photos by Larry Baker
John Hickman (Swing, Bob Gaudio understudy), Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli), Jeremy Kushnier (Tommy DeVito), Jai Rodriguez, Steve Gouveia (Nick Massi)
Steve Gouveia, John Hickman, Jeremy Kushnier and Jarrod Spector
Jeremy Kushnier, Steve Gouveia, John Hickman and Jarrod Spector
Steve Gouveia, John Hickman, Nikki Blonsky, Jarrod Spector and Jeremy Kushnier
Photos byEugene Lovendusky
The crowd in front of City Hall at San Francisco's 37th Annual Pride Celebration
The Hairspray film booth at the Pride festival, distributing free movie posters and character face-fans.
Hairspray fans: Chris Ouellette and Eugene Lovendusky (BroadwayWorld) with their Nikki Blonsky face-fans.
Hairspray film director, Adam Shankman
Hairspray star, Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad) sings "Good Morning, Baltimore"
Nikki Blonsky and Adam Shankman
Nikki Blonsky and Adam Shankman
The San Francisco tour cast of Jersey Boys: Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
Steve Gouveia, Jarrod Spector, Jeremy Kushnier and John Hickman
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