Mark Ballas Reprises His Broadway Performance for ‘Jersey Boys’ at Ahmanson Theatre

Monet Clayton

After opening on Broadway on November 6, 2005, the “Jersey Boys” show ran for 11 years, becoming the 12th longest running show in Broadway history. Performances of this run of “Jersey Boys” begin May 16 in advance of a May 18 opening and will run through June 24 at The Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

The show is a musical biography of the Four Seasons—the rise, the tough times and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends whose music became symbolic of a generation. Far from a mere tribute concert (though it does include numbers from the popular Four Seasons songbook), the play gets to the heart of the relationships at the center of the group—with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli, the small kid with the big falsetto. In addition to following the quartet’s coming of age as performers, at the core of the show is how an allegiance to a code of honor learned in the streets of their native New Jersey got them through a multitude of challenges: gambling debts, Mafia threats and family disasters.

Mark Ballas has been making headlines everywhere by reprising his Broadway performance as Frankie Valli in the Los Angeles engagement of  “Jersey Boys.” Ballas made his Broadway debut as Valli last fall, playing the role at the August Wilson Theatre from October 18, 2016-January 15, 2017. “Frankie veterans” Aaron De Jesus and Miguel Jarquin-Moreland will play Frankie Valli at certain performances during the week. The 30-year-old “Dancing With the Stars” alum was the final actor to play Frankie Valli in the Broadway production of the Tony-winning musical, and now he’ll play the role again.

The cast will also feature Matthew Dailey (Tommy DeVito), Keith Hines (Nick Massi), and Cory Jeacoma (Bob Gaudio) as the Four Seasons, with Barry Anderson and Thomas Fiscella. Rounding out the ensemble are Mark Edwards, Corey Greenan, Bryan Hindle, David LaMarr, Austin Owen, Kristen Paulicelli, Leslie Rochette, Andrew Russell, Jenna Nicole Schoen, Dru Serkes, Jonny Wexler, and Jesse Wildman.

Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, “Jersey Boys” is written by Academy Award winners Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. The Tony-winning musical tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi. It also includes dozens of the group’s popular hits including “Walk Like a Man,” “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Oh What a Night,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” “Jersey Boys” is a glimpse at the people behind a sound that has managed to endure for over four decades in the hearts of the public.

“Jersey Boys” opens May 18 and plays throughout June 24 at Ahmanson Theatre.