A musical about the 1960s that was first shown in 2005 is still kicking in 2024—and the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will always have audiences dancing and tapping their toes. At the Omaha Community Playhouse, hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and, of course, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” come to life again now through Oct. 19, 2024. The show tells the story of this iconic group—their humble beginnings, rise to fame, and the struggles along the way.
OCP’s cast includes James Verderamo (Tommy DeVito), Will Hastreiter (Bob Audio), and Jay Srygley (Nick Massi), led by stand-out star Tanner Langemeier as Frankie Valli. The boys are so uniformly harmonious, both literally and in their acting performances, that it was difficult to tell this was a community theater production rather than a professional one, a testament to Omaha’s musical talent. Langemeier’s perfect falsetto soars over the audience, evoking the iconic Valli very convincingly (and possibly even overshadowing the man himself), yet blends beautifully with the others’ voices at the opportune moments. “The voice of an angel,” Verderamo’s character says, and no one can argue.
Complete with a talented cast of surrounding characters, including an appearance by The Angels (“My Boyfriend’s Back”), Jersey Boys is a must-see for those who love theater as well as those waxing nostalgic for the Four Seasons’ heyday. Led by music director Jim Boggess, the partially visible orchestra provides a beautiful background for the four-part harmonies that breathe life back into a bygone era. With Langemeier at the helm, his performance nothing short of amazing, you don’t want to miss this simply delightful show that keeps audiences singing and dancing long after the curtain falls.
Interview with the Actor: Meet Jay Srygley | by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman
Actor Jay Srygley has played on stages from cruise ships to Branson, Missouri. He’s been in several productions that had a theme of the 1950s, such as the jukebox musical “Rockin’ at Rockville High.” Now residing in Omaha, the Rockwall, Texas, native is performing the role of Nick Massi in Omaha Community Playhouse’s production of Jersey Boys, running now through Oct. 19. Omaha Magazine spoke with Syrgley about his love of early rock ’n’ roll, and how this show, specifically, touches him.
Omaha Magazine: How did you decide you wanted to audition for Jersey Boys?
Srygley: There’s a great story behind Jersey Boys. These were rough and tumble guys, and they rose above it to find fame. I’ve also been performing for a while, (often) in (this harmonic) style.”
Omaha Magazine: What attracts you to this era?
Srygley: There’s a nostalgia about this time, where things seemed like they were simpler. Plus, the music is great. There’s lush harmonies, big sounds. It’s fun to perform and makes people happy … my hope is that it introduces this music to a whole new generation.
Omaha Magazine: What, besides the music, attracted you to this show
Syrgley: From the theatrical side, I love that people get to see that it wasn’t all fun, that there’s a business side to it, and it was gritty, and their lives weren’t always pretty. I think one of the uniquenesses is that it was very blue-collar.
Omaha Magazine: You’ve performed all over the world. What do you like about performing in Omaha?
Syrgley: Honestly, I want to brag on Omaha Community Playhouse and this production. It is amazing to me what we have accomplished. Director Alex Rodriguez is at the top of his game. We have incredible talent onstage. There is an incredible pit, which is also onstage, and a backstage crew that is second-to-none…Omaha really embraces the community part of “community theater.” The support is tangible.
