What does it mean to be “the voice of a generation”?
It’s a label carried by individuals whose impact continues to influence generations after them. No small feat by any means.
Now, how does an actor portray one of these individuals who is considered to be (and have) one of those voices of a generation? I had the pleasure of learning the answer from two such artists who have both played the part of the one and only Frankie Valli.
Jeff Madden and Adrian Marchuk have stepped into the spotlight and performed as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys in Canada and internationally (Sydney, Australia and Las Vegas, respectively).
After a staggering 1,000 combined performances, there is no way the story could end with the curtain closing. Madden and Marchuk became collaborators and will premiere How We Got To Jersey: A Tale of Two ‘Frankies’ on July 26 at Georgian Theatre in Barrie.
Presented by Talk Is Free Theatre, this new musical concert offers a unique glimpse into their behind-the-scenes experience of playing Valli while singing through all the big hits.
Before the lights go up on this one-night-only event, I had the opportunity to ask a few questions about how the production came to be.
Richard: Why is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and their music, an important story to tell?
Jeff: There’s something so captivating and nostalgic about the 1960s and '70s. That era was so full of change. It started out so squeaky clean, and then there was a collective loss of innocence, with events like the Vietnam War and Watergate, and then activism, and then frustration at the inability to create change, and then release from it.
The Four Seasons’ catalogue moved through that entire period, starting squeaky clean (Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry) then got grittier (Beggin’, Marianne) and then came out the other side in the '70s (Who Loves You, Oh, What a Night). Their songs are so relatable, about working-class people struggling to grind their way through the world.
Adrian: It’s a story of overcoming adversity, about loyalty and divided loyalties, and how friendships and deep meaningful relationships are the most important things in life. And the music reflects that. A lot of their songs are about love, of course, but also about doing what’s right, struggling against the odds, and making sacrifices.
Richard: Having portrayed Frankie Valli for over 1,000 performances collectively, how did you keep each performance fresh?
Jeff: Jersey Boys is such a great story, and an incredibly well-written script. The audience knows a lot of the songs, but they may not have realized they were listening to a Four Seasons song. They also most certainly didn’t know about the legal struggles the band faced, the prison sentences, the mob ties … all these things captivate the audience.
They lean in, from the edge of their seats. And that made our jobs easy — we just had to tell the story honestly and sing those great songs well … and the audience kept us alive moment by moment. It was thrilling to turn into a rock star each and every night, in front of a rapt audience. And that kept me alive every single moment.
Adrian: Well, Frankie sings 27 songs in the show, so there’s more than enough material to keep you busy and interested. Seriously, though, it’s great writing, both in the music and in the script, and it was always easy to stay engaged and find something fresh and new each and every time I went out there.
Richard: What can audiences expect from this brand-new musical concert?
Jeff: They can expect to hear most of the songs that they love, and maybe some they forgot they loved. But they will hear how two average guys slugged it out to get hired as Frankies in this hit show, and how they persevered through the grind of performing one of the most challenging roles in Musical Theater 8 shows a week. Our audience will laugh, they’ll rock out, and they’ll be perhaps unexpectedly moved by our stories.
Adrian: It’s the story of the two guys who played that one guy in the show about those four guys! You’ll get to go behind the scenes of a global phenomenon, blockbuster hit musical, you’ll hear the stories behind the songs you love, and you’ll get to know how this crazy role changed our lives.
Richard: Is this really a one-night-only event or will there be other opportunities to see How We Got To Jersey at different venues?
Jeff: Fingers are crossed that we’ll get the chance to do it a lot more.
Adrian: Hopefully it’s the first of many. We’ll keep you posted.
Richard: Which number is your favourite to perform and why?
Jeff: I guess Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You. It’s one of the best written pop/rock songs of all time. The lyrics are perfect, the melody is heart-wrenching, the key changes are profound, and I just love that it’s really hard to sing, too … which makes the singing of it all that much more satisfying.
Adrian: Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me). I think it holds a record for the most key changes in one pop song.
Richard: After performing the role of a musical icon, what do you think it takes to be a musical icon?
Jeff: Talent. Uniqueness. Authenticity. Ambition. A huge obsession and drive, at all costs. Frankie Valli had all those things.
Adrian: Well, Frankie himself has a once-in-a-generation voice. So that’s a good place to start. But you have to want it, because there are just so many sacrifices to have to make in order to live that kind of life. We explore a lot of that sacrifice in the show.
Richard: Do you have a ritual or specific routine you follow to prepare yourself before a performance?
Jeff: A good long vocal warm-up beforehand, and a good long vocal cool-down after the bows.
Adrian: A singer is an athlete, so it’s all the usual stuff: rest, hydration, diet, exercise, stretching, and, of course, staying very very healthy, both mentally and physically.
Richard: Is there another iconic figure you would like to play?
Jeff: Believe it or not, George Michael. I was, and am, a huge fan of his voice, his songwriting and his incredible story. And, of course, there’s the tragedy, too, as he left us far too soon. I think his story is ripe for a Broadway musical.
Adrian: Kafka. But I doubt that will be a musical. So Elton John. Oh, or Billy Joel. Are we sensing a pattern? Let’s go back to Kafka.
How We Got To Jersey: A Tale of Two ‘Frankies’ will be performed July 26 at Georgian College Theatre, located at 1 Georgian Dr., Building C, in Barrie. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
What else is happening?
JULY 12-23: THE SIMCOE COUNTY THEATRE FESTIVAL — The second annual Simcoe County Theatre Festival continues with a lineup of live theatre experiences including a stoner comedy, a farce, a musical, and a one-woman opera. For more information, visit the company’s website here.
JULY 15: ELVIS! FROM TUPELO TO LAS VEGAS 3 — Award-winning Elvis tribute artists take you on a musical journey through the life and times of Elvis Presley in a tribute show like no other. Complete with a multimedia presentation and featuring a live band. To purchase tickets, click here.
JULY 20: THE SAYDES — The four-piece grunge/rock band have created a reputation for their electrifying, hard-hitting live shows. They headline a bill supported by Cudbear, Remember November, and Back Alley Gospel. For more information, click here.
JULY 20: SKYLINERS BIG BAND OPEN DANCE AND CONCERT — Comprised of 17 top musicians and the dazzling vocals of Jess Owen, The Skyliners Big Band performs big band-era favourites, Latin dance, and contemporary hits to keep everyone dancing. Enjoy this free event and learn more by clicking here.
JULY 27: BIF NAKED — Indo-Canadian alt-rock icon, platinum recording artist and best-selling author Bif Naked hits Barrie for a night of entertainment that proves why she is ranked among the best-selling Canadian artists. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
JULY 28: DAMN GOOD COMEDY SHOW — Enjoy a night of stand up comedy featuring comedians who have been seen on Just For Laughs, CBC Comedy, Comedy Central, and Yuk Yuk’s. This is a 19-plus event and valid government-issued ID is required. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
