A Welcome Return to San Diego County for the Jersey Boys

Though Jersey Boys might focus on the East Coast, the show has strong ties to the West Coast. The first production premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2004, and the official tour had several engagements at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

A terrific interpretation from the Escondido organization, CCAE Theatricals, in collaboration with 3-D Theatricals, retains the elements that made the original staging a hit: consistently witty writing, highly energetic direction, and of course, many classic songs from The Four Seasons.

Jersey Boys focuses on how The Four Seasons developed into a timeless pop band. The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is divided into sections, as every member, Frankie Valli (Nicholas Alexander), Tommy DeVito (Anthony Carro), Nick Massi (Noah Archibald), and Bob Gaudio (Taubert Nadalini) share their stories.

While the artists become popular, issues involving egotistical behavior, feuds, and criminal activity threaten the success of each of them and the group as a whole.

Director, T.J. Dawson, keeps scenes moving at a brisk pace at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, by covering a lot of events in the span of about 150 minutes. Sequences onstage are always entertaining, whether Frankie is humorously bonding and bickering with his fellow bandmates, or is forced to deal with personal and professional conflicts.

Dawson stages the songs with a unique blend of traditional musical numbers and concert sequences which incorporate tunes from the main band’s discography, including “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Beggin,’” and “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).”

Stephen Gifford’s urban-themed set feels authentic to 20th-century New Jersey, and Adam Ramirez’s costumes capture the clothing style of The Four Seasons.

As the narrators began their sections of the tale, I wish projectionist, Jon Infante, kept the names of the changing seasons like in the Broadway version to make transitions more seamless. However, he contributes strong use of video, particularly during a televised episode of “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

The entire ensemble is made up of triple-threat performers, and the staging gives the co-stars plenty of time to stand out. In addition to their strong singing and dancing (choreography courtesy of Dana Solimando), Alexander, Carro, Archibald, and Nadalini authentically portray the likable and flawed personalities of the vocalists, even after the musical group achieves a high level of fame.

Backing up the crooners is the orchestra led by Music Director/Keyboardist, Lyndon Pugeda. Onstage appearances from musicians add appreciation for how much their work enhances the melodies.

Outside of a few mic issues at the performance I watched, Paul Durso’s sound design was generally crisp throughout the evening.

Jersey Boys continues to be a top-tier jukebox musical that is equally dramatic, and rousing. It is always a treat to see the story of the vocal quartet in San Diego County.

Show times are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.