Silhouettes JB Podcast

Episode 51 w/ Jon Hacker — Frankie Valli on the current leg of the Jersey Boys national tour! 

Howard Tucker joins us as Jon talks JERSEY BOYS past and present. Did you know that Jon was in the closing JB Broadway company as Joe Pesci and Frankie Valli understudy?

In this episode, Jon tells us about catching the theatre bug in his home state Ohio, his audition story, his beautiful wife Taryn, Broadway, tour life and the upcoming Jersey Boys pro-shot coming soon! 

Jon, thank you so much for bringing your magnetic spirit to JERSEY BOYS across the country. We love you! A’ Salud!

This episode was recorded on February 2, 2022

🚨 EPISODE 5️⃣0️⃣ ❗

Do you ever wonder how actors should play a villain? Trick question. No character is really a villain.

You know John Rochette from JERSEY BOYS on Broadway, on tour and in the NBC “One Night Only: The Best of Broadway” special, New World Stages AND the JERSEY BOYS pro-shot streaming soon.

John Rochette has been in the JERSEY BOYS family for more than a decade as Norm Waxman, a cover for the characters of Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi and now as Tommy DeVito at New World Stages.

A Jersey native and an accomplished drummer, John breaks down JERSEY BOYS with a deep understanding of male friendships and what it takes to keep the pace of both a high-energy show and this thing called life.

John is a dear friend of our show. He always vouches for us, and he gives a hell of an interview. “DeVito delivers,” all right! We’re honored he’s our guest for our milestone 50th episode.

Watch this episode for a Tommy MASTER CLASS from a class act himself. You don’t want to miss this one.

A’ Salud 🍷♥️

This episode was recorded February 2, 2022.

If you love analyzing relationships and breakups, this is the episode for you.

Please welcome Tristen Buettel aka Lorraine at New World Stages and a woman wise beyond her years.    

A Queens native, Tristen knew she wanted a career in musical theatre — but not because she knew every song to every classical show, but because she simply adored the craft. 

Shortly after graduating with her BFA from Syracuse University, Tristen was cast in Lorraine on the JERSEY BOYS national tour. 

In 2017, she filled in for the amazing Rachel Schur Chase at New World Stages for two months.  

In 2019, she was offered an open-ended contract as Lorraine at New World Stages.    

In this episode, Tristen breaks down 

-Auditioning for shows in New York City in her last semester of college and right after graduating

-Why she auditioned for Jersey Boys (Sergio Trujillo, we’re looking at you!) 

-How her JB co-star Jonathan Cable inspires her  

-Her full-circle fan to performer moment at Broadway in Bryant Park  

-38 minutes: Lorraine’s character and her breakup with Frankie— Tristen is so sensitive to both the male and female characters, and we can’t tell you how SPOT ON she was. We’re glad Howard was there to share his perspective, as well.  

Other Credits include: 

Danielle understudy Ever After — She understudied Sierra Boggess 

Kim in Bye Bye Birdie at the Godspeed Opera House 

Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Arts of Coastal Carolina  

DeLee in Smokey Joe’s Cafe at Alpine Theatre Project 

Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray at Syracuse  

Solo show at Green Room 42    

Let’s continue the conversation! What are your thoughts on Lorraine and Frankie’s breakup?

Ep. 48! Give your standing O to Katy Richardson — music director of the West End production of Jersey Boys! 

Previous credits include SIX THE MUSICAL in the UK & RENT at the Hope Mill Theatre!

Katy joined the JERSEY BOYS family in Fall 2021 as the first female music director in JB HERstory. (Get it? Because SIX? Huzzah!) HUGE congratulations!!

Did you know that music directors in most contemporary musicals conduct the show AND play in the pit at the same time?

Did you know that there are ZERO breaks for the musicians in all 2 hours and 30 minutes of JERSEY BOYS? Because the underscoring is a key storytelling element of the show, of course!

Learn about the intricacies of music directing for this particularly challenging show from the maestra herself:

-Her interview and audition for Jersey Boys UK Associate Music Supervisor Gareth Weedon. She played “Cry for Me,” “Sherry” and “Oh, What a Night”

-“The Godfather” cue after the sit-down scene

-The challenges of conducting with her left hand

-A deep-dive into equipment for the musicians, including the MainStage program that hosts pre-recorded sounds. (Only $30!) Link below for our musicians out there! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mainstage/id634159523?mt=12  

This episode was recorded February 8, 2022.  

A' Salud♥️🍷

Folks, please welcome the maestro himself, Steve Orich, Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winner for his JERSEY BOYS orchestrations.  Steve Orich has also written arrangements, composed and conducted some of America’s finest cultural moments from the Oscars and Emmy Awards to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, A Very Brady Christmas, American Idol and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

-How Ron Melrose and Steve met

-How to record a cast album

-About Steve's early years as a drummer and some advice he has for Broadway pit drummers

-Steve’s special relationship with the late, great Stephen Sondheim

If you’re a musician, this is for you! You’ll learn the ins and outs for writing music for TV, film and theatre.

This episode was recorded on January 25, 2022.

A’ Salud🍷♥️

-Gia and Daveed

Get to know #JerseyBoys New World Stages sweetheart #JoeyLaVarco!

Joey made his JERSEY BOYS debut as Joey Pesci (and others) and understudy Frankie Valli on the Norwegian Bliss and currently plays the same roles at New World Stages in New York City.

Previous credits include Jason Robert Brown’s Broadway musical 13 with Ariana Grande and Liz Gillies, as well as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC and on tour.

Joey spent one of his precious evenings off with us to fill us in on the Off-Broadway craziness during Omicron, share some LaVarco family stories from the ole neighborhood, give behind-the-scenes Jersey Boys New World Stages trivia and thank his incredible mom Suzan for all she does. Suzan, we love and adore you!!

Thank you, Joey, for spending the time with us and again, huge thank you to the swings, understudies, emergency replacements, wardrobe, makeup, hair, stage management, company management and COVID safety managers who keep Jersey Boys running at New World Stages, the UK and the touring productions.

A’ Salud. ♥️🍷

This episode was recorded on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.

Join us on a trip across the pond with our first guest from Jersey BOYS UK!

Meet Jacob McIntosh who plays Barry Belson at the Trafalgar Theatre.

Jacob is no stranger to jukebox musicals and iconic red costumes — He was a swing in the UK tours of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL and KINKY BOOTS.

He has an effortless stage presence and can belt like nobody’s business. Did you know that Barry Belson does the famous “Oh, What a Night” riff not once but TWICE in the West End production?

Last October, Jacob made history as one of the few Black actors to play Bob Crewe onstage in JERSEY BOYS UK. Tommie Earl Jenkins also covered Bob Crewe in JERSEY BOYS UK from 2010-2013. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

-The Jersey Boys UK Barry Belson riff addition 

-The Jersey Boys UK definition of “Superswing,” “High Swing” and “Low Swing” 

-How swings are perceived in the West End  

-His view on diversity in West End casting   

A' Salud ♥️🍷  

This episode was recorded on December 8, 2021.

New year, New #JerseyBoys perspectives! Check out our first episode with a JB creative from Australia.

Meet Thomas Armstrong-Robley who is not only playing #TommyDeVito in JerseyBoys at the Star Gold Coast in Australia, but he is also DIRECTING the show!

Thomas is an award-winning visionary actor/director with the guts to create a new Australian production of Jersey Boys while respecting the original.

The show ran from Jan. 6th-16th at the Star Gold Coast in Queensland. We wish Tom and the team all the broken legs!

Find out how Tom: 

-Learned the show and the Four Seasons catalog back and front after seeing JB in London with John Lloyd Young

-Nailed his most taxing role as Dewey in a production of #SchoolOfRock (Major niche music convo here!) 

-Made himself more employable with his international concerts, including “Live at Frankie’s: The Songs of Valli and Sinatra” 

-Helped create 40+ full-time jobs after a year and a half of no work for Australian artists  -Informed his new portrayal of Tommy DeVito from the director’s chair   

*Listen to this episode for the top 5 changes in professional production.  

Get an EXCLUSIVE look at their early artwork!*

Key Thomas quotes:  

“It’s not how many hours you warm up. It’s getting out of your head.”   

“Put everything you have into everything you do...because you never know who’s watching. A small project [of JB] turned into a full-time job.” (Paraphrased)

EXTRA FANDOM ALERT: Listen for our thoughts on in-between moments in Jersey Boys. For example, when Bob Crewe ends up acquiring the money for the Four Seasons demo, what does Tommy do with his money? Is this when he buys apartments to keep his girlfriends in? Is that moment when Tommy starts to break? Please weigh in with us in the comments!   A’ Salud!   

Recorded Dec. 19, 2021

It’s time to formally meet Gian DiCostanzo, the man behind our merch and the performer whose voice sends ya to the stratosphere!

Folks! You don’t have to rinse out your socks anymore because JERSEY BOYS is back! This is our first episode without a guest, but we wanted to put the Winter lights on and give you a firsthand account of our experience at the re-opening night of #JerseyBoys at New World Stages