Gian Raffaele DiConstanzo and Amanda Pinto Photo by Jeff Butchen

The Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs are all winners and the actors have the big voices and personalities to put the tunes over. Gian Raffaele DiCostanzo possesses the golden throat to bring Frankie Valli to life; it is astonishing to hear him hit the high notes in such songs as "Sherry" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." Matthew Stoke is awesome, too, playing Tommy DeVito, the man who really got the group together. Christian Engelhardt scores as songwriter/performer Bob Gaudio, and Anthony Cangiamila is a delight as Nick Massi. Cangiamila gets a lot of the laughs in the script, as Nick tells how his character was more in the background than the other three; the story about the agony he had to go through rooming with Tommy DeVito is hilarious.

The supporting cast is super, including Justin Michael Duval as Bob Crewe, who helped mold the group and bring their songs to the airwaves. Aerie Williams makes the most out of the slightly unsympathetic part of Lorraine, and Abigail McLendon is genuinely touching as Frankie Valli's daughter Francine. Other than the four leads, the company of actors play multiple roles flawlessly. Amanda Pinto, Matthew Boyd Snyder (in the very funny role of Joe Pesci), Gus Stuckey, and Ryan Williams, in the commanding role of Gyp DeCarlo, also stand out. With such an amazing cast, almost all the numbers hit the bullseye.

From such early songs as "A Sunday Kind of Love" and the very funny "I Go Ape" to such mega-hits as "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man," musically, the production is aces. This is a big thanks to the singers, but also to the wonderful offstage orchestra led by the excellent conductor Mason Frasher. The costumes, designed by Tristan Raines and coordinated by Jillian Mitchell, are perfect and they help to reflect the various eras that the show takes place in. Charlie Morrison's lighting design is a stunner and the sound design by Shannon Slaton is crystal clear. Projections, supplied by Joey Moro, add much to the show.

The director works fantastically with the inventive choreographer Emily Franch, making especially good use of the turntable set so that the group numbers practically electrify the stage. That said, some of the story elements in the second act weigh the show down a bit, but there is always another great song to ignite the production again. Jersey Boys at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut is almost sure to give you goose bumps and don't be surprised if some of these tunes don't bring a tear to your eye, as well. I recommended it for both those new to the musical, as well as those who have seen it many times.

Jersey Boys runs through November 17, 2024, at A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut, 36 Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield CT. For tickets and information, please visit www.actofct.org or call the box office at 475-215-5433.