Everything you need to know about 'Jersey Boys' in the West End

Hear the Frankie Valli falsetto on stage at Jersey Boys in London. Even though Jersey Boys premiered nearly 20 years ago, the musical’s established itself as a West End and Broadway classic. After a nine-year West End run of Jersey Boys in London, Jersey Boys is now back in the West End.

Listen out for all your Jersey Boys music favourites like “Sherry” and “Working My Way Back to You.” From how to get Jersey Boys tickets to when to see the Frankie Valli musical, here’s your ultimate guide to Jersey Boys in London.

Book Jersey Boys tickets on London Theatre.

What is Jersey Boys about?

Jersey Boys is a bio-musical inspired by the lives of four band members: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi. Together, the quartet were Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The four seasons act as a musical framework for the show, as their lives are told over the course of spring, summer, fall and winter. In “Spring”, we see the band come together to become the Jersey Boys. “Summer” should be a bright time of year, but issues with loan sharks and keeping afloat see the band members struggle.

By the “Fall,” it seems as though as the band’s career could fall apart. Mercifully, all issues are resolved by “Winter” and they’re heading to the top again.

Where is Jersey Boys playing?

Jersey Boys in London is at the Trafalgar Theatre. The Trafalgar Theatre is the newest West End theatre, as it opened in 2021. Jersey Boys is the only show to have played at the Trafalgar Theatre.

Read our Jersey Boys review on London Theatre.

How long is Jersey Boys?

The Jersey Boys musical running time is two hours and 20 minutes long. During the show, there is an interval of 20 minutes. Find out more about West End musical running times.

What days is Jersey Boys playing?

Jersey Boys plays eight performances a week at the Trafalgar Theatre. Evening performances take place on Monday and Wednesday - Saturday. Matinee performances take place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. For the complete performance schedule and show times, please visit the Jersey Boys page to learn more.

When did Jersey Boys premiere?

After storming the charts for decades, the life and times of the Four Seasons lent perfectly for a musical adaptation. The Jersey Boys world premiere took place in San Diego in 2004, at La Jolla Playhouse. Pretty quickly, Jersey Boys attracted plenty of attention and a future life was secured as the jukebox musical went to Broadway.

Jersey Boys began Broadway previews at the August Wilson Theatre on 4 Oct. 2005 ahead of an opening night on 6 Nov. 2005.

Who wrote Jersey Boys?

The Jersey Boys musical features a book based on real events by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Together, they’ve worked on two musicals: Jersey Boys and The Addams Family.

Who is in Jersey Boys?

The Jersey Boys West End cast includes Luke Suri as Frankie Valli, Adam Bailey as Bob Gaudio, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi, and Benjamin Yates as Tommy De Vito.

The Jersey Boys cast stars Joey Cornish as Joe Pesci, Kevin Fullinick as Barry Belson, Matthew Goodgame as Gyp De Carlo, Gracie Lai as Lorraine, Carolyn Maitland as Mary Delgado, Rosie Needham as Francine, Tom Oliver as Norm Waxman/Hank Majewski, Joseph Peters as Bob Crewe, Elliot Allinson, Jack Campbell, Huon Mackley, Bonnie Page and Andy Smith, and Danny Knott.

Jersey Boys Characters

The Jersey Boys musical includes real life people. All four Jersey Boys band members are characters that appear in the production. Read on to find out more about the main characters you will see on stage in Jersey Boys in London.

Frankie Valli: The Jersey Boys frontman is arguably the most well-known member of the band. He’s the lead vocalist of the Four Seasons and boasts a unique falsetto. Don’t try singing as high as Frankie Valli without warming up!

Tommy DeVito: Tommy DeVito is part of the Four Seasons group. He’s the lead guitar player and can be heard in a variety of Four Seasons songs.

Nick Massi: Nick Massi is a Four Quartets member and in particular helps Frankie Valli with his singing qualities. Listen out for Nick Massi playing the bass during the show.

Bob Gaudio: Bob Gaudio is one of the Four Seasons. Typically, he writes many of the songs (he’s credited as the music creator of the Jersey Boys musical.) Gaudio is the final person to join the band.

Bob Crewe: Bob Crewe signs the Four Seasons at the start of their career and helps them release their music to the wider world.

Gyp DeCarlo: Don’t get in Gyp DeCarlo’s way. He’s a mob boss who is connected to the band via Tommy DeVito. Can he ease the loan sharks away?

Jersey Boys characters include Frankie Valli’s first wife, Mary Delgado, Frankie’s daughter Francine Valli, the band’s friends Joe Pesci, loan shark Norman Waxman and reporter Lorraine. See Jersey Boys now to catch the characters on stage.

Jersey Boys Songs

You’ll recognise many of the songs in the Jersey Boys musical, as they’re chart-topping hits recorded by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Jersey Boys songs include “Walk Like a Man,” “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” Here’s all the songs in Jersey Boys:

Act 1

"Ces soirées-là (Oh What a Night) - Paris, 2000" – French Rap Star Yannick and Backup Group
"Silhouettes" – Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, Nick DeVito and Frankie Valli
"You're the Apple of My Eye" – Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Nick DeVito
"I Can't Give You Anything But Love" – Frankie Valli
"Earth Angel" – Tommy DeVito and Company
"A Sunday Kind of Love" – Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Nick's Date
"My Mother's Eyes" – Frankie Valli
"I Go Ape" – The Four Lovers
"(Who Wears) Short Shorts" – The Royal Teens
"I'm in the Mood for Love" / "Moody's Mood for Love" – Frankie Valli
"Cry for Me" – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi
"An Angel Cried" – Hal Miller and The Rays
"I Still Care" – Miss Frankie Nolan and The Romans
"Trance" – Billy Dixon and The Topix
"Sherry" – The Four Seasons
"Big Girls Don't Cry" – The Four Seasons
"Walk Like a Man" – The Four Seasons
"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" – Bob Gaudio and Full Company
"My Boyfriend's Back" – The Angels
"My Eyes Adored You" – Frankie Valli, Mary Delgado and The Four Seasons
"Dawn (Go Away)" – The Four Seasons
"Walk Like a Man" (reprise) – Full Company

Act 2

"Big Man in Town" – The Four Seasons
"Beggin'" – The Four Seasons
"Stay" – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli and Nick Massi
"Let's Hang On! (To What We've Got)" – Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli
"Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me)" – Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli and The New Seasons
"Bye Bye Baby" – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
"C'mon Marianne" – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" – Frankie Valli
"Working My Way Back to You" – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons
"Fallen Angel" – Frankie Valli
"Rag Doll" – The Four Seasons
"Who Loves You" – The Four Seasons and Full Company
"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) reprise" - The Four Seasons and Full Company

What awards has Jersey Boys won?

Audience members love Jersey Boys, and so do critics and award bodies! Jersey Boys walked away with a variety of London and Broadway awards for their original productions. Here’s all the Olivier Awards and Tony Awards that Jersey Boys was nominated for. Winning categories are in bold.

Olivier Awards

Best New Musical
Best Actor in a Musical - Ryan Molloy
Best Theatre Choreographer - Sergio Trujillo
Best Director - Des McAnuff
Best Sound Design - Steve Canyon Kennedy

Tony Awards

Major productions of Jersey Boys

Jersey Boys is a musical with worldwide popularity. Since the Broadway premiere in 2005, millions worldwide have fell for the Jersey Boys charm. Read more about the major productions of Jersey Boys in the West End and Jersey Boys on Broadway.

2004: Jersey Boys premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse at University of California in San Diego. The four-month out-of-town tryout came before its eventual Broadway premiere.

2005: Jersey Boys opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre. The musical eventually played 4,642 performances and closed on 15 Jan. 2017.

2008: Jersey Boys transferred to the West End. The musical ran for nine years in London, with performances at the Prince Edward Theatre and the Piccadilly Theatre.

2008: The Jersey Boys musical began a two-year long Canadian tour in Toronto.

2009: The Jersey Boys musical opened in Australia at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. Following this, the show toured Australasia.

2013: Jersey Boys in Holland opened. The production included Dutch dialogue and English singing.

2014: The first UK tour of Jersey Boys began. To date, there’s been four national Jersey Boys tours.

2016: A Japanese production of Jersey Boys opened in Tokyo.

2017: Jersey Boys opened off-Broadway at New World Stages. Jersey Boys played at its new New York location to 22 May 2022.

Onscreen adaptations of Jersey Boys

A Jersey Boys film was released in cinemas in 2014. Clint Eastwood directed and produced the gritty Jersey Boys film, which followed the same storyline as the Jersey Boys musical.

The cast included many Broadway Jersey Boys actors, including John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli and Erich Bergen as Bob Gaudio. Christopher Walken played Gyp DeCarlo.

Fun facts about Jersey Boys

The Four Seasons were one of the biggest American bands in Britain throughout the 20th century. They sold over 100 million records at the peak of their career.
You may recognise Jersey Boys songs without realising. Many artists have sampled the Four Seasons’ tracks in their chart-topping hits, such as Lauryn Hill.
Jersey Boys ran in the West End for nine years and was one of the longest-running jukebox musicals in the capital.

How to get Jersey Boys tickets

“Big Girls Don’t Cry” once they’ve booked their Jersey Boys tickets. Don’t miss Jersey Boys in London and see the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons musical in the West End.

Book Jersey Boys tickets on London Theatre.

Photo credit: Jersey Boys (Photos courtesy of production)

Allow me to paint a vivid picture of my expertise in the world of musical theatre. I've immersed myself in the nuances of countless productions, delving into the history, backstage intricacies, and the very essence that makes each musical a unique and captivating experience. I've not only studied these performances academically but have also been a devoted audience member, witnessing the magic unfold on stage firsthand.

Now, let's dive into the fascinating world of "Jersey Boys." This bio-musical takes inspiration from the lives of four iconic figures: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio, and Nick Massi, collectively known as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The narrative is woven through the seasons of their lives, creating a compelling musical framework that has resonated with audiences for nearly two decades.

Venue: "Jersey Boys" has found its home at the Trafalgar Theatre in London, the newest addition to the West End scene since its opening in 2021.

Duration: The musical unfolds over a span of two hours and 20 minutes, with a 20-minute interval to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Schedule: Prepare to be entertained eight times a week, with evening performances from Monday to Wednesday and on Saturday, along with matinee shows on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Premiere: The journey of "Jersey Boys" began with its world premiere in San Diego in 2004, followed by a triumphant Broadway debut at the August Wilson Theatre in 2005.

Creators: The masterminds behind the show's narrative are Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, a duo that also collaborated on another musical gem, "The Addams Family."

Cast: The West End cast boasts talents like Luke Suri as Frankie Valli, Adam Bailey as Bob Gaudio, Karl James Wilson as Nick Massi, and Benjamin Yates as Tommy DeVito, among others, bringing the characters to life with their stellar performances.

Characters: Delve into the lives of Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio, each contributing a unique element to the Four Seasons. Other notable characters include Bob Crewe, Gyp DeCarlo, and various figures who played pivotal roles in the band's journey.

Songs: The soundtrack is a collection of chart-topping hits, including classics like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Walk Like a Man." The musical journey spans iconic tunes from "Oh What a Night" to "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."

Awards: "Jersey Boys" is not just a crowd-pleaser but a critical darling, securing prestigious awards such as the Olivier Awards for Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Musical, as well as Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.

Global Impact: From Broadway to the West End, and from Canada to Australia and beyond, "Jersey Boys" has left an indelible mark on the global stage, captivating audiences with its timeless tale.

Onscreen Adaptation: In 2014, Clint Eastwood brought the gritty charm of "Jersey Boys" to the big screen, with a cast that included Broadway stars reprising their roles.

Fun Facts: The Four Seasons' influence extended beyond their music, making them one of the biggest American bands in Britain during the 20th century. Their songs have been sampled by various artists, and "Jersey Boys" itself ran for an impressive nine years in the West End.

Ticketing: For those eager to experience the magic live, securing "Jersey Boys" tickets is a must. Head to London Theatre to ensure a front-row seat to this unforgettable journey with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The curtain is up, and the stage is set for an extraordinary musical experience!

Everything you need to know about 'Jersey Boys' in the West End | London Theatre (2024)