It's Just Too Good To Be True

Erie Playhouse

The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons comes to the LECOM stage at the Erie Playhouse this June. It tells the dramatic story behind the music that helped define a generation.

PREMIERING FRIDAY, JUN. 9

Almost every child has listened to their parents or grandparents belting out a Four Seasons song in the car or in the kitchen. With masterpieces such as "Sherry," "Bye Bye Baby," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "December 1963," The Four Seasons are a staple in rock'n'roll history, and the story of how they came to be may surprise you a little bit.

The stage adaptation of the revolutionary New Jersey band's story is jam-packed with exhilarating drama that includes the mafia, young love, peer pressure, and the travails of starting a band with your best friends. And, oh yeah, Joe Pesci. The underlying theme of wanting to belong somewhere will be relatable to any audience.

Director Richard Davis, a 40-year veteran of the Erie theater community, says he's ready to take on the challenge of making this performance unique: "When staging any musical in a community theater setting, the big challenge is always, 'do you have the actors to pull it off?' With Jersey Boys, there are specific requirements in its roles, and with Owen Hitt as Frankie Valli, we struck gold." He continues to gush over his cast, "The entire cast is top-notch and the vocals are really thrilling. Our performers love doing this and don't treat it like just another job, which is very important at this level of theater."

Davis gives some insight on how Jersey Boys gives a look into the price of fame: "The sacrifices that are made to stay in focus and stay in the spotlight can really take a toll. Frankie shows a level of perseverance that can help anyone to realize that no matter where you come from, you can overcome life's challenges."

Speaking of obstacles, Mr. Davis touches on the most difficult parts of preparing for a show of this caliber as a community company: "The challenge with any community production is how to create a show that meets the technical needs of a Broadway script at a fraction of the cost. Another speed bump is in the rehearsal numbers. With the unique script being so interwoven into the musical numbers, it was difficult to break into numbers and scenes." But with great practice comes great achievement, and hopes are high for a fantastic run of Jersey Boys. Davis would like to remind attendees that the show contains very adult language and situations, so please prepare accordingly. 

Fridays and Saturdays, Jun. 9 - 24 at 7:30 p.m., Sundays, Jun. 18 & 25 at 2 p.m. // Erie Playhouse, 13 W. 10th St. // $17.49-$27.40 // More info: erieplayhouse.org