Hurley Winkler
On Tuesday afternoon, a lucky group of high school drama students at Stanton College Prep had an opportunity to learn from an esteemed Broadway veteran. Frank Galasso, former Jersey Boys star, paid the students a visit and taught a scene work master class.
The musical Jersey Boys documents the life of Frankie Valli and his 1960s success story with the rock ’n roll singing group The Four Seasons. Currently on its second national tour, Jersey Boys rolls through Jacksonville’s Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts from February 14 to 19. The jukebox musical includes The Four Seasons’ greatest hits, including “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
“It makes you want to get up and dance in the aisles, which we welcome, so please do,” says Galasso of the musical, which ended its record-breaking 11-year Broadway run in January. Galasso, who has appeared in three different companies of Jersey Boys under varying roles, including Frankie Valli himself, says that the show captures the energetic feeling of “VH1 Behind the Music, but live on stage. It’s insanely fast-moving… the show’s design is intended to distract the eye.”
“If you don’t have nerves, you’re not on your game.”
During his master class, Galasso fielded questions on the industry from curious students. He provided practical wisdom to students interested in performing professionally and shared insider scoop on the show’s breakneck speed, including a “9 second costume change” and the show’s three female actors who “play 64 different characters between the three of them.” In addition to the musical’s dance choreography, Galasso recalls “weeks of transition choreography” he and his fellow actors had to learn in order to “go from one scene to another.”
To a student who asked if he “still gets nervous,” Galasso answered honestly. “I don’t personally have a way to cure nerves. If you don’t have nerves, you’re not on your game.”
Galasso also provided Stanton’s students with the opportunity to perform scenes from Jersey Boys. A handful of students eagerly volunteered, taking up scripts to cold read scenes—some comedic, some intense, capturing the show’s array of emotional conflict.
See Jersey Boys at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts from February 14 to 19. Tickets are available through the FSCJ Artist Series website. The FSCJ Artist Series offers group discounts on tickets for student and senior groups of 10 or more.
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