'Jersey Boys' runs in Toronto as 10-year anniversary approaches | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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'Jersey Boys' runs in Toronto as 10-year anniversary approaches

Nicholas Dromard, Keith Hines, Hayden Milanes and Drew Seeley from the musical "Jersey Boys" are seen in this undated handout photo. With the 10-year anniversary of the hit musical "Jersey Boys" approaching, the latest touring cast members are already planning their celebrations. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ HO, Mirvish
Original Publication Date December 19, 2014 - 11:45 AM

TORONTO - With the 10-year anniversary of the hit musical "Jersey Boys" approaching, the latest touring cast members are already planning their celebrations.

"When that 10 years comes we're all going to celebrate with 10 shots," says Hayden Milanes, who plays Frankie Valli in the Toronto engagement that's playing the Ed Mirvish Theatre through Jan. 4.

"A Jersey Shore shot?" suggests Nicolas Dromard, an Ottawa native who plays Tommy DeVito.

"Something really, really rough, smuggled in," jokes Keith Hines, who plays Nick Massi.

It was Nov. 6, 2005 when the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons pop-rock group first opened on Broadway to critical acclaim. Directed by Canadian Des McAnuff and choreographed by Toronto-raised Sergio Trujillo, it went on to win the 2006 best musical Tony Award as well as a Grammy for best musical show album and an Olivier Award.

It's now been seen by over 20 million audience members — some of whom aren't afraid to express their enthusiasm for the band's multitude of 1960s/'70s hits, which include "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Oh What A Night," "Walk Like A Man" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

"Last night there was a lady in the aisle, hands to the sky just dancing her face off. It was amazing," says Drew Seeley, a Whitby, Ont., native who plays Bob Gaudio.

"We've had panties thrown at us, too. Yes we have, it's awesome," adds Dromard. "We're playing rock stars every night and the crowd is on their feet and people are going crazy. It's awesome. It's quite an experience. There's nothing like it."

The cast has also had the privilege of getting to know original members of the group that overcame a past on the wrong side of the tracks to storm the music charts, selling 175 million records worldwide.

"Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio are both very involved in the show," said Dromard, who starred in the "Mary Poppins" musical in Toronto and on Broadway.

"Frankie Valli was at the opening in L.A. and when we were in Nashville, where Bob Gaudio lives, he came to the show, we had dinner with him and he tweaked the sound and made some notes. Every five, six months, we get somebody from the Four Seasons to come and tweak the show."

Milanes has been in the show the longest, for 3 1/2 years, while Dromard has put in a year and a half. Hines and Seeley are the newer members of the cast, who boast of "a fantastic friendship."

The group has even developed a ritual for before Act 2 begins every night.

"We come up with a silly song backstage, we tell dirty jokes — when our mikes aren't on and we're not facing the audience," admits Seeley with a laugh.

The cast members have to sing, dance and play instruments onstage — not to mention having to hit many high notes night after night.

"The last note of the show that we all sing is all in falsetto for all of us," says Dromard.

"Our bodies are just dying for oxygen but we're singing and dancing through and we don't have time to breathe," adds Hines. "So by the time we get offstage we're all just (panting)."

— Follow @VictoriaAhearn on Twitter.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2014
The Canadian Press

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