Jersey Boys comes to the Artscape

Although the names of these and other show songs aren't easily recognised by many, the tunes become more and more familiar as the captivating tale of the four musicians unfolds and the audience can be heard singing along.

The stellar 19-member South African cast includes television star, Emmanuel Castis and Cape Town performers, Kirsten Murphy-Rossiter, Jaco van Rensburg, Duane Alexander and Stephen Jubber.

The Four Seasons are played by Grant Almirall (Chicago, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Frankie Valli; Daniel Buys (Boys in the Photograph, Mamma Mia!) as Tommy DeVito; Kenneth Meyer (Boys in the Photograph, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Bob Gaudio and television star Emmanuel Castis (Scandal!, Isidingo, season 4 winner of Strictly Come Dancing) as Nick Massi with Jaco van Rensburg (Showboat, Chicago, Grease) playing Frankie Valli at certain performances.

Jersey Girls

The three leading female characters, fondly dubbed, the "Jersey Girls" are played by Carmen Pretorius (Footloose!, Mamma Mia, Cabaret), Taryn-Lee Hudson (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Kidz Rock, Let the Good Times Roll) and Kirsten Murphy-Rossiter (Some Like it Vrot, Grease, M-Net's Crimes Uncovered). The ensemble features a host of multi-talented local performers who together with the band and crew worked closely during rehearsals with a joint South African and visiting top-notch New York-based global creative team responsible for staging Jersey Boys throughout the world. The entire company spent invaluable time fine-tuning their roles with two-time Tony Award winner and Jersey Boys Broadway director, 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 is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo with music direction, vocal arrangements and incidental music by Ron Melrose. The production design team is Klara Zieglerova, scenic designer; Jess Goldstein, costume designer; Howell Binkley, lighting designer; Steve Orich, orchestrator and Michael Clark, projection designer.

Book now at Computicket service centres, go to www.computicket.com or call 0861 813 9000 or Artscape Dial-A-Seat +27 (0)21 421 7695.

For further information, go to www.jerseyboyssa.co.za

From Wednesday, 19 June, 2013.

Show times:

• No Monday performances.
  
• Weekdays: Tuesdays to Fridays 8pm.
  
• Weekends: Saturdays 3pm, 8pm; Sundays 2pm, 6pm.

Prices:

• Tuesdays/Sunday Evenings: From R100 to R350 inclusive.
  
• Wednesday/Thursday/Fridays/Saturdays (matinee and evening) and Sunday matinee and all extra matinees: From R100 to R390 inclusive.