Stage lights dimmed to a Belleville, New Jersey, streetlight as jukebox musical “Jersey Boys” revived the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons for the sold out H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Wednesday.

The underlying chain of events leading up to a moment of success is too often overlooked in the allure of the payoff. “Jersey Boys” pays homage to the dream that Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons was built on and the rough home-life that shadowed the group in its mutual determined effort to beat the system. 

“If you’re from my neighborhood you have three ways out,” said Tommy DeVito, played by Corey Greenan. “You could join the army, you could get mobbed up, or you could become a star.”

The band grew from the ground through trial and error, talent and a partnership-binding handshake between lead singer Valli and keyboardist, composer Bob Gaudio.

Fame struck in the form of three consecutive No. 1 hits for The Four Seasons, but in many ways the band’s deep roots were tugging members away from their achievements and back to the troubles of Jersey.

“Jersey Boys” was cast with a clear consideration of authenticity in the forms of talent and character. Johnny Waxler as Valli in particular belted a vocal range that was honorably similar to Valli’s, which helped the production sound less theatrical and more genuine to rock ‘n’ roll. 

Each actor who assumed the role of a band member did so with pride and enthusiasm. The actors’ dedication to embody their part made being empathetic of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ journey of love, loss, triumph and defeat, an effortless task for the audience.  

The band’s hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” among others served as a framework for the progression of the “Jersey Boys’” plot. This was a critical factor in the success of the overall performance since the producers made few modern alterations to the actual story and left the rest untouched to speak for itself. 

“They say what was the high point, the hall of fame, selling all those records? It was all great,” Waxler as Valli said as the show was winding down. “When everything dropped away and all there was was the music, that was the best. That’s why I’m still out there singin,’ chasin’ the music, tryna’ get home”

“Jersey Boys” received a well-deserved standing ovation from nearly every individual at the show as a thank you to each person who helped piece together the touching musical tribute for letting the audience become a part of the experience, and the original Four Seasons for its lasting impact on rock ‘n’ roll history.

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