Jersey Boys

In This Program

• About the Show
• Credits
• Milestones: Educator Extraordinaire, Janet Cole Hamilton
• A Note from Adam Immerwahr, Artistic Director
• Who’s Who
• Jersey Boys in Context: How four kids from New Jersey participated in a musical revolution. Twice. 
• Sponsor Spotlights
• Behind the Scenes with The Color Purple
• Print Edition
• More About Village Theatre

About the Show

ADAM IMMERWAHR, Artistic Director

DEREK WATANABE, Managing Director

The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons  

Book by 

MARSHALL BRICKMAN & RICK ELICE

Music by

BOB GAUDIO

Lyrics by

BOB CREWE

Original Broadway Stage Production by Dodger Theatricals (Michael David, Edward Strong, Rocco Landesman, Des McAnuff); Joseph J. Grano; Tamara and Kevin Kinsella; Pelican Group in association with Latitude Link Rick Steiner/Osher/Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group World Premiere Produced by La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA, Des McAnuff, Artistic Director & Steven B. Libman, Managing Director

Francis J. Gaudette Theatre
March 18 – April 27, 2025

Everett Performing Arts Center
May 3–25, 2025

Set Designer
TIMOTHY MACKABEE

Costume Designer
ESTHER GARCIA

Lighting Designer
AMIYA BROWN

Sound Designer
CONNOR WANG

Projection Designer
AHREN BUHMANN 

Stage Manager
LAUREL NICHOLS* 

Music Director
R.J. TANCIOCO

Director/Choreographer
MICHAEL BERRESSE

JERSEY BOYS is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com

The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited. 

Season Sponsors

Artsfund
Boeing
Microsoft
Hook & Cleaver | Lombardi's Italian Restaurant and Bar

Producing Sponsors

4Culture
Everett, WA
City of Issaquah Arts Commission
Seattle NorthCountry, made possible in part by assistance from the Snohomish County Hotel-Motel Tax Fund.

Show Sponsors

Enzo's Bistro & Bar
Klein Honda
Wm Grassie Wine Estates
Warm 106.9

Credits

*The Actors and Stage Managers are members of the Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. 

Special Thanks

Rod “Red” Gibson, Christie Lites Seattle
Totem Lake Shoe Repair

by Alison Cook

Over the past 40 years, Village Theatre has cultivated a world-class youth education program for ages 5-20, now offering the widest variety of theater classes and camps, advanced performance and technical theater training, and production opportunities for students across the Eastside and North Sound.

Janet Cole Hamilton has been with Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE for 19 of those years and, in that time, she has been integral to every facet of the program. 

“Janet has been an invaluable asset to Village Theatre and KIDSTAGE,” says Director of Youth Education Suzie Bixler. “She has led every department in our youth education program including classes, productions, technical and advanced training, and now our work in schools. Janet’s gifts include an uncanny ability to create effective processes for our youth education team, while also nurturing creativity and artistic growth in our students.”

When Janet first joined KIDSTAGE in 2006 as Programs Manager in Everett, she found it a novel experience from what she anticipated. “I remember how I looked forward to summer, thinking it would be a regular schedule. Ha! Camps in the morning, rehearsals in the afternoon – that’s exhausting! I’m grateful for the flexibility within the organization to work with changes needed in my schedule and growth,” she said.

As Janet grew into her current role as Senior Education and Outreach Manager, she also got to help her students grow. Her leadership of our “KIDSTAGE In The Schools” initiative allows students throughout the greater Puget Sound area to use theater to enhance learning in their classrooms during the school day, or explore their creativity during theater enrichment classes before or after school. 

Janet has also been instrumental in creating an educational path for students in our Technical Theater Program, which gives students backstage experience by working on KIDSTAGE shows. This spring, TTP Project Design students are being mentored as they create the set design for our production of A Wrinkle in Time—which Janet is also directing. 

“I’ve been so grateful this year to be so involved with students of many ages and skill levels,” said Janet. “Through teaching afterschool enrichment, Institute acting for advanced students, and now directing A Wrinkle in Time, I’ve come to really enjoy the creativity and collaboration of working with young artists.”

Registration is open now for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE Summer Camps. Learn more at VillageTheatre.org/Camps.

Dear Patrons,

Ever since it premiered over 20 years ago, Jersey Boys has been a phenomenon. But more than that, it’s a show that transformed musical theater. Before it was written, the trend in “jukebox musicals” (shows with pre-existing music from a popular artist’s catalogue) was for fictional narratives that could weave together a collection of top hits (think Mamma Mia! or Moulin Rouge!). Popularizing the same approach used by Jelly’s Last Jam nearly 15 years earlier, Jersey Boys’ story was based on the biography of the musicians themselves. What was once innovative is now standard; scores of shows written since then have now followed the same path—think of Village’s own productions of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical or Million Dollar Quartet. 

It helps to have a fascinating biography. It turns out the story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons is a compelling tale of how these young men navigated friendship and partnership in their pursuit of art, security, and eventually acclaim. It’s a story of sacrifice, of betrayal, and of opportunity. The true story of these artists is far grittier than many might have realized. You’ll see and hear some of that grit tonight. I spent a decade in Jersey, and can assure you the colorful adult language in this show is quite common there. And yes, we’re performing the show with the same libretto that was used on Broadway and the national tours (still the only libretto available for licensing). 

I can’t wait to welcome you back next season for five truly extraordinary shows. We’ll start off in the lyrical Scottish highlands with an exquisite classic, Brigadoon. Then we’ll head back to America for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, witnessing how one generation of women took on the men in their workplace. Next up we’ll return to the Scottish moors for Ken Ludwig’s deliciously ridiculous and hilarious Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Spring will be full of nostalgia as we revisit Grease, one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history. And finally, we’re thrilled to share a brand new comedy, We Ain’t Ever Gonna Break Up: The Hymon & Parfunkel Musical, which satirically skewers everyone’s favorite jukebox shows as it tells the story of the most world-famous folk duo who never existed. It’s a hoot.  

I hope you’ll join us in 2025-2026 as a subscriber, and get to experience all five of these truly awesome shows, created right here in our community. 

I’ll see you in the lobby,

Yours,

Adam Immerwahr       
Artistic Director              

P.S. I always welcome your thoughts about the work at Village Theatre. You can email me directly at adam@villagetheatre.org.

Who’s Who

Cast

KRYSTLE ARMSTRONG, she/her (Lorraine, Dance Captain) is overjoyed to return to Village Theatre after last being seen here as Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. This marks her 12th Village Theatre production. Other highlights here include: Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Angie in Once Upon a Time In New Jersey, Bombalurina in Cats, and Meg in Little Women. Krystle serves as Artistic Associate at Hi-Liners Musical Theatre and owns her tap dance fitness method CardioTAP. Endless gratitude to her family and friends! krystlearmstrong.com

KOOPER CAMPBELL, he/him (Joey, u/s Frankie Valli) is so excited to be back at Village in his dream show. Kooper was last seen at Village Theatre as u/s Matt in The Fantasticks. Recent credits include Titanish (Seattle Public Theatre), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Charlie Brown Christmas (Taproot Theatre), and Jasper White (Nebula/Cafe Nordo). Kooper works development at Sound Theatre Company. He sends his love to Juliette and his cats: Toodles and Snufkin. koopercampbell.com

ETHAN CARPENTER, (Hank Majewski, u/s Bob Gaudio). Previously at Village Theatre: Warner in Legally Blonde, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Link in Hairspray, Matilda, Disney’s Newsies, Singin’ in the Rain, Les Misérables, and others. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Jetsam in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Paint Your Wagon, A Chorus Line. Endless gratitude to the cast and creative team. Thank you for supporting live theatre!

REBECCA CORT, she/her (Francine) is delighted to be returning to Village Theatre after understudying You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The 5th Avenue Theatre: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods. Seattle Rep/Milwaukee Repertory Theatre: Amy March in Little Women. Taproot Theatre: Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act, Suzanne in The Hello Girls. Harlequin Productions: Brooke in Noises Off. Founder of Cort Studios (@cort_studios) where she teaches Grotowski-based psychophysical acting. Also a drag king under Broy Tolton. @beckabrooke

SARAH ROSE DAVIS, she/her (Mary Delgado) has had the privilege of playing two iconic women on the Village Theatre stage, notably starring as Carole King in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical last season and previously Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. BFA from Boston Conservatory. Sarah has performed and starred in over 30 shows at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Favorite credits: Rock of Ages, Linda Mason in Holiday Inn, Maggie in A Chorus Line, Rosemary in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Hope in Urinetown. Love to CK.
@sarahrosedavis

BEN DOW, he/him (Bob Gaudio) is honored to have returned to Village Theatre in such a special show! Village Theatre: Legally Blonde. Other theater credits include: Elf The Musical, Grease (Drury Lane Theatre); Dames at Sea (Peninsula Players Theatre); Sons of Hollywood (Windy City Playhouse); and Disney’s Newsies (Bigfork Summer Playhouse). Ben has a BFA in musical theatre from Indiana University Bloomington and is proudly represented by Stewart Talent – Chicago. Love to Maya and family. bennelsondow.com

NEHEMIAH HOOKS, he/they (Hal Miller, Barry Belson, Officer) was last seen at Village in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Hello, Dolly!, and MISS STEP. Other credits: Disney’s Mary Poppins, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The Wiz, And So That Happened, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The 5th Avenue Theatre); The Lehman Trilogy, A Case for the Existence of God, Choir Boy (ACT Theatre); Shout, Sister, Shout! (Seattle Rep).

ERIC POLANI JENSEN, he/him (Norm Waxman, u/s Gyp DeCarlo) has been a part of the Pacific Northwest theater scene for over 30 years. Recent credits at Village Theatre include Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors and Mr. Maraczek in She Loves Me. He has performed with The 5th Avenue Theatre, ACT Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Taproot Theatre and Harlequin Productions amongst others. Thank you for supporting live theatre.

MATTHEW POSNER, he/him (Nick Massi). This is Matthew’s 10th show with Village Theatre. Graduate of Plymoth State University. Matthew traveled the country as Lancelot on the tour of Camelot, and recently finished playing Sagramore here at Village Theatre. He’s been seen as Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, the Escapologist in Matilda, and Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on the Roof. He’s the Singing Tour Guide with “Show Me Seattle,” and owner of Hand To Mouth Creative performing with his own hand-sewn puppets. Visit @handtomouthcreative. Love to family, Matt#1, Alyssa.

LORENZO PUGLIESE, he/him (Frankie Valli) is an artist from Scranton, PA. Notable credits include SpongeBob in The SpongeBob Musical and Sonny Bono in The Cher Show, both first national tours. Lorenzo often hears rumors that Frankie Valli has family in Scranton. Could they be related…? Probably not. But we can pretend. Lorenzo sends love to his family, friends, girlfriend, and his agents at UIA Talent. Find his music under Valerian on Spotify! IG: @lorenzo_m_pugliese
Music: @welcometovalerian

JOHN DAVID SCOTT, (Bob Crewe, Detective Two, Accountant, Donnie, u/s Tommy DeVito). Last seen as Rudolph in Hello, Dolly! (Village Theatre), John is thrilled to be back. Village favorites include: Little Shop of Horrors, Guys and Dolls, Singin’ in the Rain, and Funny Girl. The 5th Avenue Theatre favorites include: Disney’s Mary Poppins, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. John is also co-owner of Aspire Kinetic Arts with his wife, Erin. Welcome to the theatre!

ROBBIE SERRANO, (Tommy DeVito). Proud to be born and raised in Belleville, NJ! Off Broadway: Mateo Menzo in Empire (New World Stages), Recruiter in ¡Americano! (New World Stages), Swing in Cuomo Musical (Theatre 555). Tour: Swing and u/s Tony in West Side Story. Select Regional: Don in A Chorus Line (Stages St. Louis), Grease (The Rev), Grease (The Engeman), Danny, Kenickie, and Sonny in Grease (Royal Caribbean). TV/Film: A Christmas Cowboy (Amazon Prime), Deadline Crime (NBC), Castrol Oil (2016). This one’s for the fam! @iam.robbie

ROBERT SHAMPAIN, (Gyp DeCarlo, Judge, Bowling Alley Owner, Al Finney, Priest) is back at Village after romping in The Fantasticks last season. He has acted and directed in New York, Seattle, LA and the UK and many regional theatres. Some favorites: A Light in The Piazza (Bart Sher, dir), Inman (Sir Jonathan Miller, dir.), The Odyssey (Mary Zimmerman, dir.), Temple (Gabriel Barre, dir.); You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (UK revival). Recurring guest star on Z-Nation and lots of other film/TV and theatre during 11 years in LA.

Understudies

DREW BATES, they/he/she (Swing, u/s Joey, u/s Bob Crewe) is thrilled to be making their Village Theatre debut. Previous credits include u/s Melchior in Spring Awakening (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Urinetown (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE), A Bright Room Called Day (Webster University), Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Little Shop of Horrors (Grandstreet Theatre). BFA in musical theatre from Webster University’s Sargent Conservatory. Much love to my parents, Kyle, and the indomitable human spirit. @drewthebates

CHRISTOPHER CLARK, he/they (Swing, u/s Hank Majewski, u/s Barry Belson) joins Village Theatre for the first time with Jersey Boys. Recent appearances include The Book of Will and Sister Act (Taproot Theatre), as well as New Works Northwest and Wolf Play (ACT Theatre). Last month, he helmed Treasure Island with Mary Guthrie as co-directors (Valley Center Stage). Sci-fi romance Ingress, his feature film debut, can now be found on streaming platforms. “Thanks to Mary, the effervescent Frankie to my Bob.” 

SAVANNAH LYNN, she/her (Swing, u/s Mary, u/s Lorraine, u/s Francine) is delighted to make her return to Village Theatre with this production of Jersey Boys. Previously on the Village stage, you saw her as Betty in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other recent credits include Jane Doe in Ride the Cyclone (Second Story Repertory) and Sally in This is Halloween (The Can Can Culinary Cabaret). Savannah sends a heartfelt thanks to her friends and family for their endless support.

CAMERON WIDMARK, (Swing, u/s Norm Waxman, u/s Nick Massi) is elated to be a part of Village Theatre’s Jersey Boys, making this their debut production with the company. After graduating from Cornish College of the Arts, Cameron had the pleasure to garner credits from other productions such as Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (The 5th Avenue Theatre), Sunset Boulevard (Showtune Theatre), and Twelfth Night (Greenstage), where they played Duke Orsino. They hope you enjoy the show and you can find them on Instagram @Coat_of_Roses.

Creative Team

MICHAEL BERRESSE, he/him (Director, Choreographer) is an OBIE award-winning director and a Tony and Olivier-nominated actor. His Broadway appearances include The Light in the Piazza, Kiss Me, Kate, Chicago, A Chorus Line, The Cher Show and many others. As Director-Choreographer: world premieres of [title of show] (Broadway), Now. Here. This. (Off-Broadway), Analog & Vinyl (co-writer). Also: Darling Grenadine (Roundabout Theatre Company), A Christmas Story (Pittsburgh Public Theatre), The Golden Apple (Encores!), The Last 5 Years (American Conservatory Theatre), Barefoot in the Park (Arizona Theatre Company), Once, Million Dollar Quartet, Next to Normal and many more. 

R.J. TANCIOCO, he/him (Music Director, Key 3, Conductor). Select musical direction credits include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, She Loves Me, In the Heights, Hairspray, Disney’s Newsies, Dreamgirls (Village Theatre); The Last Five Years, Spring Awakening, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Into the Woods, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, Mamma Mia!, Jasper in Deadland, Little Shop of Horrors, RENT, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Hair (The 5th Avenue Theatre); The Winter’s Tale, As You Like It, The Odyssey, Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep); A Christmas Carol (ACT Theatre); Twelfth Night (Seattle Shakespeare Company); Head Over Heels, Violet, American Idiot (ArtsWest); The Spitfire Grill (Showtunes Theatre Company); Sister Act, Daddy Long Legs, Bright Star (Taproot Theatre). A 2010 Gregory Award and 2011/2014 Gypsy Rose Lee award recipient, Tancioco is a vocal coach, arranger, and composer who enjoys educating theatre to youth and cultivating new musicals.  This show is dedicated to my Mom, thank you for your continued love and support — this one’s for you.

TIMOTHY MACKABEE, (Scenic Designer). Broadway: The Elephant Man (starring Bradley Cooper), Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (directed by Spike Lee). West End: The Elephant Man. Off-Broadway: Poor Yella Rednecks, Vietgone (Manhattan Theatre Club); Heathers The Musical, The Last Match (Roundabout Theatre Company); The Penitent, Guards at the Taj (Atlantic Theater Company); Luce (Lincoln Center Theater); Gigantic (Vineyard Theatre). Music Video: Carly Ray Jepsen’s “Surrender My Heart.” TV: Gotham, Smash. Education: North Carolina School of the Arts, Yale School of Drama.

ESTHER GARCIA, (Costume Designer, Costume Director) has designed for opera, modern dance, theater and burlesque, including Village Theatre’s Hello, Dolly!, She Loves Me, Million Dollar Quartet and most recently The Fantasticks. Esther has a BFA from the University of Oregon with an emphasis in costume design.  She has designed for Taproot Theatre, Eugene Opera, Lord Leebrick Theater, Lane Community College Theater and Dance Department, University of Oregon School of Music. Favorite designs include The Fantasticks, Hello, Dolly!, She Loves Me, Million Dollar Quartet, Pagliacci, Carmen, A Little Night Music, and HMS Pinafore.

AMIYA BROWN, (Lighting Designer) is a Scenic, Lighting, and Production Designer based in Seattle, WA. Village design credits include: Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Gregory Award for Outstanding Lighting Design), Songs for a New World, and Sense and Sensibility. She holds an MFA in theatrical lighting design from the University of Washington. She is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor of Scenography in the Performing Arts and Arts Leadership Department at Seattle University.

CONNOR WANG, he/him (Sound Designer). Selected Regional: Leroy and Lucy (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); RUTKA (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park); Gun & Powder (Paper Mill Playhouse); Evita (American Repertory Theater and Shakespeare Theatre Company); The Hot Wing King (Alliance Theatre). Broadway: How to Dance in Ohio (Belasco Theatre). Off Broadway: Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares; Jason Gotay: Where You’ll Find Me; An Evening with Ali Stroker (Audible/Minetta Lane Theatre). International: Disney+ UAE Launch (Dubai Opera). BFA from DePaul University. Connorwangdesigns.com

AHREN BUHMANN, he/him (Projections Designer) is a lighting and video designer based in Seattle. Previous shows include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, MISS STEP and Eastbound (Village Theatre); Disney’s Descendants and Legally Blonde The Musical (Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE); The Moors, Hometown Boy and This Bitter Earth (Seattle Public Theater); Or, and Nonsense and Beauty (Theatre22); Solaris (Book-It Repertory Theatre); Angels in America, White Noise and Out of Character (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); and Carefree (New Jersey Performing Arts Center). Ribbet.

LAUREL NICHOLS, she/her (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back for this rockin’ musical after recently working on Legally Blonde! Past Village credits also include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Songs for a New World, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, Disney’s Newsies, Pump Boys & Dinettes, and Billy Elliot. In her free time, Laurel enjoys traveling, running around in the sunshine, and reading in her hammock. Love to Mr. Nichols! @laurelleemarie

ANNIKA EVENS, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Village Theatre. Some favorite credits include: Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, The Fantasticks, Sense and Sensibility, KIDSTAGE’s The Prom (Village Theatre); Wooden O’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Merry Wives of Windsor (Seattle Shakespeare Company); and KÀ (Cirque du Soleil). Annika is a graduate from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in stage and production management.

MIRANDA MIKOLAIZIK, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be here! Miranda is also grateful to be serving as the theatre’s Resident Stage Manager. She has worked on a number of shows at Village since 2014, including Dreamgirls, Matilda the Musical, Songs for a New World, Cabaret, and Legally Blonde. In her spare time, Miranda also tries to stage manage for The 14/48 Projects whenever possible and loves lifting heavy things. All the love to Chris and the babies.

JESSICA BOMBALL, she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back at Village. Regional theater highlights include Becoming Dr. Ruth, Once on This Island (Village Theatre); Little Women, Lydia and the Troll, Bruce, Indecent, Tiny Beautiful Things (Seattle Rep); The Secret Garden, Disney’s Aladdin, and A Christmas Story: The Musical (The 5th Avenue Theatre). Other regional theatres include ACT Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and Seattle Shakespeare Company.

GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA (Casting Director) is thrilled to continue collaborating with Village Theatre. Select credits include Broadway: Spamalot, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods (Artios Award winner), The Velocity of Autumn. Off-Broadway: Cellino v. Barnes, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, Altar Boyz, Southern Comfort, Yank!. Select New York and Regional Theatre companies include Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Baltimore Center Stage, Irish Repertory Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Studio Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre and York Theatre Company. josscasting.com

MARSHALL BRICKMAN, (Book). Films (author or co-author): Sleeper, Annie Hall, Manhattan, Manhattan Murder Mystery, For the Boys, Intersection; (writer/director): Simon, Lovesick, The Manhattan Project, Sister Mary Explains it All. Television: “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” (head writer), “The Dick Cavett Show” (head writer/co-producer). He has published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Playboy and other periodicals and was the 2006 recipient of the Writers Guild of America’s Ian McClellan Hunter Lifetime Achievement Award. Jersey Boys, his first venture into musical theatre, won four Tonys including Best Musical. The Addams Family, his second Broadway venture (with co-author Rick Elice), is currently playing on national and international tours. He lives in New York City and hopes to die in his sleep, surrounded by his loved ones and their attorneys.

RICK ELICE, (Book) co-wrote Jersey Boys (winner 2006 Tony Award, 2007 Grammy Award and 2009 Olivier Award for Best Musical) with Marshall Brickman. His play, Peter and the Starcatcher, received nine 2012 Tony Award nominations (including two for Rick) and won five, more than any play of the season. It’s currently playing in New York and on tour across North America. Also on Broadway, Elice wrote The Addams Family (with Marshall Brickman, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa), currently touring North America, with productions in Europe and South America. In 2014, the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego presented the world premiere of his new musical, Dog and Pony (music and lyrics by Michael Patrick Walker). Rick is currently writing a musical for Disney Theatricals with Benj Pasek and Justin Paul based on the film Make Believe, and Super Fly (co-written with Seth Zvi Rosenfeld), directed and choreographed by modern dance legend, Bill T. Jones. Heartfelt thanks to those whose work in the theatre makes him grateful for the day he was born: Sondheim, Stoppard, Bennett, Prince, Fosse, Robbins, Nichols, Tune, Nunn, Laurents, Stone, Kushner, Taymor, Papp, Schumacher, Schneider, Coyne, Brickman, Timbers and Rees. Rick thinks about them a lot. He never thought about Jersey much. He does now.

BOB GAUDIO, (Composer) wrote his first hit, “Who Wears Short Shorts,” at 15, for the Royal Teens, and then went on to become a founding member of The Four Seasons and the band’s principal songwriter. He also produced the hit “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” for Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand (Grammy nomination, Record of the Year) as well as six albums for Diamond, including The Jazz Singer. Other producing credits include albums for Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and the soundtrack for the film Little Shop of Horrors. Several songs co-written with Bob Crewe have been cover hits for such artists as the Tremeloes (“Silence is Golden”), the Walker Brothers (“The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore”) and Lauryn Hill (“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”). With his wife, Judy Parker, Gaudio produced and co-wrote the Who Loves You album for The Four Seasons and one of Billboard’s longest-charted singles (54 weeks), “Oh, What a Night.” A high point in his career came in 1990 when, as a member of the original Four Seasons, Gaudio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1995, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which hailed him as “a quintessential music-maker.” To this day, Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli still maintain their partnership...on a handshake.

BOB CREWE, (Lyricist). “New York was pregnant in the fifties,” says Bob Crewe, “gestating with possibilities.” Crewe and music partner Frank Slay became independent writer-producers when the category hadn’t yet been invented. In 1957 they wrote and produced “Silhouettes” for The Rays, which skyrocketed to #1. Suddenly, producers in demand, they launched Freddie Cannon’s “Tallahassee Lassie” and Billy & Lillie’s “Lah Dee Da.” Crewe’s 1960’s unprecedented producing success with The Four Seasons birthed a new sound, striking a major chord in American pop. “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Candy Girl,” “Ronnie” - all smashes! When lead Frankie Valli demanded a solo turn, Crewe and Bob Gaudio wrote (and Crewe produced) “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” which eventually became the century’s fifth most-played song. Crewe ran hot with artists from Vicki Carr, Oliver and Lesly Gore to Mitch Ryder, co-writing with Charles Fox the soundtrack for Jane Fonda’s film, Barbarella. Then his own Bob Crewe Generation exploded with Music to Watch Girls By. In 1972, Bob was in L.A., where he revived Frankie Valli with “My Eyes Adored You” by Crewe and Kenny Nolan. They also co-wrote Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” (July ‘75), which was a hit again on the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge (June ‘01).

ADAM IMMERWAHR, (Artistic Director) is responsible for season selection and also oversees the artistic, education, and production departments. He recently directed Village’s productions of Dial M for Murder, Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot, Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, and The Fantasticks. He previously served as Artistic Director of Theater J, the Associate Artistic Director at McCarter Theatre, and the Resident Director of Passage Theatre. Adam’s producing credits include new works by Edward Albee, Christopher Durang, Danai Gurira, Fiasco Theater, Will Power, Stephen Wadsworth, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and Ken Ludwig, several of which have transferred to Broadway or off-Broadway. As a director, Adam’s work has been seen from Aspen to Zimbabwe, including at some of the top theaters in the country: The Public and Theater Row (both for Summer Play Festival), Ensemble Studio Theatre, Walnut Street Theatre, Woolly Mammoth, McCarter Theater, Cleveland Play House, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, Theater J, Passage Theater, Hangar Theater, Bristol Riverside, and many others. He serves on the Board of the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and is an inaugural member of the Drama League Director’s Council.

DEREK WATANABE, (Managing Director) has served as the Managing Director of Village Theatre since the beginning of the 2024-25 season and oversees the marketing, finance, fundraising, patron services, operations, and facilities areas of the organization. He and Adam work closely together to coordinate the business and artistic sides of the theater to create the best possible product and maximize the experience for patrons, employees, and creative talent alike. Derek has been a long-term champion of Village Theatre, as subscriber (27 years), Board member (15 years), Village Originals member, KIDSTAGE parent, and donor. During his tenure as Board President, he helped lead Village through the construction of the Watjen Technical Studios, the Hunt Family Theatre and the Cope Gillette Theatre. Originally from Honolulu, Derek moved to the west coast to pursue his bachelor’s and graduate degrees at Pomona College, UCLA, and USC. He and his wife, Anne, have lived in Issaquah for 27 years, where they raised three theater-savvy kids and where their appreciation for the performing arts positively blossomed, thanks to
Village Theatre. He can be reached at derek@villagetheatre.org.

The Director is a member of the STAGE DIRECTORS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS SOCIETY, a national theatrical labor union.

All stage work performed by members of IATSE Local 15.

All costume construction and hair/make-up work is performed by employees represented by IATSE TWU Local #887.

All scenic painting work is performed by employees represented by IATSE Local 488.

United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.

The actors and stage managers employed in this production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.

The theatre operates under an agreement with Local 76-493, American Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO, representing the musicians.

Village Theatre proudly participates in the Theatre Puget Sound presented Gregory Awards for Excellence in Local Performing Arts.

Jersey Boys in Context:

How four kids from New Jersey participated in a musical revolution. Twice. 

By Ellen Morgan Peltz

When Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons first hit the airwaves in 1962 with their hit single “Sherry,” they became key players in a radical, barrier-breaking pop music landscape. Nearly fifty years later, when the musical Jersey Boys premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in 2004, its fresh take on the jukebox musical genre ushered in a new era of musical theater.

The Four Seasons in Popular Music

The music of The Four Seasons is defined by Frankie Valli’s three-octave falsetto and the group’s intricate harmonies, but neither of these stylistic elements was new to the music scene of the 1960s. Both were hallmarks of doo-wop, a style of rhythm and blues pioneered by African American musicians such as the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers in the 1930s and ‘40s. When Italian American male vocal groups began imitating the style in the 1950s and early 1960s, doo-wop became a staple of mainstream rock ‘n’ roll.

Italian American singing groups played a key role in the cultural crossover of doo-wop. Historian Simone Cinotto identifies several parallels between mid-20th-century urban Black communities and urban Italian American communities that allowed doo-wop to retain its authenticity even as it entered the mainstream. Both groups grew up singing close harmonies in church; both honed their craft in urban settings with good acoustics such as street corners or under bridges; both relied on harmonies rather than expensive instruments to support their sound; and both faced discrimination by the majority. 

When Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons introduced audiences to a sound that music blogger John Walker Ross describes as “doo-wop on steroids,” they were not pioneers. However, they were extraordinarily successful at popularizing the style and advancing a less segregated musical landscape, selling more than 100 million records between 1962 and 1978.

Jersey Boys in Musical Theater

The Beggar’s Opera, written in 1728 by John Gay, is often credited as “the original jukebox musical.” The show’s formula of stringing together popular tunes with an entertaining storyline delighted audiences and was the template for subsequent jukebox musicals.

The modern jukebox musical leapt to fame with the Broadway opening of Mamma Mia! in 2001. Pairing the music of the disco group ABBA with a fictional mother-daughter plotline, the show was a commercial juggernaut, grossing $2 billion worldwide by the time it closed in 2015.

The success of Mamma Mia! inspired Jersey Boys writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice to take a similar approach to the music of The Four Seasons. However, instead of crafting an unrelated narrative, Brickman and Elice built a biographical story based on interviews with the original band members, adding complexity by presenting the story from four different perspectives. They also included darker aspects of the story, such as the band members’ connections to prison, drugs, and the mafia. The result was a groundbreaking approach to the jukebox musical genre—and it paid off spectacularly.

Jersey Boys was both an artistic and commercial triumph, winning four Tony Awards on Broadway and the Olivier Award on the West End. By the time it closed on Broadway in 2017 after a 12-year run, it had already grossed the $2 billion worldwide that Mamma Mia! had taken 14 years to achieve.

More significantly, the innovative structure of Jersey Boys influenced numerous jukebox musicals that followed, including Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Cher Show, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, and many others.

A 2010 roundup of musical theater trends published by Broadway.com noted, “Jukebox tuners have put revues on life support… and kidney-punched the original musical itself.” 

Jersey Boys deserves much of the credit for this transformation of the musical theater landscape, proving that the music of The Four Seasons remains as revolutionary today as it was over half a century ago.

ArtsFund is proud to support Village Theatre’s mission as they continue to produce dynamic programming that highlights innovative artists in the Pacific Northwest. ArtsFund’s support of local arts organizations is only possible through the contributions of donors in this community, and we are immensely grateful to the generous individuals and businesses who have supported ArtsFund as well as Village Theatre. We will continue to support arts organizations, like Village Theatre, that elevate the voices of Washington state through our leadership, advocacy, and grantmaking programs. We are excited to see what will be performed throughout this season!

The Boeing Company is committed to improving the quality of life within the communities where our employees live and work. Our Global Engagement programs implement Boeing’s philanthropy through local charitable investments, volunteerism, employee drives, personal giving, disaster response, and other integrated programs. Boeing is proud to be a supporter of Village Theatre’s productions and musical theatre education programs, and we are pleased to welcome you back to live theatre. Enjoy the show!

Microsoft is pleased to sponsor Village Theatre’s 2024–2025 Season, and to welcome you to this production of Jersey Boys. Village Theatre is a favorite among our employees and their families, and we are delighted to support a vibrant community arts organization that brings high quality entertainment to the Eastside. We encourage employee engagement and volunteerism in the community throughout the year and through support of great organizations like Village Theatre, we aim to foster a strong community culture where the arts will thrive for generations to come. Enjoy the show!

Klein Honda in Everett serves Snohomish County and the Seattle metro area. It has been run from day one strictly by its motto “A Friend of the Family.” We are honored and proud to be a sponsor of Village Theatre’s production of Jersey Boys. We have been committed to a better community since 1979 and we value our relationships and region deeply. We love giving to our community that has given us so much. It is our way of saying “thank you.” We believe we have a responsibility to assist with strengthening our area by supporting Village Theatre. The arts bring people together and increase the livability of our area and ensure the cultural and economic vibrancy of our region. It is our pleasure to be associated with Village Theatre and we are truly inspired by their passion, talent, and exceptional work.

Lombardi’s Italian Restaurants & Catering is honored to be a long-time Village Theatre sponsor! Lombardi’s delights diners at their three locations: at the scenic Everett Marina, the bustling Bellingham Marina, and their newest culinary venture, Hook & Cleaver, in Mukilteo. Date night or any night, experience Lombardi’s classic and contemporary Italian cuisine from all around Italy. Sip your favorite Washington and Italian wines, savor a handcrafted cocktail, or enjoy one of the many local brews with your meal. Village Theatre and Lombardi’s, the perfect pairing!

Behind the Scenes with The Color Purple

Village Theatre recently connected with Director Timothy McCuen Piggee (Hello, Dolly!) to find out how he’s preparing for our soaring new production of The Color Purple.

Village Theatre: Timothy, tell us about your history with the show. How were you first drawn to this story?

Timothy McCuen Piggee: My first recollection is when the novel was published in 1982. It was such a phenomenon. Then, when the Spielberg film came out in 1985, everyone was curious to see how it could be adapted. I still feel that the performances by Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery, are some of the finest on film.

I saw the revival in 2015, which is the script that we are licensed to perform. I think what those creators did in recentering that story on Celie by pairing down much of the spectacle in the original Broadway production, feels right and elegant. 

VT: How will The Color Purple resonate with audiences today? 

TMP: We are attracted to stories involving heroic lives. With Celie, there are many parallels—she’s Odysseus, she’s Oliver Twist, she’s Job, right? We all appreciate stories about individuals enduring remarkable circumstances and somehow, miraculously, they emerge from the story stronger than before. They have triumphed! 

VT: Music is central to this show, with its Grammy Award-winning score infused with jazz, gospel, ragtime and the blues. What music are you listening to as you prepare to direct?

TMP: I am blown away at the collaboration of Stephen Bray, Allee Willis and Brenda Russell, who created this score. They’re not traditional Broadway composers, they have given us popular songs like September and Boogie Wonderland from Earth, Wind and Fire; Madonna’s Angel and Into the Groove; or Olita Adams’ Get Here and Piano in the Dark— not traditional Broadway fare, but they have collaborated beautifully to highlight certain aspects of Alice Walker’s novel wonderfully. 

VT: How do you hope audiences will feel after leaving a performance? 

TMP: Well, I think the first question is, how can we appreciate ourselves honestly, without hubris or pretense?  I hope that people feel stirred, roused, activated to appreciate those things in our lives that seemingly go unnoticed or disregarded.  How do we acknowledge the abundance that is the gift of life?

The Color Purple runs May 27-June 29 in Issaquah and July 5-27 in Everett. 

Single tickets are on sale now at VillageTheatre.org/Purple.

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