From musical stage to the big screen

MANILA, Philippines - Hailed by The New York Post as “one of the year’s best” films, Warner Bros. Pictures’ Jersey Boys — director Clint Eastwood’s big-screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical — will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas starting July 16.

The film tells the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic rock group The Four Seasons. The story of their trials and triumphs are accompanied by the songs that influenced a generation, including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Dawn, Rag Doll, Bye Bye Baby and Who Loves You.

These classic hits are now being embraced by a new generation of fans through the stage musical, which has been running on Broadway for more than eight years and has also enjoyed successful tours around the globe.

Starring in the film, John Lloyd Young reprises his Tony Award-winning portrayal of the legendary lead singer of The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli. Erich Bergen stars as Bob Gaudio, who wrote or co-wrote all of the group’s biggest hits. Michael Lomenda and Vincent Piazza star, respectively, as Nick Massi and Tommy DeVito, two original members of The Four Seasons. Oscar winner Christopher Walken (Catch Me If You Can) stars as mobster Gyp DeCarlo.

Oscar winner Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven) directed Jersey Boys from a screenplay and musical book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, song music by Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.

With music being the connective thread that runs through Jersey Boys, Eastwood made the decision to have the actors playing the title characters sing the band’s indelible songs live on camera, instead of doing pre-tapes of the musical performances. The director comments, “It just felt like the way to go since most of them had done it live so many times before. When they sing, you really see the performance value and get the emotion.”

Jersey Boys is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment company.