CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR TONY AWARD^®-WINNING BEST MUSICAL

JERSEY BOYS

DIRECTED BY DES McANUFF

PLAYING AT THE TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS

August 21 – October 5, 2008

 

Toronto (August 5, 2008) – Casting has been announced for the Toronto engagement of JERSEY BOYS, playing the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue) beginning August 21, 2008. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be lead by Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), original Broadway cast member Steve Gouveia (Nick Massi), Canadian native Jeremy Kushnier (Tommy DeVito) and Andrew Rannells (Bob Gaudio) with Jonathan Hadley and Joseph Siravo.

The ensemble of JERSEY BOYS includes Matt Bailey, Sarah Darling, Christopher DeAngelis, John Gardiner, Buck Hujabre, Leo Huppert, Jamie Karen, Renée Marino, Brandon Matthieus, Denise Payne, Zachary Prince, Nathan Scherich, Brian Silverman, Courter Simmons, Taylor Sternberg and Kara Tremel.

JERSEY BOYS is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award^® and the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Directed by two-time Tony Award^® winner and Toronto native Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo another native Torontonian.

JERSEY BOYS opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005 and remains among the top five grossing shows in New York. The JERSEY BOYS National Tour opened to rave reviews in San Francisco on December 1, 2006, played a record-breaking run in Los Angeles and is still breaking house records in cities across North America. There are five current productions of JERSEY BOYS: New York, London, Chicago, Las Vegas, a North American tour, and a sixth production will open in Melbourne, Australia in March, 2009.

JERSEY BOYS is presented in Toronto as part of Dancap Productions Inc.’s inaugural launch. “This is a hot ticket in Toronto and we are thrilled to announce this superb cast,” says Aubrey Dan, President Dancap Productions Inc., “audiences will love JERSEY BOYS.” Tickets start at $55.00, with select premium seating available. To purchase and/or to find out more, call Ticketmaster at 416-872-1111 or visit JerseyBoysToronto.com. For Dancap Members and/or groups of 20 or more, contact the CAP Centre at 416-644-3665 or 1-866-950-7469 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST) or visit dancaptickets.com anytime for details.

JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. It’s a journey of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.

The JERSEY BOYS design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony Award^® for his Lighting Design of JERSEY BOYS), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements & Incidental Music).

JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner.

JERSEY BOYS will premiere in Canada at the Toronto Centre for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue) beginning August 21, 2008. Visit JerseyBoysToronto.com for the performance schedule.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of JERSEY BOYS was produced by Bob Gaudio, and was recently certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The cast recording is now available on Rhino Records. JERSEY BOYS: The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Broadway Books) is the official handbook to the smash Broadway hit.

Cast Biographies

JOSEPH LEO BWARIE (Frankie Valli) Opened JERSEY BOYS Las Vegas as ‘Frankie’ twice a week and is honored to join this company. Favorites from his early years: Highway to Heaven, Mama’s Family, The Addams Family, Radio Flyer, Batman Returns and seaQuest DSV. He’s performed on the Academy Awards, originated ‘Chachi’ in Happy Days: A New Musical, and co-created six original family musicals produced by Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre. Member of LA’s award-winning Troubadour Theater Co. Recent Film/TV: The Princess Diaries 2, Chronic Town, I Hate My 30s and 2009’s Race to Witch Mountain as ‘Frankie Valet.’

STEVE GOUVEIA (Nick Massi). Broadway: JERSEY BOYS. Steve is one of the original cast members of JERSEY BOYS, having been with the show ever since its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2004. Regional credits include The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (dir. Des McAnuff), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues, Cabaret, Pageant, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Hair (with Sara Ramirez). As a musician, he has performed with members of The Doors, Manfred Mann, Icehouse, The CBS Orchestra, The Verve Pipe, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and many others. For more info, check out www.stevegouveia.com.

JEREMY KUSHNIER (Tommy DeVito), a Canadian native, is very excited to be a member of the JERSEY BOYS family. As a singer/ songwriter, Jeremy has released two independent CDs which are available on his website at jeremykushnier.com. Broadway: originated the role of Ren in Footloose (Helen Hayes award and Outer Critics Award Nominee), Rent. Performed in Toronto with original Canadian productions of Rent and The Who’s Tommy. Tour: AIDA. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar, The Full Monty, Bright Lights, Big City, The Rhythm Club. Film: The Adulterer. Television: “FX,” John Woo’s “Once a Thief.”

ANDREW RANNELLS (Bob Gaudio) Broadway: Link Larkin in Hairspray. Regional: Chris in Miss Saigon, Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Billy in The 60’s Project, Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Andrew has provided voices for characters in numerous animated series and commercials.

Enjoy dining and Broadway theatre all under one roof

For theatregoers who want to avoid the potential hassles of rushing through a meal to make an opening curtain at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, pre-show Prix-fixe meals will be offered for select performances right on-site in the theatre by Executive Chef Kyle Hepburn of Dancap Catering Inc. (dancapcatering.com). Chef Kyle trained in classical French cuisine at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver, British Columbia with World-renowned Chef Walter Messiah from Monaco and Chef Patrice Suhner from Paris, France.

The spacious and bright 5,000 square foot Piano Lounge in the Toronto Centre for the Arts as been transformed to serve guests in a manner that one would experience at high end dining establishments offering meals that are nutritious and delicious, yet very affordable.

“It’s all about enjoying a rewarding Broadway experience,” adds Dan. “Today, people are pressed for time and having the opportunity to be able to enjoy a delicious meal followed by a Broadway show in the same venue and at a reasonable price is very sweet.”

Dancap offers many different event options beyond the Prix-fixe in the Piano Lounge. With Dancap’s long-term agreement to manage the Main Stage of the Toronto Centre for the Arts, the company can accommodate events from eight to 1,800 by utilizing the 40,000 square foot, two-storey lobby or one of the fully equipped VIP suites that are suitable for up to 30 guests. For Prix-fixe meals and/or event details, contact the CAP Centre at 416-644-3665 or 1-866-950-7469 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST) or visit dancaptickets.com.

About Dancap Productions Inc.

Launched in 2007 by Aubrey Dan, Dancap Productions Inc. (dancaptickets.com), is a commercial theatre company dedicated to producing the best of Broadway-style theatre created in collaboration with acclaimed artists and award-winning creative teams. On Broadway and internationally, the company’s producing and investment credits include: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, The Farnsworth Invention, Wicked, The Wedding Singer, The Pirate Queen, Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘n’ Roll, [Title of Show] and Tony Award^® winners In The Heights and JERSEY BOYS. Dancap Productions is also a strategic member of the theatrical development and production company Elephant Eye Theatrical which has a current slate of projects that include: The Addams Family, Bruce Lee: Journey to the West and Saved. Dancap Productions has the right to manage the Canadian assets of Key Brand Entertainment Inc., which include: Broadway Across Canada and Toronto’s Canon and Panasonic Theatres. Mr. Dan serves on the board of Key Brand Entertainment and serves as Chairman of Broadway Across Canada.

# # #

For photos or interviews, please contact:

Glyn Davies
(416) 590-1755 x. 702
Glyn@dancap.ca
or
Sandra Iacobelli
(416) 590-1755 x. 706
Sandra@dancapproductions.com