Taking The Wheel

Exclusive Jersey Boys Blog Interview

2011-04-28T18:20:00.003-04:00

Hey Folks,

As I approach my last few days here in Sydney, here's my 2-part interview with the fine folks at Jersey Boys Blog.

Part 1:
http://jerseyboysblog.com/jbb-exclusive-interview-with-jeff-madden-from-toronto-to-down-under-as-a-jersey-boy-part-one/5285

Part 2:
http://jerseyboysblog.com/jbb-exclusive-interview-with-jeff-madden-from-toronto-to-down-under-as-a-jersey-boy-part-two/5288

Enjoy!

Interview with "The Way I See It"!

2011-04-23T18:36:00.004-04:00

Hey Everybody,

I just completed a fun interview with Canadian Theatre Blogger extraordinaire Amanda Campbell all about what's been going on in my world for the last few months. It's quite thorough, and I'm sure you'll find it interesting.

Check it out at
http://www.twisitheatreblog.com/2011/04/jeff-madden-on-jersey-boys-down-under.html

Let me know what you think!

Jeff

2011-02-09T19:14:00.003-05:00

G'Day, Everyone!

Many of you have been wondering how it’s going, and why I haven’t reported back on how the show has been going. Well, there’s a really good reason: I haven’t started performing yet.

Well, what the heck have I been up to, you wonder? The short answer is, I go to work six days a week, at the one-hour call before every show, and when I'm not rehearsing, I'm watching the show. The longer answer, well, that needs a little more explaining.

Most of you have seen the show, some of you many, many times. You may recall that in every company of Jersey Boys, there are four actors that could play Frankie at any given show. Usually it breaks down like this: the main ‘Frankie’ does six performances a week (which was my job with the Toronto company), the alternate ‘Frankie’ does two shows a week (usually the matinees on the 2-show days), a ‘Swing’ who covers a few different parts including Frankie, but most days does not appear onstage, and the ‘Joe Pesci’ who is a ‘Frankie’ understudy. Here in Sydney, both the Swing and the 2-show ‘Frankie’ were leaving the show at almost the same time, leaving the company at risk should one of the two other ‘Frankies’ get sick or injured. So, JB Sydney decided they needed to fill those two slots ASAP until they could find permanent (hopefully Australian) replacements.

As you might imagine, it’s fairly difficult to find someone to play ‘Frankie’ – with the casting restrictions on age, height and appearance on top of the acting and dance abilities and the crazy high voice. So, the producers did a couple things – they hired the ‘Joe Pesci’ who played the part in Melbourne but had since left the show, a young guy named Bernard Angel to rejoin the company and fill the 2-show ‘Frankie’ role until the end of February. Then they asked me and Graham Fenton, a great actor who previously played ‘Joe Pesci’ and ‘Frankie’ in Las Vegas, the US National Tour and Broadway to come join in on the fun Down Under. I’ll be doing the 2-show-a-week role, and Graham will be the ‘Swing’ for about three months. Then we come back home.

So, since I have played Frankie about 500 times in Toronto and Graham has been in Jersey Boys for about 2.5 years, you’d think they’d just throw us in there, right? As you know, the show is very slick and probably seems quite effortless to the audience, but when you really break it down, it has about a million different details that need to be accomplished perfectly to make it seem effortless. So, if I may get back to the opening questions, that’s what I’ve been doing all this time … remembering the million little details. Getting them back into my body. And somewhat surprisingly, learning about a hundred little differences between the way we did things in Toronto and the way they do things here.

What’s different, you ask? I can’t believe I actually have to answer this question, but, No, they don’t speak with Aussie accents – although that would be pretty fricking hilarious. But they are different people, and different people do and say things their own way. Also, there are four or five scenes that have lines cut here, some of which happen really quickly, so I’ve spent a good deal of time memorizing those changes. Basically, the biggest chunk of my job so far has been simply watching the show to learn how exactly they do things. Sometimes I’ll watch the show from the audience but I pick up most of the nuances from the wings. The more I see it, the more I love this show – and believe me, I totally get why some of you keep coming back time after time to see it.

Another thing that’s slightly different is the depth of the stage. The stage here is about a foot or two shorter than in Toronto. This may not seem like a big deal at first, but when you do a knee-slide down to the edge of the stage, and you miss by a foot or two, you could end up in the 2nd row, so, it is a big deal. Likewise when you’re dancing around the trap door in the dark, a foot or two could leave you with a broken leg or a concussion, so, it’s a big deal. There are also tonnes of little differences in the choreography – from the height I snap my fingers, to how often I pop my knees, to the way I wrap my arms around my body when doing the “Walk Like A Man” marches. So, literally in every scene there’s something I have had to adapt in my footwork, while still trying to look cool.

Musically, there are many slight differences, too. In JB Sydney, they do all Beach Boys songs. Ok, that’s not true. They do the same songs, they just do them in French. Ok – really, here’s the thing. In each company, the main ‘Frankie’ learns the songs and has a little bit of freedom to stylize them. Maybe he’ll do a little lick here, maybe a growl there, maybe a little back phrasing thrown in. Subtle, subtle stuff, because it still has to sound as much like the real Frankie Valli as possible. The reason I mention this is because the sound design of the show requires a fair bit of “doubling”, i.e. places in the score where other actors – onstage or off, male and female – sing along with ‘Frankie’ and the other Seasons. This gives the audience the incredible sensation of hearing the songs sound “multi-tracked”, the way they were recorded by the Four Seasons. So here in Sydney, whatever subtleties Bobby Fox, the sensational main ‘Frankie Valli’ does, the doublers also have to do. And since the doublers are on every single show, the 2-show-a-week ‘Frankie’ has to learn the same subtleties in order to sound in sync with everyone else. So, as you might imagine, these changes have taken up a fair bit of my rehearsal time.

Another thing to realize is there is just not that much time to rehearse when a show is running a full schedule of eight-show weeks. Without getting into overtime, there can only be two four-hour rehearsals onstage per week, and for the most part I’ve been rehearsing with the understudies and swings. In our first week, we were still pretty jet-lagged, so that slowed things down a bit. Then, our 2nd week here there were no rehearsals at all, with the day-off for Australia Day falling in the middle of the week meaning an extra 2-show day. And then, our creative team started flying all over Australia and New Zealand on an audition tour, making rehearsal hours even tighter.

But, it’s almost all over now. This afternoon we did an Automation Tech-Run which went great. Tomorrow afternoon we do a full Tech-Run of the show, which will be my first rehearsal with the other “3 Seasons” Quinny (‘Tommy’), Stephen (‘Bob’) and Glaston (‘Nick’). But, more tellingly, it will be my first run of the show with microphones, with the band, with the lights and with my costumes in over five months. I can’t wait. Then, my first two shows are this Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening. It’s gonna be awesome!!!

Wish me Chookas!

G'Day Mate!

2011-01-16T20:18:00.007-05:00

Hello from sunny Sydney Australia!

My epic 27-hour journey is over, I'm totally unpacked, and I'm reasonably over the jet-lag (he says optimisticly). In other words, I'm ready to rock and roll. Which is good timing, since my first rehearsal for JERSEY BOYS, SYDNEY starts tomorrow morning. Which for you back home is sometime yesterday afternoon ... -ish. I think. But don't quote me.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Dodger Theatricals in New York and at Newtheatricals in Sydney who had a hand in giving me this opportunity. I am very blessed. Thank you all, very much.

As you can probably already tell, I'm super excited to be here. The city is so vibrant, the weather is amazing (sorry to you folks back home buried in the snow), and the locals are very welcoming. In fact, last night I had the chance to meet many members of the JB company at a roof-top bar just a few minutes walk away from the Sydney Harbour. Everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming to myself and to another new cast member joining the company here, Graham Fenton. They treated us like gold, and showed us that Aussie spirit.

A lot of you have wished me good luck and safe travels on Facebook and through email and I can't thank you enough for your kind sentiments. I think many of you are sending these wishes in light of the disasterous floods which have claimed the lives of nearly 20 people with more people still missing. However, I do want to point out to folks back home that these floods are happening at least 1000km away from Sydney, some to the North near Brisbane, and some to the South-West in Victoria. The recovery is going well, and it seems the water levels have stopped going up, which is a very good sign. In any case, Sydney has been spared, it seems. Knock on wood.

As for work, I'm excited to get back into the rehearsal hall. It's been almost five months since I've worked on JERSEY BOYS, with the closing of the Toronto production August 22, 2010. Although I played 'Frankie Valli' nearly 500 times, I'm sure it'll take a few weeks to get back into my body, due to the lenghty layoff. But, you never know, it could be sooner. Things can change pretty quickly in Jersey!

I'll be trying to write more frequently now that I'm Down Under. I may start using Twitter a bit more often too, so if you're interested, check it out. And Facebook seems to be the preferred way for everyone to keep in the loop. And of course, my website is another option. It's fun to keep connected to everyone back home!

Alright - till next time.

Lindsay Thomas (revised edition)

2010-02-09T12:19:00.002-05:00

Hi Folks,

This is a revised version of my post from late last night. I've made a few corrections and added a few details, so check it out.

Yesterday I went to Lindsay's Memorial service and it got me to thinking. So, instead of going to sleep I started writing.

Lindsay and I met about 15 months ago, on our first day of rehearsals for Jersey Boys in Toronto. She was cast as Francine and about a hundred other smaller parts. We became friendly right away, as often happens when new casts gather for rehearsals. We didn't hang out, go for meals together or talk on the phone, because there was so much work to be done getting the show up to speed. But you could say we hit it off.

In those early days, all I knew of Lindsay was her stunning smile, her infectious spirit, her radiant energy, and her abundant talent. I knew she had many friends and a long-term partner in Stratford, Gareth Potter, a fellow I had played cricket against while I was at Shaw. She quickly earned respect for her work in Jersey Boys, and I came to rely on her to be ever-present in our scene-work.

Once the show opened in December and we started to settle into the run, we began to notice a slight change in her. She often became ill, and had to take some time off for a bad cough to heal. Bronchitis, she was told. But her health continues to worsen and it left her having bad coughing fits offstage. She was encouraged to seek further insight into her health, and throughout this time of going for tests, she maintained her perky spirit. She'd come to work, run around backstage from the stage to the costume booth and back, belt out the high notes in "My Boyfriend's Back", do all the choreo like a pro, and all with a smile on her face. What a trooper.

Yet things continued to worsen. When she needed to take an extended leave from the show, we knew something serious was going on. And when we heard she had cancer, stage 4 lung cancer, our minds went blank and our hearts sunk. How is that possible? How could she have cancer - she's 30 years old, fit as a fiddle, living a healthy lifestyle... it just didn't make sense.

But Linds handled her diagnosis and prognosis like a saint. She stayed positive, she was determined to beat it, and get well again. She had tremendous support from her family, from Gareth and from his family, and from her close friends. They wrapped her in a "Cocoon of Love" as she put it, and it was helping.

On her final day of chemo, the cast of Jersey Boys surprised her as she was leaving the hospital. We were waiting outside the main doors in a line, each ringing a bell for her. I'll never forget the look on her face. She was so moved seeing us there, as we were seeing her there. She immediately came over and hugged each one of us, thanked us for coming, and tossed her hat off to reveal her beautiful bald skull. We gave Lindsay her 1-year anniversary gift from Jersey Boys, and a cheque to cover some of her expenses, monies that were graciously donated by our audiences over a one-week period. She was moved to tears. And beaming, ear to ear.

That was the last time I saw Lindsay.

Since learning of her death last Wednesday, getting through the 'Francine' moments in the show has been difficult. I've somehow managed it, but it is almost creepy how real the loss feels. I know maintaining my composure will be a challenge going forward, but I think we will soldier on and honour her in the only way we can, by doing the show.

As my faithful readers know I have had some difficulties with that particular song in the past. In part because it comes immediately on the heels of learning of Francine's death, but also because death is so difficult to talk about and comprehend.

I was surprised to learn this week that Lindsay's favorite part of the show was "Fallen Angel", a scene in which she doesn't even say a word. Yet, the power of that moment in the theatre each night was palpable, and I could feel her support and connection to me each night as she sat on that bench and touched my hand. It was because of her commitment to her character, to the moment, to the relationship with me that made it all come together.

When I was asked by Gareth to sing "Fallen Angel" at her memorial service this afternoon because it meant so much to Lindsay, I was floored. Gareth insisted that Lindsay would have wanted me to. I asked Gareth if it would be alright since Fallen Angel is quite short if I could honour Lindsay by adding on a verse and chorus of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". He agreed that it would be a lovely gesture. I was accompanied on guitar by the incomparable Levon Ickhanian, and we rehearsed the number a couple times yesterday.

The memorial service was amazing. First of all, the church in Stratford was packed. Outside, the line snaked down the sidewalk and onto the street, and inside it was standing room only. Hundreds and hundreds of people traveled for hours to attend the service. And I know there were hundreds of other people who wanted to come, but just couldn't make the trip because of work or other commitments. So, to describe the scene for you, it was a simple church with pews on either side of a centre aisle, and more seats upstairs in a small balcony. Things were elegantly laid out, with a beautiful picture of Lindsay blown up and centered on the stage. It was surrounded by large bouquets of flowers, and in front was a silver urn. There was a grand piano to the left of the stage and a few microphones for the singers nearby. The speakers were eloquent, the tone was a perfect balance of light and heavy, the music was moving, the decorations beautiful and elegant without being ostentatious. Even the sunlight managed to make a graceful appearance streaming through the windows.

As for my performance, it went really well. I was surprisingly composed through "Fallen Angel", but oddly, things changed when I got into "Can't Take...". "You're just too good to be true...". I started feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I looked down towards the floor to focus and gather my strength. Placed exactly where I cast my gaze was a small table with a beautiful coffee-table book that someone had made for Lindsay. On the cover was a gorgeous picture of her, smiling. She seemed to be looking right at me. "You'd be like Heaven to touch, I want to hold you so much". I sang right to her for a couple lines, and felt a wave of calmness come over me. I looked back up and finished the song comfortably. "You're just too good to be true."

I think what I'll remember most from the service was how it came to an end. After listening to moving speeches by both Lindsay's parents and Gareth, everyone was asked to sing along to the Elton John classic "Tiny Dancer", an ode to Lindsay. To a man, every single person in that church was on their feet, reading the lyrics in the program, and belting out that song to a solo piano accompaniment. It was such a joyful moment for me. The entire community was as one. Colleagues, friends and family alike, coming together to honour a sweet young woman, through a song. I had tears in my eyes, yet again.

When the song ended, there was silence for about 10 seconds while we all stood there moved from the experience. Then, someone started clapping. Within a second, the church rang out with thunderous applause. The crammed full house gave Lindsay a stunning three-minute standing ovation, the kind where first your hands start to hurt, then your arms get sore, but you keep going anyway because she damn-well deserves it. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful memorial service.

Afterward we all gathered in the Marquis Hall at the Festival Theatre for a simple reception. Kudos to the Stratford Festival for laying out the spread in what was a very classy move. And, speaking of classy, I wanted to thank Dodger Theatricals and Dancap, the producers of Jersey Boys Toronto. I was supposed to be singing the national anthems at the Leafs game in Toronto yesterday, and upon learning of Lindsay's death, they pulled the event so that I would be free to go to her memorial. Not only that, they allowed me to perform the two songs from the show and sent a beautiful large bouquet of flowers too. Very classy.

Anyway, in trying to take away something positive from this experience, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I haven't figured it all out yet, but I think I've got a good start. I'm going to take a little piece of what I learned from Lindsay with me everywhere I go. I'm going to smile more. I'm going to ask you how you're doing first. I'm going to care about my situation less, and the predicaments of others more. I'm going to reach out to friends more, stay in touch a bit better. I'm going to tell my loved ones that I love them more.

When it all comes down to it, what really matters in life is the people you love and the people who love you. That's the only real currency there is. It isn't money, power, or success or whatever bullshit we think is important. It's love.

Somehow, Lindsay knew that. She may be gone, but she'll live on in my heart and in the hearts of hundreds of others too, because she knew how to love. God bless you, Linds. And thank you for all you've done. You will be missed.

I love you.

Lindsay Thomas

2010-02-08T23:08:00.007-05:00

Hi Folks,

I just spent the day remembering the life of Lindsay Thomas, and it has driven me to write down some thoughts.

Lindsay and I met about 15 months ago, on our first day of rehearsals for Jersey Boys in Toronto. She was cast as Francine and about a hundred other smaller parts. We became friendly right away, as often happens when new casts gather for rehearsals. We didn't hang out, go for meals together or talk on the phone, because there was so much work to be done getting the show up to speed. But you could say we hit it off.

In those early days, all I knew of Lindsay was her stunning smile, her infectious spirit, her radiant energy, and her abundant talent. I knew she had many friends and a long-term partner in Stratford, Gareth Potter, a fellow I had played cricket against while I was at Shaw. She quickly earned respect for her work in Jersey Boys, and I came to rely on her to be ever-present in our scene-work.

Once the show opened in December and we started to settle into the run, we began to notice a slight change in her. She often became ill, and had to take some time off for a bad cough to heal. Bronchitis, she was told. But her health continues to worsen and it left her having bad coughing fits offstage. She was encouraged to seek further insight into her health, and throughout this time of going for tests, she maintained her perky spirit. She'd come to work, run around backstage from the stage to the costume booth and back, belt out the high notes in "My Boyfriend's Back", do all the choreo like a pro, and all with a smile on her face. What a trooper.

Yet things continued to worsen. When she needed to take an extended leave from the show, we knew something serious was going on. And when we heard she had cancer, stage 4 lung cancer, our minds went blank and our hearts sunk. How is that possible? How could she have cancer - she's 30 years old, fit as a fiddle, living a healthy lifestyle... it just didn't make sense.

But Linds handled her diagnosis and prognosis like a saint. She stayed positive, she was determined to beat it, and get well again. She had tremendous support from her family, from Gareth and from his family, and from her close friends. They wrapped her in a "Cocoon of Love" as she put it, and it was helping.

On her final day of chemo, the cast of Jersey Boys surprised her as she was leaving the hospital. We were waiting outside the main doors in a line, each ringing a bell for her. I'll never forget the look on her face. She was so moved seeing us there, as we were seeing her there. She immediately came over and hugged each one of us, thanked us for coming, and tossed her hat off to reveal her beautiful bald skull. We gave Lindsay her 1-year anniversary gift from Jersey Boys, and a cheque to cover some of her expenses, monies that were graciously donated by our audiences over a one-week period. She was moved to tears. And beaming, ear to ear.

That was the last time I saw Lindsay.

Since learning of her death last Wednesday, getting through the 'Francine' moments in the show has been difficult. I've somehow managed it, but it is almost creepy how real the loss feels. I know maintaining my composure will be a challenge going forward, but I think we will soldier on and honour her in the only way we can, by doing the show.

As my faithful readers know I have had some difficulties with that particular song in the past. In part because it comes immediately on the heels of learning of Francine's death, but also because death is so difficult to talk about and comprehend.

I was surprised to learn this week that Lindsay's favorite part of the show was "Fallen Angel", a scene in which she doesn't even say a word. Yet, the power of that moment in the theatre each night was palpable, and I could feel her support and connection to me each night as she sat on that bench and touched my hand. It was because of her commitment to her character, to the moment, to the relationship with me that made it all come together.

When I was asked by Gareth to sing "Fallen Angel" at her memorial service this afternoon because it meant so much to Lindsay, I was floored. Gareth insisted that Lindsay would have wanted me to. I asked Gareth if it would be alright since Fallen Angel is quite short if I could honour Lindsay by adding on a verse and chorus of "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". He agreed that it would be a lovely gesture. I was accompanied on guitar by the incomparable Levon Ickhanian, and we rehearsed the number a couple times yesterday.

The memorial service was amazing. First of all, the church in Stratford was packed. Outside, the line snaked down the sidewalk and onto the street, and inside it was standing room only. Hundreds and hundreds of people traveled for hours to attend the service. And I know there were hundreds of other people who wanted to come, but just couldn't make the trip because of work or other commitments. So, to describe the scene for you, it was a simple church with pews on either side of a centre aisle, and more seats upstairs in a small balcony. Things were elegantly laid out, with a beautiful picture of Lindsay blown up and centered on the stage. It was surrounded by large bouquets of flowers, and in front was a silver urn. There was a grand piano to the left of the stage and a few microphones for the singers nearby. The speakers were eloquent, the tone was a perfect balance of light and heavy, the music was moving, the decorations beautiful and elegant without being ostentatious. Even the sunlight managed to make a graceful appearance streaming through the windows.

As for my performance, it went really well. I was surprisingly composed through "Fallen Angel", but oddly, things changed when I got into "Can't Take...". "You're just too good to be true...". I started feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I looked down towards the floor to focus and gather my strength. Placed exactly where I cast my gaze was a small table with a beautiful coffee-table book that someone had made for Lindsay. On the cover was a gorgeous picture of her, smiling. She seemed to be looking right at me. "You'd be like Heaven to touch, I want to hold you so much". I sang right to her for a couple lines, and felt a wave of calmness come over me. I looked back up and finished the song comfortably. "You're just too good to be true."

I think what I'll remember most from the service was how it came to an end. After listening to moving speeches by both Lindsay's parents and Gareth, everyone was asked to sing along to the Elton John classic "Tiny Dancer", an ode to Lindsay. To a man, every single person in that church was on their feet, reading the lyrics in the program, and belting out that song to a solo piano accompaniment. It was such a joyful moment for me. The entire community was as one. Colleagues, friends and family alike, coming together to honour a sweet young woman, through a song. I had tears in my eyes, yet again.

When the song ended, there was silence for about 10 seconds while we all stood there moved from the experience. Then, someone started clapping. Within a second, the church rang out with thunderous applause. The crammed full house gave Lindsay a stunning three-minute standing ovation, the kind where first your hands start to hurt, then your arms get sore, but you keep going anyway because she damn-well deserves it. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful memorial service.

Afterward we all gathered in the Marquis Hall at the Festival Theatre for a simple reception. Kudos to the Stratford Festival for laying out the spread in what was a very classy move. And, speaking of classy, I wanted to thank Dodger Theatricals and Dancap, the producers of Jersey Boys Toronto. I was supposed to be singing the national anthems at the Leafs game in Toronto yesterday, and upon learning of Lindsay's death, they pulled the event so that I would be free to go to her memorial. Not only that, they allowed me to perform the two songs from the show and sent a beautiful large bouquet of flowers too. Very classy.

Anyway, in trying to take away something positive from this experience, I've been doing a lot of thinking. I haven't figured it all out yet, but I think I've got a good start. I'm going to take a little piece of what I learned from Lindsay with me everywhere I go. I'm going to smile more. I'm going to ask you how you're doing first. I'm going to care about my situation less, and the predicaments of others more. I'm going to reach out to friends more, stay in touch a bit better. I'm going to tell my loved ones that I love them more.

When it all comes down to it, what really matters in life is the people you love and the people who love you. That's the only real currency there is. It isn't money, power, or success or whatever bullshit we think is important. It's love.

Somehow, Lindsay knew that. She may be gone, but she'll live on in my heart and in the hearts of hundreds of others too, because she knew how to love. God bless you, Linds. And thank you for all you've done. You will be missed.

I love you.

Autumn in New Jersey

2009-11-01T21:38:00.007-05:00

Hello Everyone. So sorry to keep you waiting like this.

Man, there has been a lot of stuff going on lately. Between doing the show, doing the publicity events and extra rehearsals, and spending some time with my wife and kids, there's barely been time to sleep, let alone write about it all!

But, life is good these days. I'll try to catch you up with a quick recap of everything.

Most of October passed with a few interviews and a lot of fun, including our first fashion show! It's worth a look - FASHION SHOW

One awesome event of October was celebrating the actual one-year anniversary of my first day of work on Jersey Boys. Back on October 28, 2008 I was down in Nashville, meeting original Four Season Bob Gaudio in a glorious recording studio. Talk about culture shock. I just finished working at the Shaw Festival doing a couple of more traditional musicals, and had no idea what I was in for. Luckily I also met Katie Agresta, singing teacher to the stars, who was there to help me navigate the technical hills and valleys (no pun intended) in the score. Here I am one year later, singing better than ever, thanks in no small part to my weekly singing lessons with Katie. Makes me feel great thinking about how far I've come.

In early November the cast, musicians and crew all celebrated the first anniversary of our rehearsals in style atop the CN Tower. It was an awesome night. I remember our first day of rehearsal as a full cast - we had a meet and greet, a few brief introductions and speeches, then sat down to read through the script start to finish in the rehearsal hall. It was very exciting - and nerve wracking of course. I remember Jeremy Kushnier starting it off as 'Tommy Devito' giving a full volume performance at 10 in the morning, setting the bar mighty high. By leading by example, Jeremy and his wife Jenny Lee Stern, our original Mary, a lot of credit for making this Toronto as strong as it is. Man, I miss those two! Here's hoping I can tell you about our 2nd year anniversary!

A cool little project that kind of dropped into my lap was being asked to be a part of "Canadian Heroes", a single created to help celebrate the Canadian Forces. I was asked to sing on the song after the song writers came to see Jersey Boys and approached me afterwards. What a hoot. Normally it's my Mom and Dad meeting me at the stage door. All they offer me is dinner. And a place to crash. And unwavering love and support. OK - so maybe it's a trade-off.

Anyhoo, go to WWW.CANADIANHEROES.CA and check it out. Click on 'contacts' to see all the amazing Canadian rock and roll talent involved in the project. There's a video there, too, which is not to be missed. But the best place to get info is their Facebook group. There's over 3000 fans! If you feel so inclined, order a copy of the single. All the proceeds go directly to the troops.

The Fall held a few other surprising experiences for me up it's sleeve. I had the honour of singing the National Anthem at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies. This years honourees included superstars Mark Messier and Warren Moon, who I watched excel in their sports on TV countless times as a kid. The event was first class all the way, with the who's who of Canadian Sports world - athletes, coaches, television and media personalities filled the huge room.

Aside from singing the anthem - which was way more nerve-wracking than I imagined, since I was standing about a foot to Messier's left - my brother Joel and I got to meet so many high achievers. It was so inspiring. OK - I'll drop some names: Aside from meeting Mark Messier and Warren Moon, I hung out with Paul Beeston and Alex Anthopoulos of the Toronto Blue Jays, met Olympic Gold Medalists Marnie McBean and Angela James, and several media members including Brian Williams and Dave Hodge. It was an awesome night.

In early November the four Jersey Boys - Michael, Dan, Quinn and I - were asked to be a part of a cute little TV spot for an important cause. Raising The Roof is a charity that raises awareness and funds for Youth Homelessness across Canada. It was nice to be asked to be a very small part of something bigger than just providing entertainment. I hope that we can team up with other charitable causes and do some real good, as we did raising over $20,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Go to WWW.RAISINGTHEROOF.ORG for more information. Here's the link to the 30-second clip: 30-sec AD

Finally, I want to say thanks to a brilliant actor who runs a top drawer theatre company in Toronto, my good friend Avery Saltzman. Avery asked me and the boys if we would perform at a fundraiser for his company, the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company. Of course we said yes, and put together a great couple songs - the Sinatra hit A Very Good Year and (of course) an Andrews Sisters hit, Bei Mir Bistu Shein, complete with a 'dance off' between Avery and I. It was, um... special, to say the least. The whole event was first class all the way, hosted by Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath, and featuring Brent Carver, Michael Burgess, Sharron Matthews and so many more, we were in really good company. Thanks again, Avery. (BTW, his company's website is WWW.HGJEWISHTHEATRE.COM).

More to come soon, readers. I promise.

September Song

2009-10-05T22:25:00.008-04:00

What's been going on lately with 'Jersey Boys, Great White North' edition?

The highlights:
*** Jersey Boys Toronto and their audiences helped raise over $22,000 for the CIBC Run for the Cure in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. We did a short gig in front of easily 10,000 people at the race- and it went great. Enjoy the video! Click here:RUN FOR THE CURE MEDLEY VIDEO

*** We'll be appearing in a fashion-show of sorts on CITYLINE, CITY TV's morning program this WEDNESDAY, October 7th, 10am on CITY TV - check your local listings. It's my debut as a fashionista. Not to be missed.

On top of our regular 8 shows a week, here's the extra stuff that happened to keep us busy since the last blog post:
August 27th - Photo shoot for H. Halpern Esq., a fashionable upscale menswear store. They saw the show and loved what they saw - the costumes especially. It reminded them of their new line of fall clothes, so they made a few phone calls and decided to use the four of us guys (Me, Quinn, Dan, and Michael) as models for their Fall catalogue. Check out their website... um, they have a 'Mailing List' section ... I'm just saying... Click Here for H. HALPERN ESQ.

September 1st - Globe and Mail interview. It appeared in an article in the September 24th issue, in a special Performing Arts Pullout section. I can't find it online, however, so you'll never lay your eyes on it. But, rest assured, I was brilliant.

September 5th and 6th - I was graciously given Saturday and Sunday the 5th and 6th off from Jersey Boys to attend the funeral proceedings for my grandfather. With the Labour Day holiday, I had four days off in a row.

September 9th - Back to work. The show on the 9th was particularly hard for me. I didn't realize just how emotionally drained the funeral proceedings had left me. I wrote an entire blog post about the events of that night. It's called "A Fallen Angel", and it is below this one. Please check it out.

September 15th - Live TV Interview on CH Morning, channel 11's Breakfast News program. It was a fun five minutes of chit chat on a striking orange couch about Jersey Boys. They even ran the B-Roll of our cast doing Sherry. I'll try to get a copy online for you asap.

September 17th - My daughter Sydney's 3rd Birthday. I now have less than 10 years to live worry-free. God help me.

September 21st - About 30 Jersey Boys Toronto family members take in the Jays Game vs. the Orioles. My buddy O's starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie pulls some strings and gets a bunch of us Field Passes before the game. It was awesome. Kid in a candy store. Among others, I chat a bit with Aaron Hill, Kevin Millar, and perhaps most impressively Buck Martinez, yes, that Buck Martinez - former Jay Catcher, former Jay Manager, and current ESPN Colour commentator. He regailed us all with the events of his career-ending collision at home plate where he single-handedly tagged out two runners at home plate on the the same play with a BROKEN LEG. Someone has to find it on You Tube and send it to me. It's unbelievable.

September 24th - Another 30 - this time, a bunch of us celebrate our 'Nick Massi' Michael Lomenda's 30th birthday in style by hitting the Spoke Club all night after our show. The 'Mad Men'-inspired theme made it extra fun.

September 25th - We have a costume fitting for our "Cityline" TV appearance - coming up this Wednesday! Don't miss it - I believe it's on at 10am on CITY TV. We were wearing new duds from RW & Co.

September 26th - Baseball fever strikes once again, as I go to my last game of the year. The thrill to this game, aside from going with my good friend and huge ball fan Marisa, was to spend a few innings in the Fan 590 Radio Booth, watching the game be broadcast live by Jerry Howarth, Alan Ashby and Mike Wilner. Jerry and Marisa go back a long time, and Jerry and I met a few years back. He was incredibly kind to make us this offer. In return, he'll be seeing Jersey Boys again (his 2nd time) this very Tuesday night.

September 29th - This week we start collecting money in the lobby after each performance for the CIBC Run For The Cure in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. We are performing live at the Run's closing ceremonies on Sunday Morning, when Tommy Devito will give them a big duffel bag full of money.

On a side note, going out into the lobby at the end of the show was great. It was truly amazing seeing the generosity of the audience members. But also, seeing the joy on their faces at the end of the show and hearing their incredibly supportive comments has really re-invigorated us. We usually don't get to see how the show affects people immediately after the show. It was very insightful.

September 30th - We film the Cityline TV spot live before a studio audience. Had to be there for 9:15am - awfully early after doing a show the night before. But, hey, that's show biz. It was actually quite a lot of fun. I can't wait to see it on TV tomorrow.

October 1st - Our final rehearsal for the Run for the Cure gig. It's a full cast medley of Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like A Man, and Oh What A Night (December '63). I am not loving singing this crazy high stuff at 10am after the Saturday night show. But, hey, that's Show Biz...

October 4th - We do the Run for the Cure gig in front of easily 10,000 people - and it goes great. AND, we donate over $22,000 from our incredible audience members in one week!!!! Unbelievable. It is truly thrilling to see so many people coming together to fight for a cause. I hope Jersey Boys can do more of this in the future. Enjoy the video! Click here:
RUN FOR THE CURE MEDLEY VIDEO

A Fallen Angel

2009-09-29T11:36:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you, Dear Readers, the details of an interesting experience I had last month. Something unusual happened to me in the middle of a show that I'd never experienced before.

As a bit of back-story, this past August 31st, my grandfather Larry Bensette ('Pepe' to the family) passed away, at the vibrant young age of 92. He was a pretty amazing man, having lived the last 10 years of his life independently in his own home, driving himself around, playing the odd piano gig, and going on dates with his lady friends. We should all be so lucky, really.

Nonetheless, his death was unexpected. He suffered a fall down exactly 2 steps, breaking a hip. The resulting surgery and therapy ended up being too much for his body to recover from.

I have always felt a deep bond with Pep. We saw so much of him throughout the various stages of my life, and aside from bearing his name as my middle name, I felt that he gave me an awful lot of the musical talent I have. Surely, the style that I play jazz piano is almost exactly his.

Barely one week before his fall, Pep had made the trip to Toronto to see Jersey Boys. It was a special occasion to be sure. My Mom and her two sisters were all there, with their husbands in tow, and it had the air of a real special event for everyone. The show was great that night, and when I met them in the lobby after the show, my mom and two Aunts were singing along to the Four Seasons music being pumped through the speakers, as loud as could be!

As they sang and bopped along, Pep just beamed, ever the proud father and grandfather. Later, over a drink, he asked me many probing questions about the show, especially how the music was played, who played live onstage, where the microphones were positioned, how the sound was mixed, etc... I answered the best I could, marveling at how sharp he was at his age. I felt proud, as I often do when large groups of family come together to see a show of mine, that I was the reason for this reunion and these great memories.

When I heard about his fall and subsequent heart attacks, I grew weary. I tried not to think about his plight as I carried on to do my show night after night, figuring he'd make a recovery. But it was business as usual for me.

Two weeks after the fall, he finally passed away peacefully with my mother there at his side.

I was graciously given Saturday and Sunday September 5th and 6th off from Jersey Boys, and with the extended two-day break for Labour Day, I had four days off in a row. Everyone gathered together in Windsor to attend the funeral proceedings. My brother Chris and his family flew in from Japan, some Aunts, Uncles and cousins flew in from Michigan, Calgary, and Northern BC, and friends and family all came too.

Everyone gathered at his house. It turned out to be a great family reunion, in spite of these sad times. The funeral was touching, the reception heart-warming, the burial beautiful. I sang a few songs in the proceedings, and was glad to do so.

Now, to the point of this blog post:
On September 9th, I was back to work. My body was rested, my brain was sharp, and I was eager to be back at work. I was excited to have a few family members in the house that night too. In my dressing room at the places call I dedicated the show to Pep. Although I had my normal pre-show routine and felt great, the show that night became particularly hard for me.

Although my brain was focused and the lines were exactly right, my voice tired unusually fast that night. I was getting raspy and battling the falsetto from the middle of Act 1 right through to the end of the show. When I began to sing "Fallen Angel", something occurred that has never happened to me before. Tears welled up in my eyes almost immediately. Only seconds later, after singing the first few lines of the song, I simply lost my breath. I mean, I literally could not take a breath. I was completely overwhelmed.

Now, as most of you know, the scene preceding "Fallen Angel" is when Frankie learns that his daughter Francine has died. And during the song, while Frankie sings the words he would say to Francine if she could come back to life, her ghost visits him for a moment.

Well, there I was. Sitting on the bench. Tears in my eyes, without a breath of air, in a tight spotlight on a bare stage with almost 1700 people staring at me. I clearly heard the band continuing to play, I could see the conductor waving her arms on the TV monitor, yet I still couldn't make a sound. It was the strangest thing.

On one hand, it felt like an eternity, and under normal circumstances something like this would make any actor freak out. But surprisingly, I wasn't nervous. I never felt scared or worried. In fact, I felt unusually calm.

I think the silence lasted exactly four bars, or about 12 seconds. Then all of a sudden -- like literally in one millisecond -- I just started singing, as though I had never missed a note, right at the top of the second verse. I finished the song without incident and carried on through the rest of the show -- a bit shell-shocked, but otherwise without a word out of place.

After the show, I was initially disappointed in myself. I'm a perfectionist, so I hate making mistakes, and was embarrassed that I made made such an obvious error. I felt as though I been unprofessional by letting my personal life interfere with the show too much.

Well, upon much reflection, I learned a few things about that night. First, I learned that grieving and mourning are incredibly powerful states of being. Without you even noticing, they can profoundly zap you of your vitality, leaving you emotionally fragile. Second, I discovered just how strongly the act of singing taps into your emotional core. And lastly, although I will never be able to prove it, and as kooky as it may sound, I believe that my Pepe visited me on that bench that night.

Oh, and I'm not embarrassed or disappointed anymore for 'forgetting' to sing those four bars. I've come to the realization that this event was an important life lesson that I was fortunate enough to learn. In that moment, I gained wisdom and clarity; about myself, about the nature of emotion, and the mystery of death. I mean, isn't that the goal of living? To learn? To make progress? To feel, and comprehend and grow?

I won't soon forget this lesson. I have the memory imprinted on my soul now. Forever.

I'm curious - I wonder, did any of you happen to have been in the audience that night? If you were, I would love to hear from you. I know some of you have seen the show many, many times and would notice a moment like this as being unique. And, anyone else who'd like to share some of their thoughts and experiences in relation to this, feel free to do so. I know we often don't talk about these things because it can be a bit uncomfortable... but it could be really neat to share on this topic.

Thanks for listening, everyone.

2 Videos, An Interview, and An Article

2009-08-30T11:36:00.008-04:00

Hey Everybody,

I thought I'd re-post some links to 2 Videos, An Interview and An Article, as the title of this post so aptly (and subtly) suggests.

You may have seen/heard all these before, especially if you check out my website regularly... I always post everything in the NEWS section of www.jeffmadden.ca.

Just as a reminder, I update my personal schedule and exciting Jersey Boys Toronto events there regularly, as well as link all the content there too. So, if anybody asks where to see this stuff, just send them to my website.

Enough plugs... The links are below...

Lucy Zilio - 2-minute video: Click Here

Lucy Zilio - 30-second video: CLICK HERE

Spider Jones CFRB Radio Interview with Jeff: SPIDER INTERVIEW

Broadway World.com's 1-year Anniversary Article: BROADWAYWORLD.COM

Some Summer

2009-08-27T10:57:00.035-04:00

And now, the understatement of the year: It's been a busy summer for this Jersey Boy.

Before I get into everything, here's some news for you:

* JERSEY BOYS Toronto just celebrated its One-Year Anniversary! More on this story at the bottom.

* JERSEY BOYS Toronto has recently been extended until the end of November! So, get over to www.jerseyboystoronto.com (the link is over on the right) or call Dancap at 416-644-3665 and get your tickets now. With any luck, we'll keep on going and going and going...

* There are 7 NEW VIDEOS on my website for you to check out. (The link is over on the right) If you haven't been over there in a while, do yourself a favour and check those videos out! Go to www.jeffmadden.ca and from the homepage, click "NEWS".There's the "ETALK Daily" video, National Anthem Videos, and 2 videos featuring our new "Sherry" B-Roll footage. My performance schedule is there too, so you can see that I'll be off September 5th-6th and 12th-13th.

OK - hit the rewind button - you want to know what's been keeping us so busy? The rest of this post spells it out for you. And remember, these events are all in addition to the eight (well, six in my case) shows we do every week.

June 7th - My radio interview on the FAN 590AM comes out. Check it out here if you like. It's about eight minutes long. Once you get to the link, click on Audio Archives in the menu on the left, the "Jeff Madden interview" is 6th down of the list. FAN 590AM Interview

June 26th - Four cast members play a round of golf with some lucky winners of a Father's Day Contest sponsored by Jersey Boys and the Toronto Star. I discover that spending five hours in the hot sun before a show is a bad idea.

June 29th - THE DORA AWARDS. I win my award, and all is right with the world. It was a stunning night, one that will always remember. I covered it at length in an earlier blog post, so check it out there.

Canada Day, July 1st - CHIN PICNIC. Eight cast members kick off the opening ceremonies with an a capella version of O Canada. Check out the CITY TV video here or on my website. CHIN Anthem/Interview VIDEO

July 7th - I do an interview with Mad Dog, the energetic morning host at VIRGIN Radio 99.9FM. He raved about the show on air so much, I hardly got a word in edgewise!

July 8th - The Oakville Beaver article finally gets online. Check it out if you like.
Oakville Beaver Article

July 10th - I do an interview with CKOC, a London Radio station. We talk about the 'gas card' promotion to help get visitors down the 401 and QEW highways to see the show.

July 11th - I get the honour of singing the National Anthem at the Roger's Centre for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts Home Opener. Solo. This was a real thrill, as I am a huge sports fan and have heard countless singers sing the anthem at sporting events.Memories of the day include chatting with the Offensive Line Coach on the field a couple hours before game time, getting a nice handshake from Head Coach Bart Andrus just before I started, and after I finished singing, being surprised by a kiss on the cheek by a notorious 'Kissing Bandit', the Argos' 275-pound Adriano Belli. He kinda scared me a bit, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Argo Anthem VIDEO

July 17th - I do an Interview for Toronto's freebie Newspaper 'Metro' about my freaking car of all things. Madden's Roadrunner Article We also had an extra rehearsal today.

July 22nd - Interview with Classic Rock Radio Station 103.9FM

July 23rd - A live phone interview with morning host Ralph Benmergui on Jazz FM 91.1

July 30th - The four boys all head off to a Toronto Recording Studio to record the Audio for our new commercial. It's called the "B Roll" and its only to be used on News broadcasts. We spent a couple hours hammering out "Sherry" over and over and over. Nevertheless, it was great fun to gain the experience of being in the recording studio essentially doing what the Four Seasons did.

July 31st - Another rehearsal, this time for the upcoming "Taste of the Danforth" performance.

August 6th - Another rehearsal, this time a Dance clean-up with our choreo-guru Danny Austin.

August 7th - We spend the afternoon filming the Video for our new "B Roll" commercial. We're onstage at the TCA, full costumes, set, lighting etc, only now we are filming shot by shot, 10 seconds here, 20 seconds there, and trying to match the audio that we recorded at the studio the week prior. It was very tiring, but ultimately, a lot of fun. Four hours of hard work for a 2-minute slot.

Aug 8th - I do a live radio interview with Spider Jones on CFRB 1010AM in the middle of one of Toronto's most famous streets, Danforth Avenue. It was about 30 minutes, with people walking by and listening in, and Spider was totally playing the crowd. He exudes such a positive energy and was so jazzed about Jersey Boys. I loved being around that amazing guy.

That night, MLB Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and some of the Baltimore Orioles staff came to the show, and afterward we all hung out together. This was Jeremy's 3rd time seeing us, and it was a pleasure to spend time with him again. This time he brought more gifts - I got a Oriole Ball Cap, a signed picture and another ball. And, an invite to Batting practice the next day. He's the best.

Aug 9th - I join Quinn and Michael on the field at the Roger's Centre in the morning before the Jays/Orioles Game. For me, this is the best. Baseball was my first love, and here I'm truly living out my boyhood dreams. Chatting with ballplayers, hearing the crack of the bat from the cage, feeling the rush. Afterward, Jeremy hands me a glove and we actually play catch right there on the field behind home plate. It was unbelievable. And to top it off, I meet the Orioles Manager, Pitching coach, and get a tour of their clubhouse before hopping into a cab to take me to the theatre for the show.

After the matinee, we quickly get into a van and head over to the "Taste of the Danforth" for our 10-minute live performance. This was the end of a really long week. With all the extra stuff and the six shows, I was really tired. And to top it off, it was really hot and humid that day. And of course, the medley is all the big hits back to back to back, with no rest for me. I basically swallowed the mic and screamed it out. There was not a lot of nuance. Ah well, the trials of being a Rockstar. It was pretty cool though, seeing hundreds of people gather around the stage, dancing and cheering along.

August 14th - Another Rehearsal, this time with our incredible assistant director West Hyler. We're really tightening things up for our big 1-year anniversary show the following week.

August 19th - The four boys are interviewed for CITY TV's "In The City" segment on the news. It was pretty funny. If you're interested, check out the video. CITY TV Interview

August 20th -
It's Jersey Boys Toronto's 1-Year Anniversary Performance. Everything went great, the crowd was rocking, the cast was primed, and we knocked it out of the park. At the end of the show, Aubrey Dan was given a gift onstage by the TCA Board President, and then introduced Bob Gaudio and Rick Elice to the sold-out crowd. Oh, What A Night, indeed.

Once the show was finished, we mingled with Bob and Rick, took some photos, and then headed to our after-party. It was awesome - a big cake, lots of great food, plenty of drinks to send us all home happy. Bob and Rick couldn't be happier with our show, and that makes me a very happy camper.

August 24th - The cast and crew of Jersey Boys Toronto celebrate the summer that was on a beautiful Toronto Harbour Cruise. It was the perfect way to symbolize all that we've achieved together. To paraphrase myself in the show, 'We got something going here. It took a lot of work, and a whole year. We're not gonna let it come apart!'

PS - Look who's Taking the Wheel?!?!

The Night I Won My DORA Award

2009-07-06T23:59:00.011-04:00

I imagine by now, most of you have already heard the news... but in case you haven't:
I won the DORA award for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role – Musical!

It is such an honour to be recognized by my peers in this way, and a week later, I'm still kinda of stunned. I have received tonnes of emails and facebook messages from you all wishing me congratulations. Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart. It means so much to have the support of friends and family. However, in lieu of sending a hundred individual emails thanking you all and telling you how it went, this blog post is my attempt to do just that.

My lovely wife Christine and I showed up under an umbrella at the Dora-Nominees VIP Reception at the Rosewater Supper Club at about 6pm. It was well attended, with both floors packed with beautiful theatre, dance, and opera people eating, drinking and laughing before the big show. Excitement was definitely in the air.

Christine was looking especially gorgeous, in a fancy black frock and I was wearing my new summery suit. (No, Harry Rosen didn't provide me with the George Clooney-inspired duds as ETalk suggested.) Everybody was dressed to the nines. It was a special night, after all. There were a couple short speeches and then we were asked to walk the few blocks over to the Winter Garden Theatre for the real reason for the season. Luckily, it had stopped raining.

We filed in right at 8pm and were seated down in the third row with the rest of the Dancap people. These were the 30th annual DORA Awards, and were hosted by Jian Ghomeshi of CBC Radio One's flagship arts show "Q". (But perhaps most notably infamous for his interview with actor-turned-Tom Petty-wannabe Billy Bob Thornton a month back.) Jian used to be in the folky-pop a Capella group Moxy Fruvous, back in the day. Remember them? ("Once I was the King of Spain, now I eat humble pie...") I had their tape. I'm dating myself. As a good friend used to say, 'Well if I won't, who will?'

But I digress. Like most awards shows, the host opened with a song - but not just any song - "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You". My heart started beating really fast. Partly flattered, partly nervous he was going to make fun of it/us/our show. He didn't. It was a nice tribute, which segued into a comedy piece where he walked into the crowd and made fun of Ross Petty, mastermind of the Christmas Pantos (sample lyric: 'God knows why Karen Kain is with you...').

The show moved along nicely with some winners saying how they'd been nominated 5 or 10 times and this was their first win; and others winning for their first nominations. That humbled me instantly. Most winners surprisingly hadn't prepared a speech at all, while others delivered their rehearsed speeches with verve and passion.

It was about 9:30pm by the time JERSEY BOYS' 1st category came up. When Sergio Trujillo didn't win for Best Choreography, my heart sank a bit. I thought, 'Oh no, maybe it's not our night!'. But that feeling quickly disappeared when we won our 2nd and 3rd categories; Des McAnuff won for his brilliant direction, and then JERSEY BOYS won the coveted Audience Choice Award for Best Show.

It must have been 10:30pm when they finally got to my category. Cast mates and fellow nominees Michael Lomenda and Quinn VanAntwerp sat to my immediate left and right. We three shared a nice glance at each other as the presenters came on stage. It was a special moment for me, one that showed our support and respect for each other. (Jeremy was dearly missed on this night, as he remained at home in New York with his very pregnant wife Jenny Lee Stern.)

C. David Johnson and Cynthia Dale (both of "Street Legal" fame) read out the nominees in alphabetical order, and in the pause before "and the Dora goes to..." you could hear a pin drop. I know I was holding my breath. It's interesting - I don't remember looking at the stage when I heard my name being called. I'm still not even sure which presenter said my name. In that moment before my name was called, I went somewhere... it felt like I was dreaming.

But, it was no dream. I did hear my name. And I remember hearing applause, and feeling Michael pat my left arm. I turned to my right and looked at Christine, then hugged her and kissed her. I stood up, and there were my parents, proud as could be. I kissed my Mom and shook my Dad's hand as I made my way out the aisle to go up the stairs to the right of the stage.

Once I crossed to centre stage I began to come back to reality a bit. I heard the applause quite clearly now and felt the bright lights shining in my eyes. Cynthia Dale handed my the beautiful (and heavy) statue - I think I kissed her too, on the cheek - not like Adrian Brody on Halle Berry at the Oscars a few years back - that would have been weird. But enjoyable. For her. Kidding. Uh, moving on.

As I walked to the mic down stage I pulled my speech out of my suit jacket pocket. (I like to be prepared:)) I was really happy with how I delivered my speech, and how well it went over. (If you're interested in reading it, it will appear in its entirety in the following blog post.)

Once finished, I exit into the wings Stage Left and am whisked away to a table where I'm given a bottle of champagne and some congratulations. The first photos of me with MY new DORA are taken. I'm interviewed for something live in front of the camera, but it's all a blur. 'How does it feel? What do you have to say?' 'Uh, duh, um, wow, its great...' You know the routine.

The last category of the night is for Best Musical and somehow we didn't win. The Sound Of Music won despite only having one nominated actor (we had four), and losing best direction and the audience choice award to us. But, honestly - you can't find two shows more different than each other, each appealing to two completely different audiences. Apples and Oranges. Both yummy. And good for you. And fruity. (Hey, maybe they're not that different after all.)

The three-hour show comes to an end and I rejoin my colleagues. Lots of hugs and kisses and congratulations from everyone. Some people tell me how great my speech was, and I'm surprised. I guess it touched some people. I realize now that when delivering it, I was very moved up there. I spoke from the heart about how great an honour it is to do what I do, and how lucky I am to be able to follow my dream. I got choked up a bit, I'm not gonna lie.

OK - Enough with the sappy shit! The night was just beginning! Immediately after the awards, we headed over to the After-Party in style - in a double-decker sight-seeing bus. Since it had recently stopped raining, we sat atop the bus in the open air. It was just perfect. We had a magical ride, floating along Yonge Street with it's lights and billboards, and everyone in great spirits only adding to the excitement.

The After-Party was great - more drinks, eats, photos, and partying. Two floors of fun. Lots more mingling and congratulations and even a surprise visit from my brother Joel, sporting his JERSEY BOYS hat. I guess they thought he was with the show because they let him right in! He gave me the biggest hug. And my agent and friend Kish was there by my side all night long too. He was beaming most of the night. He took a big chance on me when I was just starting out, and I owe him so much. It was really special being surrounded by so many friends and family.

The next day, I found this article online - from Now Magazine. Even the writer Jon Kaplan mentioned that I had one of the better speeches of the evening. Check out his wrap-up if you like. Now Magazine Article If the link doesn't work, go here: http://www.nowtoronto.com/daily/story.cfm?content=170170

I am a lucky man, indeed. It was a night I will not soon forget. The night I won my DORA. My Speech follows. Read it below.
:)

My DORA Acceptance Speech

2009-07-06T01:09:00.004-04:00

I've printing my acceptance speech here for a couple of good reasons. One, I've gotten a lot of wonderful feedback on the speech from people who were at the DORAS that night. I figured some of you might want to read it here.

But mostly, I've printed it here to send my thanks out to the Universe again, for this incredible honour that I've received. They give these awards to one person, but, no art is created in a vacuum. Theatre especially is collaborative and interpersonal. I owe so many people so many thanks for helping guide me to the point where I am at right now. So, if your name is mentioned here, I can't thank you enough. It means the world to me.
********

(Pulling my speech out of my suit jacket packet)
Wow, this is crazy. Honestly, it's unbelievable.

(Taking a big breath)
I want to thank TAPA and the DORA Selection Committee for giving me this honour.

(Knowing the clock is ticking on my 90 seconds)
Phew. OK, please bear with me because I have a million people to thank, because, well, there are a million people involved in putting on JERSEY BOYS.

First I want to thank Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice for writing such wonderful words to speak, and Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe for writing such amazing songs to sing.

And I want to thank Des McAnuff, Ron Melrose and Sergio Trujillo for shaping this masterpiece for the stage, who, along with Richard Hester, Michael Rafter, and everyone at the Dodgers in New York City entrusted me with this incredibly demanding role, for some absurd reason.

Thank you to Tara Rubin and Merri Sugarman, along with Sherry Dayton and Michael Walters for not casting, I don't know, Zac Efron or something. (audience laughs)

And my amazing agent Kish for your continued ... (I get choked up, part 1)... belief in me and support. It means so much...

(Collecting myself, hurriedly)
I must thank West Hyler, Danny Austin and Liz Baird for busting my ass every minute of every hour of every day of rehearsal. You let me find my own way through this material, allowing me to shape my own version of "Frankie".

Thank you to our awesome stage managers Cindy, Zeph and Mel, our awesome and dedicated crew, and the best band anywhere - you guys make us all look and sound great up there.

Most of all, I want to thank Jeremy Kushnier, Michael Lomenda and Quinn VanAntwerp, and the entire cast of JERSEY BOYS for being the best cast anyone could hope for.

Thank you to Aubrey Dan and everyone at Dancap for having the brains, and lets face it, the balls to bring this show to the Toronto market at this time. Way to go!

Finally, (I get choked up, part 2) I wanna thank my Mom and Dad sitting right down here and my brothers Chris and Joel for your never-ending support... and lastly ...

*(The Get-Off-The-Stage Music starts to play - it's soft, and pretty, and believe it or not, it's 'Can't Take My Eyes Off of You' played on keyboard)*

(Ad Libbing)
Oh - this music is perfect for this part! (audience laughs)

(Calmly carrying on over the perfect musical underscore)
To my wife, Christine... (audience laughs)... you have made several huge sacrifices to allow me to follow my dream ... (I get choked up, part 3) and I can't begin to thank you enough. I love you so much.

(Growing brazen and Ad Libbing some more)
Look, I'm just a regular guy with a Science Degree who had a passion for performing. So, for all you Science students out there who want to get into show business (holding up my Dora) stick to it, you've still got a chance! (audience laughs)

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

*******
Who I Forgot To Thank:

I wish I had remembered to thank three very important singing teachers who have helped me enormously over the past 15 years. Andrew Seok, Carol Forte and Katie Agresta have taught me how to properly use my voice, enabling me to achieve the limits of my talent. I literally could not do this role without them.

Time Wouldn't Allow Me To Thank:

- Joseph Leo Bwarie, my first 'Frankie', for showing me the way and passing along some tricks of the trade
- My reading partners at my auditions in Toronto and New York City - all wonderful actors;
- My accompanist at my first auditions, Noreen Waibel;
- The musical mentors I've had in my life, including Paul Sportelli, Ryan DeSouza, and numerous piano teachers, trumpet teachers, band leaders in Etobicoke and Dartmouth;
- The acting mentors I've had in my life (whether they knew they were mentoring me or not) including literally dozens of Shaw Festival Ensemble actors and directors too numerous to mention - you have no idea how influential you were to my development;
- The crew at Hart House Theatre and all my friends at U of T in UC Follies who first put the idea of making this a career in my head, and gave me the fertile training ground I needed to develop.

The Update - Part 2

2009-06-21T21:21:00.011-04:00

Week of June 8 - 15: Bittersweet

The second week back from vacation was looking just as busy as the first, so I kicked it off right by working on my day off. Smart, huh? Well, when you love your job, and people want you to perform, it's hard to say no. So, Monday night Michael, Quinn, Grant Tilly (subbing for Jeremy) and I sang our 'Guy's Guy Movie Medley' at a Gala for the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto. I also sang a solo number from my CD 'TAKING THE WHEEL', entitled "What Is It About Her?". It was a fun night for a good cause, but ultimately a bit tiring.

Tuesday morning I did an interview by the Oakville Beaver newspaper. I think it'll hit Oakville's doorsteps in a couple days. Check their website in a couple days to see if they have it up online. Click here.

Wednesday morning brought us a rare opportunity - to do a feature on TV's popular infotainment show, "E-TALK". The idea for this came after all four of us - Jeremy, Michael, Quinn and I - were nominated for a Dora Award. They figured we'd all be going to the Gala together, and would want to look the part, kind of like a modern Rat-Pack. We met at Harry Rosen's flagship store in Yorkville, and their designers helped pick out stylish duds for us to wear. They filmed us the whole time, walking in, shopping around, trying stuff on, goofing off, and generally making asses of ourselves. It was a lot of fun. I can't wait to see the segment, if only to see what they bleeped out. It will be on TV in a couple days time - double check your local listings, but here's what I think will happen - Our segment will air on CTV Thursday, June 25th, 7pm EST; and again Friday, June 26th at 1pm EST; it will also air on STAR a couple more times. Don't miss it!

Thursday and Friday afternoons were again spent rehearsing with Dan. It's exciting to see him get more comfortable in the role. But again, it's really difficult doing the show with two different 'Tommys'. His character drives a great deal of Act 1, and most of what our characters do is in reaction to him. And, making it worse, we were all getting a bit emotional, knowing that we'd be saying good-bye to Jeremy.

Jeremy's last show was Sunday June 14th, and it was a roller-coaster ride. Emotions were running high - first, we were exhausted from a couple brutal weeks of non-stop work, second, we were losing our leader, the guy who set the bar for us all in rehearsal (since he has already done the part for over a year), and third, the show never felt so real, with exact lines of dialogue replicating what we were going through. It was trippy, really. Several times during the show I got choked up, as did the other guys. It turned out to be an incredible show for the audience, because everyone was so raw. Jeremy was given a well-deserved extra bow in the curtain call, and he welled up in front of 1500 cheering people. Oh what a night, indeed.

After the show, we had a party to say goodbye, but also to celebrate completing six full months of shows! There were speeches, free food and drinks and even an enormous cake designed to look like the front of the playbill. But it was bittersweet to be sure (the moment, not the cake). Jeremy will be missed, and we will carry on with Dan, hopefully for a long time to come.

Week of June 16 - 23: Another Astonishing Addition

Tuesday morning started off with an interview with a reporter from the Halifax Chronicle-Herald newspaper. I lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for five years growing up, and had many great memories of living there. In fact, my first job was delivering that very newspaper. And I started playing trumpet and joined my first bands in school there. If you're interested in checking out the article, click HERE.

Tuesday night was Dan's first show! It was great. We knew he'd be great after rehearsing with him so much, and he hardly let us down - he knocked it out of the park! We had a big house that night, and they cheered him loudly throughout. I'm sure most of them didn't know it was his first show, either. We celebrated our new cast member in style with some Italian champagne after the show, but kept it an early night because Wednesday's two shows were looming.

Another rather big piece of news is the addition of Alison Smyth to our company, doing 'Francine' track. Alison is replacing the lovely Lindsay Thomas in the role while Lindsay attends to some personal matters. She will certainly be missed at the theatre.

Alison had the unenviable position to learn the entire track in about a week. You've gotta understand, her track is probably the most technical of them all - for example she has 13 costume changes in Act 1 alone, often rushing on with some piece of furniture and as a new character. She sings the lead in "My Boyfriend's Back", and to top it all off, she has to play my mother, my girlfriend, and my daughter. Now if that doesn't break you up when you go to bed tonight, nothing will.

So, there we were, back at rehearsal Thursday and Friday. And, Alison did so great, they decided to put her into the show right away Friday night! Of course, she did amazing. You'd never have known that 10 prior she was signing her contract. And of course, to celebrate Alison joining our company, more Italian champagne was poured.

Something else cool happened this week - we had three sold-out shows! And, Friday night we sold the most tickets to any performance of JERSEY BOYS ever in Toronto, including the Touring production. Ticket sales have really picked up lately. No one really knows why - the great word of mouth, the 7 DORA nominations, the onset of Summer, all the Publicity, Father's Day - but it's a sign, Tommy. Here's hoping we rock through the summer selling out every night, and run this fantastic show for a long, long time.

Oh, and before I go, I thought I'd mention that we're performing at the CHIN picnic on Canada Day. Details will be figured out later, but if you're around and you're interested, check it out. And, the DORA awards will be handed out next Monday night, June 29th. Cross you fingers, everybody.

The Update - Part 1

2009-06-17T15:31:00.014-04:00

Uh, yeah, sorry. I haven't written in a while. You see, I've been a little busy with work. After reading on, you'll understand why. This blog post is Part-1 in an attempt to get you caught up with my ridiculously busy schedule for the past four weeks.

My Vacation Week, May 25 - 31: SICK HAPPENS

Life is funny. You plan months in advance, you think you are in control. Uh, not so much. Although my wife and I had our trip to Cuba all planned out, our bags packed and waiting at the door, we apparently forgot to tell 15-month-old Emily not to get a fever. Sick happens, I guess.

With only 12 hours to go before we were to leave for the airport, her fever and symptoms were bad enough to make us very uneasy about getting on a long plane ride to a communist country with temperatures nearing 100F. I couldn't believe our luck. I had been looking forward to this week of fun and pampering for such a long time. Needless to say, we cancelled the trip. Honestly, I was crushed. On the plus side, we learned that Cancellation Insurance was made for families with young children. We'll get all our dough back, he says crossing his fingers.

So, after a few days at home managing the colds things settled down a bit - yes, that's colds, plural, because of course, Sydney got the bug two days later. I salvaged some vacation time by hopping on a plane with my Dad Phil bound for Las Vegas. We found a great last minute deal to stay at the Palazzo Hotel right on the strip, which just happens to be where JERSEY BOYS is playing. So of course, we went to see the show! How could I not? Here's a pic of me and the "Vegas Four Seasons" backstage after the show.

I did feel a bit out of place sitting in the audience though. I think I prefer to be up onstage! The show was great - if a bit shorter. They cut out lines of dialogue throughout the show and shortened the intermission to eight minutes, so the audience could get back onto the Casino floor faster, I guess. But it didn't seem to matter - the crowd reacted almost identically to our crowds here in Toronto, which is the goal, I think. A hit is a hit, wherever you go!

The rest of our time was spent trying to stay out of the casinos. We hung out around the beautiful pools relaxing, we played a nice round of golf, and saw the Cirque du Soleil show 'O' from the second row - which was absolutely mind-blowing. All in all, it was a nice - if short - vacation.

Week of June 1 - 7: DORAS AND TONYS AND FRANKIES, OH MY!

My first week back from vacation was a doozie. (There's a word for you - God, how old am I?) Talk about being jolted back into the swing of things. First thing Tuesday morning, a did an interview with the Etobicoke Guardian newspaper. Check it out HERE.

Then later in the week I did a live radio interview on The Fan 590 AM. Check that out HERE. My interview should appear at the top of the list - June 7. If that doesn't work click on Audio Archives on the left, and look for my name.

And, no, I didn't forget how to do the show Tuesday night after the week off - in case you were wondering, it went great!

First thing Wednesday morning, Jeremy, Michael, Quinn and I were invited to announce the 2008-09 DORA Nominations at a press conference at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto. (Get the tie-in there? The 'Four Seasons' at the Four Seasons. Sorry to be so obvious for pointing that out!) Anyway, much to our pleasure, JERSEY BOYS was nominated for seven DORA awards, and surprise surprise, all four of us were nominated in the same catagory - for Best Performance in a Musical!

It feels really amazing being nominated for this DORA award. But, I have to say, I'm over the moon about having all four guys nominated. And, the absolute capper is having the show be nominated for Best Musical. Man, I hope we win that one. And actually, there is one big award that you can all help us win. There is an Audience Choice Award for Best Show, but there's only a day or two left to vote. Please help us win by going to this site and vote for JERSEY BOYS. CLICK HERE TO VOTE.

Thursday and Friday afternoon we had rehearsals with our new 'Tommy Devito', Daniel Robert Sullivan. Dan had been rehearsing the show with the National Tour for the past couple weeks, and now he has joined us. Dan has replaced Jeremy Kushnier, who has left the show to move back to New York with his very pregnant wife Jenny Lee Stern who played 'Mary Delgado' here in Toronto for four-plus months. They want to settle in to their new house before baby makes her appearance later this summer. So, it's been a bit weird - rehearsing with one 'Tommy' in the afternoon, then doing the show with the other 'Tommy' at night. But, that's show biz.

After Sunday's matinee, Michael, Quinn and I took Jeremy out for a 'Big Man In Town' Night, Jersey-style, in honour of his leaving and to say thanks for being such an incredible cast member. We rented a limo for the night, and started the night off in style, having dinner overlooking the beautiful skyline atop the CN Tower. Then it was a seemingly endless series of drinks at various nightspots around the town, the names of which I seem to escape me for some odd reason. What I do remember though, is that it was an epic night of great meaning to me and the guys. I wish we all could hang on to that feeling forever.

Jeremy's 'BMIT' Night also happened to coincide with a little event called the Tony Awards in New York City. Some of you may have heard a bit of juicy gossip about my potential involvement in a live performance onstage at said Tonys. And some more of you may have watched the Tonys, heard them say something like "... the Frankie from Toronto, ..." only to see five other guys sing.

Let me set the record straight. It's all very simple. The Tony Awards broadcast decided to give JERSEY BOYS a 2-minute performance slot for having such great success beyond Broadway. The producers of JB decided after much deliberation to do a medley of "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and "Oh, What A Night", and feature the five 'Frankies' from the five North American companies of Jersey Boys currently playing. Which meant that I was to be a part of the live televised event. Only, being a Canadian citizen, I can only work in the United States if I have a working VISA and join the American Actors Union(s). Unfortunately, there was not sufficient time to get me the legal paperwork before the Tonys. End of story.

I was actually spared a lot of heartache, because I was only informed of all this after the final (negative) decision was made by the American Government agency. Which was a blessing. Since I didn't know it might have happened, I couldn't get all excited about the prospect. But, of course, I was disappointed to miss out on this potentially amazing opportunity. I mean, who wouldn't want to go sing a great song on live TV in front of millions of people at the Tonys - not to mention meeting celebrities, party-hopping, and hanging with Liza?

The way I look at it is this: The producers really wanted me to be a part of this event. They chose to go ahead with this event with me in mind as one of the 'Frankies'. That makes me feel really good. And, after my involvement fell through, the news was respectfully broken to me in the most professional and gentle manner by several key members of the JERSEY BOYS family, which made all the difference to me. Look, I believe that all things happen for a reason, even if the reason isn't obvious at first. It'll reveal itself to me at another time. I still have a fantastic job, and get to perform in front of tons of screaming fans every night. Talk about "Too Good To Be True". I'm living that dream. It's all good.

Preparing to Sit Down

2009-05-23T14:57:00.005-04:00

Things have been going great with life and with work. Crowds are coming to Jersey Boys in growing numbers over the last few weeks, no doubt due to the nicer weather and the great word of mouth. I met a couple the other day who flew in from Ottawa just to see the show because they heard such great things about it. That’s awesome. Live far away? Think about coming to Toronto for a night or two, and check out Jersey Boys while you can.

Things sure have been busy, though. (Surprise surprise.) Aside from the rigors of doing the show every night, our Publicity stuff has really taken off. All the preparations have really paid off. We're starting to get more National press, and even some cred on Broadway websites and blogs, which is really great.

And my family and I have been preparing busily for our big trip to CUBA! We leave this Monday morning. I’m so looking forward to having a week off, and getting completely away from the routine, hitting the beach, and letting someone else take care of me for a week. The show is in great hands with me gone, so I have nothing to worry about but relaxing! I'll be back in the show Tuesday June 2nd.

Here’s a run-down of some of the recent goings on in Jersey Boys Toronto land.

Expose Entertainment Magazine
Expose Entertainment Magazine did a photo-shoot and interview of our ‘Four Seasons’, Jeremy, Michael, Quinn and I. It was in a fun, hip, urban studio downtown, and they dressed us up in cool contemporary clothes, a nice change from our show duds. I’ll let you know when it hits the presses. Should be really cool.

Cosmo TV
Cosmo TV, a new digital TV channel offshoot from that old supermarket standby Cosmopolitan Magazine, also did an interview with the four of us. It was for their show Oh So Cosmo, Cosmo TV’s new half-hour magazine-style TV show (‘We offer fun, fearless females entertaining stories and segments celebrating the lifestyle of hip, urban women. Hosted by Josie Dye, our sexy, irreverent Cosmo girl, Oh So Cosmo explores style, men, sex and relationships with a healthy dose of fun and style’, says their website.) If anyone sees this, let me know. I'll try to find out when it will hit the air.

OMNI TV
OMNI TV is now running an interview/commercial with the Four of us. Lucy Zilio is the host, associate producer and writer of the informative and entertaining "Tuned In" segments seen weeknights during various shows on OMNI Television and City TV. She is described as “one of the most upbeat, energetic and entertaining personalities on the TV scene”. That’s an understatement. If you’ve seen it, let me know what you think – I haven’t yet.

www.broadwayworld.com
Writer Kelly Cameron interviewed ‘Toronto’s Four Seasons’ recently after a show for BroadwayWorld.com. The interview is quite extensive, and gives background info on each of our unique audition process before being selected to the show. It's a fun read. Check out the link. Exclusive Interview

Sports Night
Kelly also covered some other events we did, including our ‘Sports Night’. Dancap organized a series of events with a sports theme, and invited several members of the media and Toronto’s sports teams to the show one night. It was a hit, and you can see several photos of the event.

The absolute highlight for me was going to a Blue Jays game with my Dad on his birthday, being down on the field during batting practice, and meeting Baltimore Oriole starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and Blue Jay Kevin Millar. We chatted before the game, and Guthrie gave me a signed baseball, while Millar gave me his batting practice bat! Later that night, they came to see us perform in Jersey Boys, and then they hung out with our cast for almost an hour chatting about music and sports. It was a day I’ll not soon forget. The article and interviews are at this link. Sports Night Interview and Pics

The Sports night pics are also featuring on the popular Jersey Boys Blog, too. Check them out there if you like. Jersey Boys Blog

Globe and Mail Car Interview
My Globe and Mail Car interview finally appeared in the newspaper this past Thursday. It turned out really good, I think. The picture is cool, the article is easy to read and fun. Check it out. Me and My Car Interview

Canadian Living Magazine
Our Canadian Living Magazine spread has finally hit the newsstands, too. It’s in the June, 2009 issue with a big juicy BBQ back-rib on the cover. Yummm. We’re on pages 52-54, looking all buffed and shiny and new. There’s also a brief editorial on page 8 that talks about Jersey Boys. Pick the magazine up next time you’re out and about. It’s worth it for the great recipes alone!

Movie Medley a Hit
We were lucky enough to take part in a great fundraiser concert for Barrie’s Theatre By The Bay a few weeks back. Quinn, Michael, myself and Grant Tilly subbing for Jeremy performed (for the first time) a ‘Guy’s Guy’ medley of Movie Theme songs, arranged in the Jersey Boys style. We brought the house down. The number ended the first act with a bang – literally, as Quinn cracked his mic stand hard by mistake on the final move of the song. The crowd didn’t mind one bit, and they leapt to their feet in a spontaneous standing ovation.

We look forward to doing the number again at another GALA coming up in June. It is a fundraising gala for the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School. The Gala raises funds which go entirely to funding subsidies so that no child is turned away from getting a Jewish education. The school happens to have lots of parents who work in the arts in some capacity (directors, producers, music executives, sound engineers, actors) and because of this, they are able to put together an annual variety show of the highest caliber. Past performers include Tony Award Winner Bob Martin (Drowsy Chaperone), Colm Wilkinson, Sean Cullen, Molly Johnson, Amy Sky and Jackie Richardson. This year we have secured Kristin Thompson, Ted Dykstra, Melanie Doane, Richard Greenblatt, Natalie Reznik and Miles Faber (finalists from SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CANADA) and Toronto’s Jersey Boys. The Gala is held at the intimate Al Green Theatre (Bloor/Spadina) on Monday June 8, 2009 for an audience of about 350 people.

VACATION!!!!
And now, I leave you for a week. I’ll be back, refreshed and tanned, rearing and ready to go for another long run of Jersey Boys. I'll fill you in on the pool-side fun, share a few pics, and tell you about some cool Jersey Boys stuff happening on the TONY Awards TV Broadcast Sunday June 7. Until then, keep on Taking the Wheel, everybody.

MY NATIONAL POST DIARIES

2009-05-05T11:45:00.003-04:00

Most of you already know that I wrote five diaries for the National Post newspaper. They ran last week in the Arts and Minds section in a somewhat edited fashion. I've decided to run them here, too. This is what I wrote, word for word. I'd love to hear your comments.

***********
1) MONDAY'S POST - MY INTRODUCTION

How does a Human Biology Major wind up playing ‘Frankie Valli’ in JERSEY BOYS?

Naturally.

I’ve loved music ever since I was a kid. I started piano lessons at age seven and trumpet lessons at 10. I can't remember when I started singing, but I sang in lots of choirs (boy soprano, at that!). I come from a musical family – siblings, parents, aunts, and grandparents - so it always felt normal to play music. Most were amateur and did it for fun. I admire that.

I also loved science and math, and did really well in school. So, I figured I'd follow the family fold and get a 'real' job while playing music on the side for fun.

I dabbled in theatre and continued to play in bands while getting migraines finishing my degree at U of T. By third year, I still couldn't figure out what I wanted to be. So, I quit the arts entirely to focus on my studies and find my career path.

The migraines got worse. Something wasn't right. I wasn't happy anymore. It wasn't just the responsibilities of ‘growing up’; it was Nature trying to tell me something. I wasn't being true to what was in my heart.

2.5 credits away from my degree, and I decide to take acting classes, dance classes, and singing lessons. Something clicked. I ‘found’ my career path. I finished my degree, but I've been following my dreams ever since, and it's been a pretty darn good ride.

And you know what, being an artist IS a 'real' job. It takes dedication, years of hard work, training, and honing your craft. And, it has real value - yes, to the economy - but more importantly, to the soul. What we do moves people, makes them feel, think, question life and their place in it. I admire that, too.

************
2) TUESDAY'S POST - CHILDREN

The biggest challenge I face right now is balancing the demands of being a father with the demands of playing ‘Frankie Valli’ in JERSEY BOYS.

This past week was a rough one for me. My eldest daughter Sydney caught the flu, and being 2.5 yrs old, meant that she needed around the clock care. Which makes it difficult for my wife and I, because her one-year-old sister Emily also needs around the clock care.

As any parents of young children will tell you, even with healthy kids it's a struggle just to function. When they're sick, it can be a nightmare. Schedules go out the window, and you get by on ‘survival mode’.

I've discovered (the hard way) that I need at least six hours of sleep and a light physical and vocal warm-up mid-day to perform optimally. If not, doing the show is like running up a mountain for 2.5 hours.

My wife Christine is incredibly understanding and supportive of my needs, and I try to be as helpful as I can. She is an incredible woman, and an amazing mother. I'm a really lucky guy. I've got a great family and a great job. What else could I ask for?

**************
3) WEDNESDAY'S POST - THE DAY OFF

This past day off was great. By 9:30am my girls and I are downstairs 'rolling some balls' in our condo’s Billiard Room, checking the mail, and watching Kids’ shows on the Party Room TV.

By 11am I'm feeding Emily lunch when Sydney, naked from the waist down, proudly walks into the room carrying wet socks. "Daddy, have to put in washing machine," she exclaims. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Between 11-1pm I get each kid some lunch and Emily down for her nap. This gives me a chance to check my email, confirm two interviews, and download two songs I’m learning for an upcoming concert.

1:30pm Christine comes home and I’m off to do groceries. 3:30pm brings more phone calls to set-up rehearsals, interviews and photo-shoots. 5pm is dinnertime for the kids, and packing for our big trip... to a Hotel!

6pm Take the kids for a swim. 7pm Bath time for the kids while we wait for Room Service to arrive. 7:30pm Scarf down our eats while keeping the kids from destroying the room. 8pm Take the kids home, get them to sleep. 9pm Babysitter arrives, and we're free! It’s been five weeks since our last real date.

Back at the Hotel, we open some mini-bar wine and unashamedly enjoy finishing off our cold room service dinners. And try not to fall asleep!

*************
4) THURSDAY'S POST - WHO AM I?

I've gotten lots of great comments from people who've seen JERSEY BOYS. Things like, "That role is perfect for you", or "You were born to play that part". I take these comments as they were intended, as a compliment.

But, what about the other roles I’ve played. Does this discount my work in those shows? Was my creative vision less fulfilled?

And further, actors rarely get the chance to create something original. The parts we play came out of somebody else's mind first. It seems to me, if you write - novels, music, plays, and screenplays - you are truly creating.

Last year I released a CD called "Taking the Wheel". Although I wrote none of the songs, I still felt as though I was creating something unique. I chose the songs, arrangers, musicians, style etc. But, is someone who merely interprets the work of others still creating?

Who, then, is Jeff Madden, as an artist? Am I a combination of all the parts I play, the songs I sing? I wonder if I’ll ever know.

*************
5) FRIDAY'S POST - WHY I LOVE MY JOB

Last night was a great show. Everybody was connected, the pacing was crisp, and the crowd was awesome. JERSEY BOYS plays great to a subdued and quiet crowd, but when a energetic, near-capacity crowd is digging it, laughing loudly, cheering wildly and going with us on the ride, it's an unbelievable feeling.

It's funny, though, sometimes ‘you never can tell’ (props to Mr. Shaw). Before the show, I wasn't feeling confident about how it might go for me personally. I hadn't had much sleep, and rushed my preparations before the curtain. Playing ‘Frankie Valli’ is an incredibly demanding role vocally, both singing and speaking. And then there’s the splits.

But, I nailed it last night. One of my best shows ever. The crazy falsetto stuff flew out of my mouth like I was ordering dinner. The chesty rocking stuff was strong and clear. I was emotionally connected every moment.

I tell you, there's nothing like it, when you know you're doing your best work.

***********

COMMENT below, and let's keep the conversation going.

MY PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

2009-05-01T00:05:00.004-04:00

Hi Folks,

Don't know if this deserves a blog post all to itself or not, but what the heck...

I just wanted you all to know, in case you're considering buying tickets in advance to come see JERSEY BOYS: My Week Off is fast approaching.

I AM GOING ON VACATION THE LAST WEEK OF MAY!

(Not sure where yet, but I'll fill you in later.)

Therefore, I will not be performing the week of May 25-31st.

Cheers,

Jeff

The Week That Was

2009-04-26T21:17:00.003-04:00

100 apologies for not writing sooner. I know many of you were dying to find out what it was like meeting Frankie Valli. I'll get to that below. Suffice it to say, I'm a freaking busy guy these days. I haven't had a day off in two weeks. There's lots of news to get you caught up on, but very little time to get it up on the blog. Which totally makes sense when you think about it.

We did a great show this afternoon, followed by an interview with www.broadwayworld.com. Then there's the drive home, the dinner routine, putting the kids to bed, and here we are. It's late Sunday night already and I'm bagged. I should be sleeping already, but here I am, typing away.

INVALLIDATED
Let me get right to it. The big news turned out to be no news at all. My highly publicised meeting with Frankie Valli fell through at the last possible moment. We were done in by a scheduling nightmare. The columnist from the Toronto Star Richard Ouzounian was inundated with other news stories he had to cover, and tried to reschedule. But Mr. Valli and his people were on such a tight schedule getting their show into Casino Rama, teching, and sound checking that they simply could not accommodate the change in plans. I got a call from our publicist five minutes before we were to leave. I was deeply disappointed, but what can you do? That's life. People are busy. Sometimes things just don't work out. I know it will work out some time in the future. It's meant to be. Don't you think?

MOVING ON
My Car and I were interviewed and photographed, as scheduled. The article should appear in the Globe and Mail Driving section next Thursday, May 7th. It was fun being photographed parked at the entrance to the Toronto Centre of the Arts. Don't miss it!

AIRED OUT
My radio interview on 103.9 FM aired twice, and sounded great. I really enjoyed chatting with Mark Andrew Lawrence.Thanks to those of you who wrote to say you heard it. Anyone have any comments on the songs? The banter? Let me know.

SIMON SAYS SHHH
A major highlight last week was the fundraiser concert of Paul Simon tunes for Acting Up Stage, called the "Sound of Silence". What a tremendous evening of music. Kudos to Mitchell Marcus for getting together such incredible talent. And To Musical director Reza Jacobs for his inspired, creative arrangements. I sang "The Only living Boy in New York", in a style I'd describe as Jason Mraz meets Frankie Valli. Not sure the crowd knew what to make of it. They really dug our version of "Cecelia", done a la Greenday or Blink 182. I had a blast.

A MEDLEY OF MY HIT
This week coming up will also be a big one, starting tomorrow night (another Day Off spent working!). I'll be venturing up to Barrie to take part in another fundraiser concert, this time for Theatre By The Bay, called "The Stars Come Out". The Toronto Four Seasons (myself, Quinn, Mike, and Grant subbing for Jeremy) are singing a "Movie Medley" of 'Guys Flicks' which is pretty hilarious. Later in the evening, I'll be singing the solo "Tears in Heaven", which I recorded on my album 'Taking the Wheel'. Should be a great night.

PHISH RAP
Make sure to get yourself a National Post every day this week. I recently wrote five short Diaries which will be featured one a day in the Arts section. I believe it runs Monday through Friday. I'll try to post them daily onto my Facebook page (add me, if you haven't yet). Can't wait to hear how they'll be received. And to see how they'll be edited... Wow - Monday through Friday in the National Post, and then Saturday in the Globe and Mail. Not a bad week for Jeffy. You'll all be sick of me!

MULTI MEDIA
Then Quinn, Mike, Jeremy and I have another Magazine interview and photo shoot Tuesday, and possibly two TV interviews on Thursday. The www.toronto.broadwayworld.com article should come out this week too. I'll keep you posted. And Wednesday night is 'Sports Night' where we'll meet a bunch of Toronto sports writers, commentators and personalities after our show. Should be exciting, as I'm a big sports fan. Wonder who I'll meet?

Phew - that's what's up with me. Now you know why I don't have time to update the blog more often these days! Youre comments are always welcome. I encourage you to click the 'COMMENTS' link below.

Meeting Frankie Valli

2009-04-14T16:02:00.005-04:00

Ok - while I've got a minute, here's the scoop:

I'M MEETING THE REAL-LIFE FRANKIE VALLI THIS WEEK!

As you may know, he and his band (The Four Seasons) are still touring the world, performing many shows a year. Well this week, that tour brings him to Casino Rama in Orillia, ON, about 90-minutes north of Toronto.

Well, JERSEY BOYS TORONTO managed to get a sit-down with the two of us during the afternoon before his show. They're driving me up to Casino Rama in the morning, and then we'll meet, take a few photos, and chat. The main event will be being interviewed together by Richard Ouzounian for an upcoming piece in the Toronto Star! A "Frankie Valli" meets Frankie Valli kind of thing.

Unfortunately, neither Frankie will be able to see the other's show. I'd love to stay and watch this living legend perform, but I have to get back to do our show Thursday night. And, I'd love to have him see me "play" him in JERSEY BOYS, but he has tour dates for Friday and Saturday and has to leave town. It just wasn't able to work out, this time around, anyway.

I'm so stoked. I met him, briefly, at my final audition in New York City last October. But our conversation was very short, as I couldn't think straight since I was focusing so hard on trying not to pee my pants. I was a little nervous, you see, with the little matter of trying to win the lead role of a lifetime. Turned out OK in the end, I guess. I wonder if he'll remember me?

OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK

1) My car and I are being interviewed and photographed this week for an article in the Globe and Mail - more info on that later. Yes, I said my car and I.

2) My Radio interview will be aired this Sunday morning at 9:00am on 103.9 FM. This is the interview about my Top 5 Musical Theatre songs of all time. It's a small radio station, which can be heard in the GTA area only, so I don't think it'll be online. If you're in the GTA, check it out. (It'll be repeated again the following weekend if anyone misses it.)

3) Tickets are still available for the fundraiser I'm doing on behalf of Acting Up Stage theatre company. This coming Monday night, 8pm at Bathrust Street Theatre in Toronto is The Sound Of Silence, an evening of Musical Theatre stars performing the hits of Paul Simon with a live band. it's an awesome lineup, and you don't want to miss it. I'm doing "Cecilia" and "The Only Living Boy in New York".

PUT ME IN, COACH

2009-04-11T00:23:00.004-04:00

I'm Ready to Play

Tonight was my first show back since *THE PLAGUE*.

Note the use of those asterisk(s). They are meant to scare you away - Danger, people. Like, the word PLAGUE on its own (capitalized, no less) isn't warning enough. But I digress.

(Wow, what an odd opening. First of all, what's the plural of asterisk? But I digress again...)

(Hey, what's the plural of digress? Uh oh...)

OK - So, to catch you up, I missed my first three shows this week due to *THE PLAGUE*. (*THE PLAGUE* that I had was actually an ornery intestinal track bug that I named Harper, if you must know).

Seriously, folks, I want to apologize to those of you who bought tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday hoping to see me as Frankie Valli. Believe me, if there was any way I could have done the show, I would have been out there. But, we're all human, and some times these things are unavoidable. When both my kids got it, it was only a matter of time. Sorry!!

It wasn't until noon today that I knew I had the strength to get back at it. And I'm so glad I did. I LOVE doing this show. I just love sharing the stage with my incredibly talented castmates, especially in front of a nearly sold out Friday night crowd. Man, it felt good to be back out there tonight!

I mean, I was a bit shaky. I'm not gonna lie. But, that's hardly a surprise, after spending three days moving between the Holy Trinity of the Bed to the Bathroom to the Couch, (it is Easter, isn't it?) I had actually lost five pounds. And on me, that's a lot.

Since I've only been on solid food for a day and a half now, I was lacking a bit of my usual strength and endurance. You know, there were a few moments where I was a tiny bit out of breath, a few moments where the choreo was a bit ooh, how do I say it nicely... wooden. A few pitchy notes up in the falsetto. These mostly all occurred in the "Big Three", actually (Sherry, Big Girls, and Walk Like a Man). But, all in all, I was really happy with how I got through it.

It actually reminded me of my first show as Frankie Valli, December 12, 2008. I wasn't sure how that night was going to go - none of us were, really. I mean, it was only our 2nd full run through of the show with full tech. So, there were a few Bunny-in-the-head-lights moments that night, and maybe one or two tonight as well.

Oh well, it's all good. We received a full standing ovation tonight, just like we did for our first show, and every single show since. JERSEY BOYS is huge and unstoppable. Just like Harper, aka *THE PLAGUE*.

More Good News

IF you have nothing planned this Easter Weekend, why not come see JERSEY BOYS? I know it's last minute, but there are super-reduced prices available for both shows Saturday April 11th and the Sunday April 12th 2pm matinee. (Remember, I do not perform in the Saturday matinee).

Call Dancap directly at 416-664-3665 and quote FRIENDS AND FAMILY DISCOUNT to get your $25 and $50 tickets.

Hope to see you there!

Proper Perspective

2009-04-06T23:35:00.004-04:00

DRAINING
This past week was a rough one for me and the family.

My eldest daughter Sydney got sick again, for the fourth time this winter. She caught the flu this time, and being 2.5 yrs old, this meant she needed round the clock care. Vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, you get the picture. Which makes it difficult for my wife and I, because her one-year-old sister Emily still needs round the clock care, too.

Since flu in a one-year-old could be very serious, with dehydration being a major concern, we tried to keep the girls apart as much as possible. So, either one or both of us were up with the girls several times a night. Thank goodness we had Christine's Mom Ilse help out doing the occasional overnight baby duty. And it worked, to an extent. Emily didn't get the flu, just some light fever and a bit of a cold. And as of today, Sydney seems to be back to normal. We're almost through it. Phew.

As any parents of young children will tell you, even with healthy kids it's a struggle to get things done properly or on time. When they're sick, it can be a nightmare. Schedules go out the window, and you get into survival mode. So, nothing got done this week. Nothing.

Personally, I could feel that as the week wore on, I was fighting the flu off, too. From the occasional queezy stomach, to occasionally seeing stars, I could feel it coming on. I was sure I was winning the fight until Sunday afternoon's matinee. My legs were jello, my hands were cold and clammy, and I had no strength. Luckily my voice was ok, and I made it, but I seriously don't know how I got through the show. When I got home, I immediately crashed - I mean it - no dinner, just fell into a deep sleep at 6pm! I've spent at least 15 hours asleep since then. It's the weirdest feeling. I just hope I'll be OK in time for tomorrow night's show.

DEMANDING
The biggest challenge I face right now is balancing the demands of being a father with the demands of playing Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. It's ironic, that when I have the single most challenging role of my life, I have the least energy left over to do it!

To perform optimally, I've discovered (the hard way) that I need at least 6 hours of sleep and a light physical and vocal warm-up mid-day. On top of proper nutrition and supplements of course. If not, the show is like running up a mountain for 2.5 hours. It can be done, but not to my standards.

UNDERSTANDING
Christine is incredibly understanding and supportive of my needs, and I do my best to give her as much of my time as I can afford to help with the kids and errands. She is an incredible woman, and an amazing mother. And being home with my kids during the days - even when they're sick - is an amazing experience. Playing with them, watching them grow and learn, struggle and fall, it's incredible.

Even though it's hard right now, I've got to remind myself - I'm a really lucky guy. I'm living the life I always wanted to have. I've got a great wife, great family and a great job. What else could anyone ask for?

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GOOD NEWS
Jersey Boys has been extended again till June 28th, 2009.
Call DANCAP at 416-644-3665 or 1-866-950-SHOW to book your tickets.
So, make sure to plan your trip, bring your friends, and come see the hottest show in town. Just remember, I only do the EVENING shows and the SUNDAY matinee.

The Follow Up

2009-03-29T22:38:00.006-04:00

I must apologize for the lengthy four-week delay between posts. It seems that being a full-time Frankie Valli and a full-time Daddy Madden is leaving me plum tuckered out. (And from the deep South, apparently). I just don’t feel like writing very often when I’m that drained. You understand, right?

It’s not that there isn’t a lot to talk about - far from it – I could probably write three or four posts a week with all the things that are happening around JERSEY BOYS TORONTO and in my life. But, it’s just as well for you not to be inundated with the mostly trivial travails of my life.

So, here we go – The Follow Up.

1. Singing the National Anthems at the Raptors Game was pretty cool, if a bit underwhelming. As you all probably know by now, we weren’t aired on TV, which kinda defeated the whole purpose of it. However, you can now check us out at this link: ANTHEMS. Let me know what you think. I think we sounded pretty freakin' good.

2. I have decided not to Twitter-ize my life. I mean really, who has the time (or desire) to run to the computer every time they have a thought to share with a bunch of other technophiles vacantly staring at their computers when they should be doing something more productive. (Um, everyone on the planet, apparently.) Well, I don't; not now anyway. I will however, occasionally write a 'Tweet' or two on behalf of Dancap. So for those of you who are trying to ‘follow’ me – sorry. ‘Follow’ Dancap instead for all the latest on Jersey Boys. TWITTER. Or better yet, just read my blog.

3. Tis the season for Fundraisers. I will be performing at two fundraisers on behalf of two theatre companies that I believe in and respect very much. On April 20th, at the Bathurst Street Theatre in Toronto, I will be singing two songs at "Acting Up Stage"’s evening of Paul Simon music, called “The Sound Of Silence”. They specialize in contemporary musical theatre, and they like to do fundraisers where musical theatre artists sing new arrangements of Pop-Rock songs. Right up my alley. I’ll be among an awesome line-up of 10 theatre talents including Thom Allison, Blythe Wilson, and Michael Therriault. For more info and to buy tickets, check out their website at Acting Up Stage.

The other fundraiser is the following Monday April 27th at Georgian College Theatre in Barrie, called “The Stars Come Out”, on behalf of "Theatre By The Bay". They are a fantastic outdoor Shakespearian summer theatre festival run by a great friend of mine called Larissa Mair. Lots of top talent will be there including fiddler Ashley MacIssac and performers from most of the ‘Big Shows’ in Toronto. I’m going up to the event with a few of the Jersey Boys, and we’re singing a medley of “Jersey-esque” hits. I’ll probably also sing something from my CD, TAKING THE WHEEL, too. Should be a lot of fun. For more info and to buy tickets, check out their website at Theatre By The Bay.

4. And lastly, remember when I mentioned I was doing that radio interview where I had to pick my Top 5 Favorite Musical Theatre Songs? I wanted to thank those of you who added your own fav’s. Some awesome songs, to be sure, and some surprises too. Which is exactly what I tried to do with my personal list.

So, here’s my Top 12… You’ll have to check out the Radio program (date TBA) in April to learn which are the Top 5. In reverse-chronological order (he he), they are:

(song title – show it was from – composers)
The Beauty Is - The Light In The Piazza - Adam Guettel
Popular - Wicked - Stephen Schwartz
Moving Too Fast - The Last Five Years - Jason Robert Brown
What Is It About Her? - Wild Party - Andrew Lippa
Your Daddy's Son - Ragtime - Ahrens and Flaherty
La Vie Boheme - Rent - Jonathan Larson
How Glory Goes - Floyd Collins - Adam Guettel
The Riddle Song - Floyd Collins - Adam Guettel
Stars And The Moon - Songs For A New World - Jason Robert Brown
Bring Him Home - Les Miserables - Schonberg and Boublil
If Ever I Would Leave You – Camelot – Learner and Loewe
Maria – West Side Story – Bernstein and Sondheim

As always, I encourage your comments about these or any other topics. Just click on "Comments" below, type in your comment and your name (or do so anonymously) and hit publish. It's that easy. And, it's more fun for everybody.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE A GOOD PUB

2009-03-02T22:52:00.003-05:00

NATIONAL ANTHEMS, NATIONAL TV

Last week I met Toronto Raptor Jason Kapono after he saw JERSEY BOYS. This Sunday at 12noon EST, I’ll be seeing him again, this time on his turf.

I’ll be singing the National Anthems with seven of my favorite Jersey Boys at the Toronto Raptors basketball game! This is totally cool. As many of you know, I'm a huge sports fan, and so I’ve heard countless anthems sung at sporting events both live and on TV. Strangely, I always had a feeling - I just knew - that one day I’d be the one singing them.

And, now I will. We’ll be singing live in front of 20,000 fans 'a capella', higher than hell, with tight harmonies, as arranged by our Music Director Ron Melrose to sound like the Four Seasons. We have a rehearsal coming up this week to learn it.

Here’s the best part: The game – and the anthems! - will be televised live nationally on CBC (to maybe a quarter of a million people), this Sunday March 8. Check your local listings. If the broadcast starts at 12 noon EST, you’ll hear us live. If it starts at 12:30pm, you’ll hopefully hear us ‘taped’ very early on. Set your alarms, west-coasters!

Watch it!
Can’t watch it? Record it!
VCR still flashing 12:00? Get a digital PVR!
Don't know what a PVR is? Wait until it goes up on YouTube.
Please tell me you've heard of YouTube...
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I'M A TWIT
Do you Twitter? I might be doing a little Twitter-ing myself, on behalf of JERSEY BOYS. We’re having some talks this week to see how this might benefit selling the show. They think it might be interesting to let people know what’s going on in my/Frankie Valli’s daily life.

Should be cool. Hey, these new social networking sites are taking off, just look at Facebook. Actually, don't. You'll never have free time again.
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MY DIARY
Anyone read the National Post? Yours truly may very well be a guest columnist. Well, sort of.

In their Arts and Life section they have a feature called My Diary. Each week, they hook up with an artist who writes five short daily diaries to let the readers learn what it’s actually like to live the life of an artist. Since I have this blog, and am basically doing it anyway, it seems like a nice fit.

I’m really excited about this project. I believe the diaries will run in the Post starting April 27. I’ll keep you posted, as we get closer to the date.
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RADIO GAB-GAB
Another interesting publicity outing I’ll be doing this week is a radio interview with Mark Andrew Lawrence for his weekend show, Front Row Centre on 103.9 Proud FM. Mark had been a big supporter of mine over the years and has featured songs from my CD "TAKING THE WHEEL" several times on his show.

This time, he’s going to interview the Toronto cast’s Four Seasons and get our Five Favorite Show Tunes. Should be fun and interesting. I'll let you know when the program will air.

I’ve been trying all week to pick my favorite five, but it’s actually been very difficult. I gave up on my ‘short’ list when it got to 20. I started again, and got it to 12 before getting stuck again. They are all so meaningful to me in different ways. The interview is tomorrow, so I better figure it our soon. I'll post them as soon as I'll figure it out.

YOUR TURN –
1. Will you watch the Raptor's on Sunday?
2. So seriously, have you heard of Twitter? Are you signed up? Would you be interested in getting updates on a regular basis?
3. What are some of your favorite Show Tunes? Comment below!

2009-02-23T22:35:00.002-05:00

So, the update: New stuff first.

COPPING IN?
Our new 'Mary Delgado' Jennifer Copping has had her first full week in the company. I really enjoy working with her, and she is doing a terrific job! She brings a new and slightly different energy to the role. We're literally 'playing' out there right now, figuring out as we go how best to play each moment with one another. (The truth is, she and I did our scenes together exactly ONE time before her first performance in front of 1500 people.)
*************

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU CALL DIM
I met NBA player and Toronto Raptor JASON KAPONO on Saturday night. He and his wife and some friends came to the show, and we had an impromptu photo session with him afterward. This dude is tall. He's probably got a foot on me. So, I Google him. He's listed as 6'8" and here's the kicker: his position is "Small Forward". Gotta love the NBA. He was charming and inquisitive, and he loved the show. So, we like him a lot.

That brings my Distinguished-Individual-Meetings (DIMs for short) to three, since beginning the show. On Opening night, actually, I met JEANNE BEKER, best known as host of CITY TV's ubiquitous 'Fashion Television' program on Opening night. She loooved the show, and was a lot of fun to talk to. In fact, my Dad chatted her up relentlessly after I was whisked away. There's probably a story there... Best leave that one right there.

The other, not to be outdone, is Canadian film and comedy icon EUGENE LEVY. Second City and SCTV alum, he is perhaps best known as the hapless Dad of one of the kids in the American Pie movies. But in the theatre world, he will always be remembered for "Waiting For Guffman", a mockumentary about a group of community theatre 'actors' who put on a show they think is headed for Broadway. It was his second time seeing the show (he saw the US Touring Production in the fall) and he said he preferred the new Canadian Cast. Of course he said that. We like him, too.
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GOOD SIGN
I saw in a newspaper ad that DANCAP is selling single tickets through April 19th now, which is very good. I believe they are taking group orders (more than eight seats) well beyond that, though. Which is even better.
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MODEL BEHAVIOUR
I'm breaking out my 'Blue Steel' look. (Zoolander, anyone?) Tomorrow I'm doing a group photo shoot for Canadian Living Magazine, along with a bunch of boys from the JERSEY BOYS. I think it'll be out in time for Father's Day, so check the newsstands around May/June. I'll give you more info when I know it.
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JEFFY NIGHT LIVE?
Some fundraisers are in the works at various venues around Toronto that I may be involved in. Details are still being worked out, so I'll give you more info when things are set in stone.
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COMMENT-TATERS
So many of you sent me your support, and some even sent your own sickness-at-work horror stories, and I want to thank you for that. It helped put things in perspective a bit. I mean, we're all human, everyone gets sick, even people who have to use their voice for a living.

I always been very sensitive to minute changes in my throat as it relates to speaking and singing, and I think that helped me catch it very early, and ease my way back sooner than expected. And once I was back, I was pretty careful not to overdue it for the first show or two. But, it feels soooo good to be 100% healthy again. Actually, the whole cast is back healthy again, and the show is really flying now. I love my job!!!

And along those lines, in closing, I have to share a story with you. Precisely as I'm beginning this blog post, I receive an email from a member of my extended family, Annette Mutch. When I read it, I knew I had to include it here. It's the mother of all 'sick-at-work' stories... here it is:
*****************

Bob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana. He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs.

Below is an E-mail he sent to his sister. She then sent it to radio station 103.5FM in Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest. Needless to say, she won. Read his letter below.

~Hi Sue,
Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother.

Last week I had a bad day at the office. I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad after all. Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job.

As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wet suit. This time of year the water is quite cool. So what we do to keep warm is this: We have a diesel powered industrial water heater. This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature. It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose.

Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints. What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wet suit.

This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi. Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch. So, of course, I scratched it.

This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my ass started to burn. I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had happened. The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit. Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it, however, the crack of my ass was not as fortunate.

When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my ass.

I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator. His
instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically. Needless to say, I aborted the dive.

I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totaling thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression. When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet. As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face, handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber. The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't shit for two days because my ass was swollen shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your ass. Now repeat to yourself, 'I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.' Whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish-bad day?

May you NEVER have a jellyfish bad day! !!!!
Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Keep on Taking the Wheel, everybody.

“Hi. I’m Frankie Valli. I have bronchitis."

2009-02-09T23:55:00.003-05:00

“Hi. I’m Frankie Valli. I have bronchitis. Nice to meet you. No, I won’t be doing the show tonight. You wouldn’t want to hear ‘Pop Hits Sung By Wild Dogs’, would you? Didn’t think so. I’ll be home “resting”, with my 2-year old Sydney and her ear infection, my 10-month old Emily and her fever of 102F, and my wife Christine who had somehow managed to keep illness at bay – for now.”

This past week has been, well, "such a god-damnned rollercoaster". I came down with a nasty upper-respiratory infection and was out of the show Tuesday through Friday. To those of you who bought tickets hoping to see me - including some of my good friends - I apologize with all my heart. It really tears me up, letting you all down like that.

SOME CONTEXT, PLEASE
OK – here’s some context. This has been one of the coldest, harshest winters I can remember here in Toronto. We started rehearsing like mad November 1st, and really didn’t let up until just a week or two ago, after the “Media Opening”. In that time, we have had lots of bugs rip through the company – mostly colds, but some sinus and bronchial infections too. Lots of people worked through it (bringing the bug in to work to share with everybody), and some called in sick. I mean, everyone I talked to - family, friends, their colleagues at work – everyone has been sick with something.

Well, "Jersey Boys - Toronto" was no exception. Last week, Bryan Hindle, our Joe Pesci ("yeah, that Joe Pesci") was out the whole week with bronchitis. Then, last Saturday night, Jeremy Kushnier (our incredible Tommy Devito) was starting to come down with something. And after the show, I noticed some unusual tightness in my upper chest – the intercostal muscles, the ones between the ribs. I did the show Sunday, and with the exception of a note or two, I was very happy with it. We had a couple drinks after the show, as is our Sunday tradition, and I went home.

Monday afternoon, I was sitting on the floor playing blocks with the kids, and when I stood up I saw stars. Right there, I knew something wasn’t right. I started slamming back the vitamin C and zinc lozenges, along with a double dose of denial. “I’m not sick, I’m Frankie Valli. I can sing really high. I don’t get sick.” Whatever…

TUESDAY
Tuesday I began my regular pre-show warm-up routine (the subject of another blog post, I think) by riding an exercise bike for 15 minutes and vocalizing for 15 minutes. I quickly followed that with 10 minutes of panicking. My voice was not responding. The falsetto was fine, the chest voice was fine, but it was like everything in the middle was out of place.

I called my Stage Manager Cindy to inform her of the situation, and we set up a music rehearsal with our conductor Liz Baird for 6:30pm. Jeremy had already called out, his illness in full force. Grant Tilly, one of our awesome Swings (yes, the guy who filled in as Bob Gaudio for two weeks) would be in as Tommy for his first time ever.

Denial in full force, I got in the car and drove to work early. But, as I continued to warm up there, certain notes just could not be relied upon. Specifically, it was the top notes of my chest voice – F#, G, G#, A - that were uncharacteristically weak. I had good energy, and at the time I felt I could have gone on. Sick or not, I really wanted to do the show. But, Cindy and Liz asked me not to do the show, in hopes that I’d recover over night and be back strong Wednesday. After some discussion, I reluctantly agreed. My awesome alternate, Adrian Marchuk, would go on in my place.

Looking back at it now, I know they were absolutely right. If the role wasn’t so god-damned impossibly freakin’ hard to sing, it wouldn’t be a big deal – you could just get out there and work through it. We’ve all had colds and had to do a show – it’s no big deal, you just proceed carefully, you pace yourself through your scenes and songs and Bob’s your Uncle. Well, that ain’t gonna cut it here.

You see, those four weakened notes are needed throughout the show, but especially during the middle of Act 2. In the span of about 20 minutes, I have to sing all of the following songs, which rely heavily on those four notes: “Beggin’”, “Let’s Hang On”, “Bye Bye Baby”, “MaryAnne”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”, “Workin’ My Way Back To You”. And to make matters worse, this is when Frankie begins to narrate the show. With all those monologues and scenes between those songs, there’s no time to rest the voice, no time to even run off-stage for water.

Looking back, had I gone on, the potential for disaster was actually quite high. But, at the time, I was pissed. No, not at Cindy and Liz. Just pissed - at myself maybe, for getting sick in the first place. Stupid, I know. We’re human. We all get sick. But, I love doing this show so much, I … I actually can not describe the joy it brings me. Yet, there I was, packing up and going home at 7pm on a show night, just as my cast-mates were showing up to work. I quickly raced out, knowing that if I had to explain myself, I would blow my cool. I wanted to keep the tears at bay, just below the surface.

WEDNESDAY
So, Wednesday comes. Back in to the show, right? Hardly. I’m way worse. This thing is coming, not going. OK – denial is done. Time to get serious. I get me to a walk-in clinic, and take me some drugs. And I get some great help from a couple of friends whom I rely upon for support… Katie Agresta, my vocal instructor and general Guru (she coaches all the Frankie’s in all the Jersey Boys companies) and Joesph Leo Bwarie, the Frankie from the US Tour. They've both been there before, and were able to offer lots of practical advice to help my voice recover as fast as possible so that I can get back into the show.

On top of the vitamin C, zinc lozenges, Cold FX, and chicken soup, Katie and Joseph gave me a list of Homeopathic tinctures, specific herbs, fruits and vegetables, and homemade teas to get me back to normal. And Katie also gave me a series of vocal exercises to help get the lymphatic system draining. But, most of all, they gave me emotional support. All the Frankie’s have had to deal with this at one point or another. They told me it was not the end of the world to miss some shows.

PROVOCATIVE BLANKET STATEMENT
The role of Frankie Valli may be the single hardest role in musical theatre to sing. (This would make a great debate, actually – yet another blog post?). Katie says to me, ‘Name me another role where someone has to sing 25 songs? 25 Pop-Rock songs? In that crazy range. Fahgittabowdit.’ (OK – I don't think she said 'fahgittabowdit' – I just wanted you all to get that she's from New York.)

Now, I’m not saying this to toot my own horn – believe me. I think it’s just a fact of nature. Either you have the type of voice and the technical skill to constantly manouver from a low C to a soprano F – sometimes in the space of two bars of music – or you don’t. In order for me to sing this role, I know I need to be virtually 100%, plain and simple.

THURSDAY
Thursday comes. I’m still not better. Getting the rest I need at home is proving almost impossible. To make matter’s worse, a trip to the doctor reveals that Sydney’s bad cold has become an ear infection. Oh, and Emily has now started running a fever. Hoo-ray! Our entire condo is a cesspool of microorganisms. It never ends! This is me, folks, resting. Right...

FRIDAY
Friday morning. I’m actually starting to feel almost normal. I think, “OK – I’m Back!” I’m all excited for my voice lesson with Katie, and within 30 seconds she says, “Oh well, not today”. WTF? After a few more minutes of vocalizing, I stop rationalizing and start to hear what it is she's hearing. She’s right. I’m basically back to where I was Tuesday night – sounding good except for those three or four shaky money notes. At least it’s progress. Maybe tomorrow.

SATURDAY
Tomorrow comes and there’s more improvement. Katie and I have another session "and then, she lays it on me". She says, ‘I’d prefer it if you'd wait another day, but if you had to, I think you could do the show tonight.’ Then, she adds ‘But, if you do, you may not be able to sing the show tomorrow.’ This lands with a thud. I call my stage manager.

Cindy strongly encourages me to do the show Saturday night. You see, now Matthew Brown (our Barry Belson) is sick and out of the show, meaning one of our other Swings Aaron MacKenzie (who went on as Frankie Wednesday night and is the only other Frankie understudy ready right now) has to go on for him. Since Mr. Marchuk is doing today's matinee and the company is extremely reluctant to have any Frankie do two shows in one day, it makes it a no brainer. I’m going back in.

SHOWTIME
By showtime, I feel about 90%. But I was nervous. Really nervous. Like, first run-through nervous. You see, I was in uncharted territory. I had no idea how my voice would hold up for 2.5 hours. I’d already sung about 45 minutes to test it out, and I knew I would tire easier than normal. The question was, when? And when it happens, what do I do?

As the opening number is playing, backstage I have a moment of clarity. Just breathe. That’s all. (No, not the Faith Hill song). Breathe, and be present. Give what I had to give. Nothing more.

And sure enough, holding back slightly here and there, I was able to get through the tough spots in Act 1 without noticeably screwing up. (Phew.) But in the scary Act 2? Same approach, same philosophy, same result… except for the sandpaper start to “Can’t Take” (I actually sounded like Tom Waits on the first three notes), and a couple really pitchy notes in “Working My Way…” (I heard someone ask ‘was that Bette Midler?’) I managed to get through it.

In the wings after the blackout, I was incredibly relieved! In fact, I was so relieved, I nearly forgot to come out for the curtain call. Then, in the Bows (the reprise of “Oh What A Night”) I started losing focus and screwed up my choreo as bad as I’ve ever done it. Oh well! “I’m Frankie Valli – I can sing really high! Who cares how I dance???” Whatever…

The Sunday matinee was even better, which was awfully nice. That Sunday post-show drink tasted very good. I love my job so much. I think I might go crazy if I couldn’t do it anymore. But at the end of the week, it sure is nice to hang out with the wife and kids all day… even though Christine is now sick as a dog, Emily’s got the ear infection, and Sydney’s… aw, you get the picture.

YOUR TURN
So, now it's your turn:
Anyone got stories of preforming while sick?
Anyone want to read how I get ready/warm-up before a show?
Anyone want to add their two cents to my assertion that Frankie may be the hardest role to sing in the musical theatre cannon?
Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Go on, click the COMMENT link just below, type away in the blue box on the right, sign your name if you like, click the circle next to ANONYMOUS, click the PUBLISH button and you're done.

It's Been A While

2009-02-06T00:33:00.009-05:00

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE

So much has happened lately that I haven’t written a word since our official “Media Opening”. At first, I was kind of avoiding acknowledging the whole thing. I will say this: It was a great night, in that the audience was very involved in the show, the cast was on top of our game, and we had a good party after. That's what every opening night should feel like.

As many of you know, I generally don’t read the reviews of shows I’m in. While I’m interested to learn the critical response in a general way, I find that the devil is in the details. I’ve learned the hard way. I’ve had the experience before when the tiniest little words or phrases from some review get stuck in my brain while I’m performing, making the scenes excruciating and ultimately less honest. Acting is hard enough with your own thoughts judging yourself as you go along, it's virtually impossible if you add other people's opinions on top.

So, suffice to say that I have not read them. I do however know that Jersey Boys was received very well, as this AD will attest. I’m very pleased, and I hope it makes lots of curious people out there buy tickets to come see us.
********************
LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE

In the time since, I’ve had the pleasure of watching my younger daughter Emily start walking. This must be one of the absolute highlights of parenthood – watching your little baby take their first steps. And I was home to see it!

The first day, she took two steps to me before realizing she was on her own, and didn’t like it. She sat down immediately, then spent the rest of the day crawling. The next day, she took two more steps, almost to see whether she still felt the same way about it. Turns out she did feel the same. Spend the rest of the day crawling.

Then, something clicked. Within a few days, she was walking about 15 steps across the room, unassisted. Amazing. Even Sydney got caught up in our joy, cheering her on. It was a special moment. And the other day, Sydney actually starting mimicking Emily’s awkward walking style, pretending to be just walking for the first time herself. Could this be yet another sign that Sydney is a budding performer?

*********************
PROUD MARY'S

Well, there’s another cast change coming your way for Jersey Boys Toronto. For the rest of this week and most of next, our female swing Victoria Lamond will be playing Mary Delgado, Frankie Valli’s first wife. Jenny Lee Stern, who had been playing this role – brilliantly, I might add – is leaving the company. Her eventual replacement Jennifer Copping is rehearsing with us right now and will go on the first time Feb 13th. Should be exciting.

********************
AIR PLAY

This is pretty cool - Two different radio stations recently featured songs from my CD, “Taking The Wheel”. I’m always honoured when someone takes the time to play something from my CD. A few of you emailed saying you heard it live. Thanks for listening!

Last Saturday on AM 740, Michael Engelbert featured my recording of “What Is It About Her” from Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party, and David Yazbek’s “Man” from The Full Monty.

And the week before that on 103.9 Proud FM, Mark Andrew Lawrence featured the haunting “One Face” from Tristan, written by Paul Sportelli and Jay Turvey. Congrats, boys, on writing such an incredible song.

Media Media Media

2009-01-19T20:42:00.005-05:00

TELEVISION:

This past week the Toronto cast of Jersey Boys got up bright and early to perform on CTV’s nationally televised morning show, CANADA AM. Even though the cast was tired after doing two shows on Wednesday, we somehow managed to find our way to the TV studio for 7am, and give a great performance. Everyone did a heck of a job.

Many of you have emailed, asking how I managed to hit those high notes so early in the morning. Well, on last week’s post I wondered whether I should stay up all night before the gig or get a bit of sleep – and not one of you made a suggestion. Well, thanks for nothing, friends. Actually, I decided to call my JB singing teacher and all-round ‘Frankie Guru’ Katie Agresta for some advice. She told me to get some sleep, and gave me a great routine to help with the early morning screeching.

After Wednesday evening’s show, I warmed-down vocally, took a long hot shower and hit the sack. About four hours later, the alarm goes off. It's 4:45am. Following Katie's advice, I force myself to eat a bit, have some coffee (duh), take a cool shower, and began warming up my speaking voice. At 5:20am I hit the treadmill - not literally, although that did cross my mind more than once - breaking a sweat, getting my body ready for the day. That accomplished, on to the real job of the day: finding my falsetto, and once located, introducing it to the rest of my voice, which at 6:00am is in my boots, where everyone's voice should be at that time of the day!

Into the car, and off I go, fighting the early morning commuters on the 401. I arrive at the studio just before 7am, and to my surprise I'm one of the last to arrive! We quickly get in to hair, makeup, and costumes and luckily we're able to run the medley three or four times before it counts. I was pretty happy with how my voice was feeling, all things considered (Thank you, Katie!). At about 8:50am, the cameras started rolling, and we did our thing. And it was over before we knew it.

By 9:15am, I was back in rush-hour traffic heading home to watch the tape. Aside from the bags under my eyes, I thought it looked pretty good. It's funny - the first TV close-up of me on the outdoor New Year's Eve gig showed my incredibly red nose, and here it's the bags under my eyes.

Well, what do you all think? If you haven’t seen it, check it out. Here’s a link to the segment.

NEWSPAPERS:

What else is going on? Well, tomorrow night (Tuesday) is our official “Press Opening”. Many media outlets are coming back to review the show with the new Canadian cast. So, that’s kind of cool. It gives us another excuse to have a party, which is always nice. And, it’ll give the show a lot more publicity, which is great for Dancap and the Dodgers, the producers of Jersey Boys.

However, having the media come back to re-review the show makes the creative types a bit nervous. So, during this past week, we had visits from our director, Des McAnuff and his assistant West Hyler. Suffice it to say, I haven’t gotten this many notes since our first dress rehearsal. And, I’m not alone - everybody was under the microscope. But, obviously, they do it for a good reason. Their keen eyes and thoughtful suggestions have really helped focus everyone again, and because of it all, I think we’re finally firing on all cylinders.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what the media say about our show. What matters is our nightly relationship with the audience. They are the ones buying the tickets, they are the ones on their feet cheering at the end of the show, they are the ones making their friends run to buy tickets to the show. You can’t buy that kind of publicity. The show is a hit because the people love it. Plain and simple.

INTERNET:

As a testament to this fact, there is an incredible Fan-site called JerseyBoysBlog that keeps giving the fans more behind the scenes info. This is THE Fan-site for Jersey Boys news, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, do so. And just today, this blogsite happened to print an article about little ol’ me. It’s actually a bit of a promo for this very blog site, “Taking The Wheel”, my CD of the same name, and my website www.jeffmadden.ca.

In all honesty, I’m deeply flattered by the attention. And what's more, I'm honoured to be in this position. Honoured to be a working actor, to be working with such a multi-talented cast and crew, to be a part of this fantastic Tony-Award winning show. Playing “Frankie Valli”, well, that's the icing on the cake.

A News-Worthy Week

2009-01-12T22:16:00.003-05:00

It was quite an eventful week in the lives of the Toronto Jersey Boys company.

NEW CAST MEMBER:
The Big News of the week was supposed to be the arrival of our new 'Bob Gaudio', Quinn VanAntwerp. Quinn arrived in Toronto Tuesday, got settled in, and met the cast. He watched our show Wednesday, rehearsed with us Thursday and Friday afternoon, and did his first show Friday night. Quinn was fantastic. There was absolutely no worry on my part about working so closely with a new scene partner, and he fit in seamlessly into the harmonies and choreography, right from the start.

Coincidentally, I had 12 old friends from High School - some of which I hadn't seen in 15 years - come to the show that Friday night. They were blown away. The audience that night was electric, one of our best yet. It could not have gone better for Quinn's first show.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON:
That was Friday. Well, everything changed Saturday. No, no, Quinn was still great... Unfortunately the lift/trap door/elevator down-stage-centre in the floor was not. It became clear right away in the matinee that it was malfunctioning, so the crew shut it down. But the show went on without stopping. Oh, and we also had two swings on for that show, too (the talented Victoria Lamond and Aaron MacKenzie). And since I had the afternoon off, I had the pleasure of watching it all unfold.

The amazing thing was how calmly everything came together. The stage management team was brilliant. They quickly paged the other two swings (Grant Tilly and Matt Cassidy, kudos to you both), and informed them that they'd be going on too, only in newly created roles - as Set Movers! Our crack wardrobe unit quickly dressed them in costumes, and they basically became 'roadies' for the Four Seasons. There they were, bringing out and taking away microphones, tables, chairs, basically whatever was needed to play the scenes that otherwise would have appeared/disappeared on the lift.

And, the audience was fantastic. Some may have known something was up, as we started late and had an extended intermission, but I'll bet most had no clue. They cheered loudly the entire show long.

MONOLOGUS INTERRUPTUS:
That night, for my show, the lift was working again. Relieved, I carried on as usual. Until about 15 minutes from the end of the show, right in the middle of one of my monologues (and incidentally the quietest part of the play) I hear, (insert imaginary sound FX here) "grindity grind grrrind... crrrunchy crunch, squeek, snap..." coming from the floor.

Hmm. I think, 'Gee, that's unusual.' During a brief turn upstage, I glance towards the Stage Left wing - and see my ASM staring out at me, whispering into his headset.

Hmm. I think, 'Gee, why is he doing that?' I cross over to the Trap, where I'm supposed to sit on a bench. After that noise, I didn't expect to see it, but there it was.

Hmm. I wonder, 'Should I sit?' As I am finishing the last paragragh of my monologue, I put my left foot gingerly over the line, half on the floor, half on the trap, testing to see what would happen. Nothing. I slide my entire foot on the trap, and gently put some weight on it. Again, nothing. I figure, 'OK, I'm cool'. I play the scene, and sing "Fallen Angel". At the end of the song, the bench and I are supposed to disappear below the stage in a cleverly designed transition. But, I ain't going nowhere.

So, I casually stand up and walk off stage right. When I get into the wing, everybody is waiting there for me, like nothing new is going on. My dresser, the other Four Seasons, our mic stands, everything. In 15 seconds, we enter like nothing different has happened, sing "Ragdoll", and end the show. I tell you, it was seamless. You've got to love live theatre.

GOOD MORNING:
Sunday morning, we were back in the rehearsal hall. You see, we have another big publicity event this week. We're appearing on TV again, this time on CTV's 'CANADA AM' Thursday morning, January 15th. (I think we're on sometime between 8am - 9am, but don't hold me to that). So we had to squeeze in one rehearsal to learn the new medley for the 3+ minute spot. It features the songs "My Eyes Adored You", "Dawn" and "December '63 (Oh What a Night)". After the rehearsal and quick lunch at Timmies, we're back on stage again, doing the show without the lift. The crowd goes crazy again. I love my job.

So, remember everyone, set your PVRs to record CANADA AM this Thursday around 8am. Somehow, I'm going to be singing high E's at 8 in the morning. The question is, is it better to sleep a few hours, or stay up all night???

Hmm. I wonder.

My NEW YEARS EVE Thoughts

2009-01-04T12:11:00.008-05:00

Hi Everyone,

What an incredible week. It's Monday night, the kids are asleep, and I finally have some time to reflect on the events of our New Year's Eve gig on CITY TV.

Here's how it all went down New Years Eve...
10:35pm : We finish the evening show - the second of the day for everybody else. After the curtain call, we run to our dressing rooms. We quickly get out of costume, get into our LONG UNDERWEAR (Thank you, Dancap), stick on our HOT PACKS - one for the feet, one for the belly, one for the back (THANK YOU, Dancap!) - and back into our "gig" costumes. For me, it's the sparkly blue "Dawn" Suit. I'm lucky. For the ladies, it's the skimpy white finale dresses and high heel shoes. We must be crazy.

11:00pm: The cast, the band, the stage management team, the dressers, the handlers and media reps take off from the Toronto Centre of the Arts in a bus. Believe it or not, we have a Police Escort leading us down Yonge street. We get half a block before we realize how smart this was. The street is jammed. The cop car flashes its lights and sirens, and people move over and let us through. Boy, did we feel cool.

11:30pm: We pull underground into some special parking lot under City Hall and gather in the huge lobby. As we wait, through the glass doors we hear the muffled sound of a band performing as lights stream from the stage. I start to get nervous. Gee, I wonder why? To focus, the other three Seasons, Jeremy, Michael, and Grant and I run through our show in the corner while six strangers watch. That was weird.

Two big changes had to happen for the TV gig - we had to condense the chosen songs and scenes to fit a tight 10-minute package, and we had to play everything straight out front to the cameras. This meant altering some choreo slightly, adding new transitions, and re-arranging some dialogue. Lots of pesky little things to remember.

11:55pm: We step outside to get ready for our entrance at midnight. It is -13C, with a windchill of -20C. But, as it turns out, long underwear, hot packs and being scared shitless makes a body warm. Who knew?

Outside, we literally feel the roar of the crowd as the final performers finish. The Announcer's banter before the countdown. It starts to feel ridiculous. Nothing I've ever done has prepared me to perform in front of 40,000 people. Are they really gonna like it?

11:58pm: I spot my wife Christine and her brother Markus. They had found their way into the waiting area/VIP section off stage left. I run over and get a quick pre-New Year's kiss from Christine before I'm ushered back in line and up the stairs to the stage.

11:59pm: We soak in the atmosphere from the side of the stage. The big screen is counting down the seconds. People are stretched over every square foot of the Square, as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of people are skating on the ice rink. The lights are aglow on the 40-foot tall Christmas tree. The countdown begins! The noise is deafening.

12:00am: The crowd goes batty, and fireworks go off behind us. Jubilation. In the midst of all this, our stage manager yells "GO - FOUR SEASONS!" We take a quick moment to clock one another, and take off.

Uh oh. The stage is covered in wet slush and rock salt from the shoes of evertone onstage before us. That means having to be very careful in our choreo. It never fails. No matter how prepared you are, things always come up that you never planned for.

12:00:30am: We hit our mark - and have a few seconds to acknowledge the crowd before beginning "Auld Lang Syne". It's unbelievable. They are literally squished in like sardines. They do not look comfortable at all. Yet they seem happy, perhaps relieved that they made it till midnight, and the crush will soon end. Or maybe they're just keeping warm.

12:01am: The music begins. We sing it. A peaceful feeling comes over me. It feels great.

12:02am: We finish, run back off stage left, take off the overcoats as the intro into "Sherry" begins. We carefully get out there just in the nick of time. The band's playing, and we begin.

It now all starts to be a blurrrrrrrr. During "Sherry" I spend most of my time thinking about the new changes. I start to relax and take in the enormity of the occasion, only to find my mind drifting away from the details! Argh! Where am I? What's coming up next?

Minor heart attack aside, I make it into "Big Girls Don't Cry". It goes great! We transition into "Walk Like A Man" - again, its a blurrrrrrr.

My monologue now. I hear my voice echoing strangely off the walls of the downtown buildings. It sounds thick and heavy - am I shouting? I haven't a clue what's coming out of my mouth as I scan the thousands of people. THIS IS SURREAL.

The intro into "Who Loves You" begins, and on come the rest of the cast. I am relieved to see them. It's almost over. Everyone seems to be nailing it. We finish, we bow, the crowd goes nuts, and we transition into "Oh, What A Night!". Indeed. Finally, I let loose and have some fun, glancing at the others next to me as we move through the steps. We finish, bow once more, the Announcers come out, thank everyone, and sign off to the TV audience.

That's it!!! We turn the stage into a huge hug-zone. Everyone wishes each other Happy New Year's and congratulations in what was a truly magical moment.

We move off stage and back into City Hall, where we can get out of costume, grab some bubbly, and more importantly, warm up!!!

Watching the broadcast the next day on my PVR, I was really impressed. The crew at CITY TV did an amazing job with the sound. The multi-camera shots with cut-aways and close-ups were incredibly well done. The lights looked amazing. The confetti gently floating down from above during Auld Lang Syne was a beautiful touch. The breath coming out of our mouths was striking on TV. It was very vivid.

It was a New Year's Eve I don't think I'll be forgetting anytime soon. I want to thank you all for the many emails and comments I've received so far. It means so much to know that you'd all take time out of your lives to include me into your New Year's Party plans. Please continue adding your two-cents worth.

I am grateful, Truly blessed. Have a great 2009 everyone.

*****
For those of you who missed it, or want to catch it again, here are some links to the YouTube uploads. The quality is not very good, but it's all I know of at the moment.

The first clip starts with the Countdown, then we sing Auld Lang Syne.
"Auld Lang Syne" 1st clip

The second clip begins with Sherry, and continues with Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like A Man, and Who Loves You.
"The Big Three (+One)" 2nd clip

The last clip is the finale, December '63 (Oh What A Night).
"Oh What A Night!" 3rd clip

Enjoy!

New Year's Eve

2008-12-29T14:52:00.002-05:00

Wanna get a sneak peak of the Canadian Cast of JERSEY BOYS, LIVE ON TV?

You're in luck!

Yours truly will be front and centre as we ring in the New Year on CITY TV live from Nathan Phillips Square. We begin with Auld Lang Syne at Midnight, followed by 10 minutes of the most exciting Musical Theatre you'll see anywhere.

Catch us live, tape us on your PVR, DVR, and if you're still living in the 90's your VCR.
You don't want to miss it.

CITY TV's New Year's Eve Bash entertains up to 40,000 people live at Nathan Phillips Square, and it's live broadcast reaches up to 500,000 Canadians across the country. It begins at 10:30pm, and runs till about 12:30am. You don't want to miss the action at midnight!

The secret will really be let out Wednesday night. Everyone will know why this show is such a hit.

You want an update? Here, a Jersey Update.

2008-12-22T22:54:00.002-05:00

Here we are, 10 shows in, and you're dying to know.

'Madden, how's it going NOW???', you ask.

In a word, Awesome.

The show is still a monster, still a major challenge just to get through in one piece, but now it seems do-able. What's more, it's starting to become enjoyable, rather than terrifying. (He said, half-joking.)

Don't get me wrong, I still screw stuff up, just about every show. I think I had one clean show, but in my books, until you do three or four clean shows in a row, you're still previewing. Which we're not really doing, but we still tell ourselves we are. Makes us feel better. More protected. I think it's fair. (BTW, I heard the major media all coming back to re-review the show mid-January, to compare the Toronto cast to the Touring production.)

Anyhoo, the biggest difference for me between show #1 and show #10 is that I have found places to breathe. Seriously. Those stupid-high falsetto notes come out easier if you actually have air in your lungs. Who knew? Yeah, when you relax just a bit, everything starts to work much better. Strange, that.

Another big difference is knowing how the crowd is going to react (or not react, as the case may be) at any given moment. After 10 shows we've pretty much seen and heard 95% of the probable reactions. (My 2nd year Stats class coming into play there... Parabolic curves, anyone?) This also helps me to relax a bit more, too.

Clearly, repetition helps everybody involved in the show tweak their business to make it better. It seems rather obvious, but the show becomes much more than the sum of its parts.

But, there's one more intangible at work here. Now, after 10 shows, I know I can do it. The show has this fabled split lead part - the Frankie's only do six shows a week, and an alternate does it twice a week. Ever since I heard about the show, I was aware of this. Nobody can do eight a week - it's too demanding. The guys who tried it all died horrible onstage deaths... well, maybe I'm exaggerating.

The point is, they drum it into your head that it's an impossibly difficult role, and that in the words of the original Broadway Frankie (Tony-award winning John Lloyd Young) you have to "live like a Monk" to pull it off night after night. But, the reality for me was, I worked my ass off like never before during my seven weeks of rehearsal, and at the end of the last week - the longest week of all, tech week - I did four shows in 48 hours and lived to tell the story.

With each passing show, everything - the scenes, the steps, the notes - has all sunk further into my body. I have to say, I'm really enjoying working with my incredibly talented cast and crew. And, the crowds have been incredibly enthusiastic - sometimes cheering mid-song, sometimes giving standing O's mid-show, sometimes tears flowing freely at the end.

It's such a great job, and I am so lucky to be doing it.
(*6 times a week)

Thanks to those of you who emailed me, or commented on the last blog. It's really nice to get feedback, especially from those of you who I don't know. Keep sending those post-show comments - I love hearing what you enjoyed most about the show.

Have a great holidays everyone! Raise one for me!

Thrilling Moments

2008-12-14T19:33:00.005-05:00

Sunday Night, December 14, 2008

It's true. The Canadian production of Jersey Boys is officially "Open". (I use the quotes because we're still rehearsing a couple times a week on top of doing shows. In other theatres, this is called the "Preview" period.) And we're not just "Open", we're a Hit. Since Friday night, we have given four shows, and have received four Standing Ovations!

The past seven days have been a whirlwind. Heck, the past seven weeks have been crazy. It feels strange sitting here on the other side of it all. It's hard to communicate just how intense this time has been. We're on top of the mountain now, after all the blood, sweat and tears spent doing the daily climb, and it feels oddly unsettling. My head's still spinning from it all.

Don't get me wrong, it feels great to be performing now. More than great. Thrilling. It's just, the rehearsal period was so intense, that it seems strange not to be going back to the grind of 10- to 12-hour days.

I've never experienced such an all-encompassing rehearsal period in my life. One reason could be the slightly shortened rehearsal period. There are five other productions of Jersey Boys playing in the world, and none of them have been put up in six weeks. But we somehow managed to do it. (Kudos to us Canadians, eh!)

Another reason for my perceived vertigo is probably the size of my role - it's enormous. For those of you who haven't seen the show, I'll try to give you an idea. Other than intermission, I see my dressing room exactly once during the whole show, for about two minutes. There simply is not enough time off-stage to make the trip any other time. I have 11 full or partial costume changes in the wings, the fastest of which is seven seconds. Of the 19 songs in Act 1, I sing in 13. In Act 2, I sing lead on all 12 songs. I am onstage for all but three minutes of Act 2. The sheer amount of material I had to understand, learn, and then master was enormous.

I say 'master'. Well, that is open for interpretation. Sure, there are hundreds of things I nail every run. Whatever, that's expected of me. But, there are still plenty of things I get wrong every time we do a run. Most are imperceptible to the audience, thank goodness, but some are not. The key is instantly forgetting the mistake - it's in the past, you can't change it anyway, just go forward, get back on track. This is easier said than done, sometimes. But, it is the key. Stay in the moment, whatever the moment turns out to be. And I know that very soon, I'll be nailing every moment every night.

I must say, I was quite nervous for our first audience Friday night. Although we had done three or four solid runs in the rehearsal hall, we had only done one run with full tech and costumes in the theatre before our first show. Let me spell it out. We rehearsed in a rehearsal hall for five weeks, before moving into the theatre for four days of technical rehearsals. During tech, there are dozens of tiny little changes to the feel of the show. Spike marks change slightly for set pieces we move. Instead of a bright rehearsal room, everthing is now dark. Instead of hearing the rehearsal piano, we now have a full band being mixed through speakers and monitors. Sometimes you hear them great, other times you can barely pick out what key your in. Actors you've become accustomed to seeing as themselves, now have wigs on. Drinks are now used, instead of miming, or using water. Your own voice sounds different because we're all wearing microphones. Virtually each of our senses has been affected in this move from rehearsal hall into the theatre. So it's only natural for nerves to be a part of the equation. It takes the first few shows for all this to gel.

That being said, Friday night was a huge success. The cast was obviously primed and ready to finally do what we've been working so hard at, and there was definitely a palpable energy in the crowd. Applause flowed after the opening number ("Ces Soirees-La") was finished. On my first entrance (during "Silhouettes") - literally skipping and snapping across a catwalk - there were cheers. I definitely did not expect that, and it filled me with confidence. Ditto for the applause after I finished my first song ("I Can't Give you Anything But Love"). Five minutes in, and the amazing Jeremy Kushnier is getting all his laughs in our first scene together. This puts me at ease. After this, I can feel my breath settling deeper.

I screw up my first bit of choreography in "I Go Ape". It was bound to happen at some point, and I remember actually feeling relieved that it happened in that number, which is supposed to be funny anyway. But, I'm find myself tense again for my next song, "Moody's Mood For Love", which is one of the hardest in the show. I barely get through it without showing signs of the flop sweat that instantly came over me. Anyway, forget that. Move forward. Be in the Moment.

Things get back on track leading up to the first big moment in the play, "Sherry", the Four Seasons first Number 1 hit. The audience goes crazy. Seriously. I would describe what I heard as a 'roar'. That was the first thrilling moment of the night. "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like A Man" followed, with a few minor mis-steps on my part, but the crowd goes wild again. Thrilling moment #2.

A few minutes off stage, a few more scenes and songs, and I remember thinking the cast is really 'On' tonight. I can tell it's a special evening. You can feel it in the air.

Act 2 is like a 55-minute roller-coaster for me. Literally one thing after another. It's pretty much a blur in my mind right now, as it is when I'm actually doing the show. There's just zero time to think, to process how things went, what could be done better next time, what's coming up, what notes I got from the director for that scene - all the stuff that you can usually think about during the show. I remember nailing my little dance-break leading into "Beggin'". I remember the 'Sit-down' scene going really well. You could hear a pin drop. And of course, I remember the response to "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You". You want to talk thrilling? That was definitely Thrilling Moment #1, #2, and #3 all put together. I will never forget that moment. I was truly loving singing it to them, and they were loving hearing it. That's really cool.

Later in the act, I remember hearing sobs, sniffles, and tiny coughs during the "Fallen Angel" scene. That kinda threw me a little but, because its a private moment, when I'm at my most vulnerable. But, thinking back on it, it will be welcome to hear those sounds because it lets me know they are connected to my story. This moment goes right into "Rag Doll" which has to be the hardest song in the world to get right after doing the previous 30 minutes. On it's own, it's easy. But not in sequence. I remember making one or two obvious mistakes in the choreo. Whatever. I moved on.

The Final sequence with "Who Loves You?" and the Bows ("Oh What A Night, Reprise")were the cherry on top. Thrilling Moments #4 + #5. What a night, indeed! Standing ovations are never tiresome, as far as I'm concerned. They literally leaped to their feet. And stayed there, clapping and singing along.

After the show, we had about an hour of notes from the production team, to help us right the wrongs for the next show Saturday afternoon. And with each show, there is a different energy from the crowd. Different things are nailed, different things go awry. That's all part of the process of learning how to run this show in the theatre. I'm proud to say I did both shows Saturday and the Sunday matinee, and each one got a little bit better.

I am incredibly lucky to be playing this part, being in this Tony award winning show, and sharing the stage with so many multi-talented actors, singers, dancers, and musicians. I know that the Thrilling Moments are gonna keep on coming.

I can't wait to share this show with you all. Come see it soon. And for those of you who have seen the new cast, what are your favorite moments? Comment below.

Jersey Boy

2008-11-25T23:11:00.004-05:00

Hey Everybody,

So the worst-kept secret in town is no longer ...

I am thrilled to announce that I'll be playing Frankie Valli in the Toronto production of Jersey Boys! Our first show is Dec 12, 2008. Rehearsals are going extremely well as we gear up for opening.

The show is at the Toronto Centre of the Arts, 5040 Yonge St., just north of Sheppard Ave. It is just a 2-minute walk from North York Centre Subway Station.

Please check out Jerseyboystoronto.com for ticket information.

If you are planning to come see me in this show - and I highly recommend you do!!! - I want you to aware fo something...

***Please Note:
I will only be doing the evening shows, Tuesday through Saturday, plus the Sunday matinee. If you come to the Wednesday or Saturday matinee, Adrian Marchuk will be playing the part. It will still be a great show, I can absolutely guarantee it. You just won't be seeing me.

OK, friends, I hope to see you all there! Do send me a note when you're coming, and after the show stop by the stage door to say hi.

Take care, everyone.

How I Got To Jersey

2008-11-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

So, how did it all happen? Details, I want details! Well, it’s a long story...

JULY

In late July, a casting notice came to my agent for upcoming auditions as “future replacements” for the various productions of Jersey Boys around the world. There was no time line for when a job might come up. This audition was basically for the producers of Jersey Boys to keep a long list of potential actors from which to choose replacements, if and when the time should arise. It’s pretty standard stuff with these long-running commercial shows.

My agent and I thought it would be a good idea to audition, thinking long term. Maybe next summer when I would be free, if things went really well something might come up. The audition notice said to prepare a song of my choosing, and I was sent about a million pages of scenes to prepare for the character ‘Frankie Valli'.

So, I auditioned. First auditions are always really nerve-wracking. You do hours and hours of prep-work on your own, with nothing but your own instincts guiding you. You could be on right track, or you could be completely off base. I was asked to sing first. I didn’t love how I sang, but afterwards they tested my range – waaaaayyyyy up high. Like crazy-falsetto high. I thought – ‘Hmm, that’s a good sign’. I got no feedback. Then I did a couple scenes with a reader. 'That went pretty well,' I thought. Again, very little feedback. Then, finally, “OK, thanks…”, and I left the room. So, I went home, back to work at the Shaw, thinking nothing of it.

The next day I get a call saying they want me to come back later in the week. They want to do a “work session” with me. I’ll be spending half-an-hour getting direction on the scenes and character work, and 20-minutes working on three songs from the show (Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You, and Moody’s Mood). Oh yeah, and there’s a dance call, too. I remember thinking ,‘YES! This is a good sign!.

Then, I remember thinking, ‘UGHHHHH, Crap!’ Why a dance call??? I soooo love dance calls. They are so much fun. Too many guys thrown together into a room too small and too hot, trying to learn some choreography they’ve never seen before, and then performing this choreo in front of a panel an hour later. Even the memory of this makes me shudder.

Anyway, the work-session/dance call actually went well. I left that day feeling surprisingly upbeat. I got great feedback on the scenes and songs. And I didn’t fall over in the dance call. I felt, ‘Hey, maybe this thing could happen after all!’

The next day, back at Shaw, the phone rings. My agent Kish says "They want to fly you down to New York City to audition again, right away!" "That’s Awesome!!!" I say. "But, what for?" Kish explained that they were having some finals down there, and it seemed like I was being fast-tracked. Unfortunately, it turned out that I couldn’t make it - on the day of the audition, I had a 2-show day at Shaw. Ouch. I remember feeling really down. That one hurt.

AUGUST

About a month passed with no further word. Like before, I put it out of my mind… or at least I try to. Then, Kish calls with word of some final auditions in late September in Toronto. Same material as before, but for the original Broadway director. Oh, and another dance call, this time for the original choreographer. Yikes. I ask Kish, "But which production is it for – the US Tour, Chicago … Broadway?!?!?" "I don’t know. Nobody’s saying”, he replied.

SEPTEMBER

The day comes. We do the dance call. Luckily, it’s the same steps as before. I don’t fall down. Phew. My audition time comes. I go in. Say hi. Do the same three songs. “Good.” Do a bunch of scenes, one after another. “Good.” Silence. I wait. Then, “OK, thanks…” That’s it, about 10 minutes, and I walk out of the room.

Afterwards, I start feeling elated, actually. It was over!!! And, I did everything exactly the way I wanted to! Sure, I didn’t get a lot of feedback, but that’s nothing new. Amazing, isn’t it? All that work comes down to a measly 10 minutes in the room. What a crazy business I'm in.

So, I get the part, right? Not quite. A few days pass with no news. We get some feedback that they really liked me. Kish and I think, ‘OK, mission accomplished. Next summer, we got a chance at a great gig.’

A few days later, Kish is on the horn again. "Jeff, they want you to go back to New York." "What the heck for?" "I don’t know exactly, but they want you to audition for Bob Gaudio." "But I thought I was being seen for Frankie Valli." "No, Jeff – the real Bob Gaudio from the Four Seasons wants to see you. Same material… Congrats." Gulp. It seems that the finals weren’t really finals after all. Seems like Mr. Gaudio has some casting authority. It's all good, though.

One week later, I’m in a Yellow Cab and the driver is right out of the Sopranos. A real Jersey boy, he’s hilarious. Tells me about his friends, one who he helps out with his addiction to prescription meds, another who he gives advice to when he calls from his bender gambling trips to Vegas. I take this guy as a good sign. He should be a character from the show.

I’m put up at a nice hotel on 45th, right in the heart of Manhattan. Swank. I sleep well. I enjoy my leisurely morning before getting ready to go. It's a beautiful day, so I walk the 20 blocks to the audition studio. All is right in the world. The audition goes well. Same deal, quick hellos, say hey to Mr. Gaudio, do the songs, do the scenes, and Bob’s your Uncle. -Ish. I walk out of there feeling really good.

I fly back to Niagara, do my two shows and wait. I figure, ‘if they’re going to all this trouble and expense, they must really be interested in me’. But where? When? Who knows?

A couple days later, it’s Kish again. "Well, what’s the news?" I ask excitedly. "You have to go back to New York, Jeff. This time, Frankie Valli wants to see you." "WTF?!?!" I exclaim. "Any idea for which production, where, etc?…" "Nope. Just have fun."

OCTOBER

It’s the final week of my contract at Shaw, and as contemplate my future, I begin to dream about some well-earned time off. But a few days later, an interesting bit of information comes our way. It seems that the producers have officially decided to run a sit-down production of Jersey Boys in Toronto, to begin immediately after the touring production leaves town. Holy Crap. Now, it all starts to make sense.

Two days later, I’m back in NYC at the same hotel, eating the same breakfast, and walking to the same audition studio. But, this time, the nerves are different. I know what’s at stake. This is for all the marbles. It’s for Toronto. It’s for right now. It will very likely screw up my three upcoming contracts. And it could be the opportunity of a lifetime, if it works out.

My stomach is in knots. The audition starts 25-minutes late. And to make matters worse, the casting director wants us to read a paragraph of dialogue we’ve never done before. Finally, I go in. The real Frankie Valli is front and centre, staring at me. This must be really weird for him. He says something meant to make me feel at ease, but it doesn’t work. I feel like an imposter. ‘I don’t really know you’, I think. ‘I just learned some crazy high songs, and memorized some speeches. You’re gonna know I’m faking it.’

Crap! Time’s up. My mind is flitting about as I’m singing his songs. To him! I screw up a lyric here and there. ‘Jesus, man, hang on. You can do this,’ I tell myself. Somehow, I make it to the scenes. They go better. Maybe it’s because I have someone else to work off of. Phew! ‘Thank God there’s no dance call!’ I think. I walk out stirred, but not shaken. As I quickly change into my street clothes, I start thinking about how good that first drink is going to taste. (It was a Stella, and it tasted fabulous!!!).

When I get off the airplane, I turn on my phone. There’s a text from Kish. It has three words. ‘Offer coming tomorrow.’ Holy crap!!! I drive home floating on a cloud of Jersey goodness.

The week that followed was one of highs and lows, as it occurred to me just how quickly my life was going to change. First, my family has to move closer to Toronto. Second, we have to rent our house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The other 500 things can get done later. Rehearsals are set to begin November 3rd. That gives me 17 days to move, find a tenant, and accomplish all these other tasks. What a crazy business.

BUT, wait... the craziness wasn't over yet! The week before rehearsals begin, I have to fly back down to New York again. And from there, I'm off to Nashville, TN for three days of work with the real Bob Gaudio and renowned voice coach Katie Agresta. We work through about a dozen songs from the show, trying to find a way in to make Jeff Madden sound like Frankie Valli without killing Jeff Madden. It's a work-in-progress of course, and an amazing experience.

Can this crazy ride get any crazier? Something tells me, this is only the beginning!

I guess this is what comes of

BIG NEWS!

2008-10-27T01:21:00.006-04:00

IT’S OFFICIAL!

Well, sort of... It's official for me, just not for you yet.

In six weeks time, I’m going to be starring in a smash hit musical in Toronto. Unfortunately I can't write any more about it just yet. Although I have already started rehearsals, the company wants to make it's own casting announcement before I can tell you myself. Seems fair, doesn't it?

That's the good news. The bad news is, doing this show means I have to bow out of no less than three other engagements, which is a major bummer not only to me, but to the producers of those shows. I know for a fact that I’ve already been replaced by two awesome talents at Talk Is Free Theatre in Barrie for their upcoming productions of Kiss Me Kate and Variations on a Nervous Breakdown. Please, go see these shows – you will not be disappointed! And I’m sure that in the months to come, the same will unfold for The Boys in the Photograph in Winnipeg. I really, really wanted to do these shows. We tried very hard to work it out so I could do these shows and the new show, but it wasn’t meant to be. Unfortunately, sometimes these things happen in this crazy business.

I will have much more to say about the situation later, as soon as I'm given the green light. Meanwhile, I'll just say that my new and improved WEBSITE is almost ready to go. News about that will come soon, too.

Keep on Taking the Wheel, friends.

CHANGE!

2008-09-14T12:53:00.011-04:00

Well, folks, it appears I have something in common with Messrs Obama and McCain. I, too, pledge that CHANGE is coming! Here's an outline of the changes coming my way in the near future.

1. Upcoming Gigs

Yes, I've got some NEWS about some gigs I've got coming up this fall. Fans of Cole Porter might be interested to know that I'll be taking part in a Concert Production of KISS ME, KATE November 5 and 6 at Gryphon Theatre in Barrie, produced by Talk is Free Theatre.
Tim French will direct (we worked together on The Mystery of Edwin Drood at Shaw in 2001 and Lady, Be Good! at Manitoba Theatre Centre in 1999 - my first Equity show!). Ryan de Souza will lead the orchestra of 19 (!!!) and musical direct. Ryan and I have collaborated on at least 11 productions at Shaw over the last eight seasons, plus Playground at Talk is Free Theatre in Barrie in 2006.

Immediately after Kiss Me, Kate finishes, I begin rehearsals on a new and exciting piece of Canadian Musical Theatre called VARIATIONS ON A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. It is basically a song-cycle for 4 actors written by (and will be performed by, too) actor/singer/composer Jonathan Munro. Jonathan is currently acting in his third season at the Stratford Festival. Other cast members include Chilina Kennedy (who also stars in Shaw's Wonderful Town) and Elizabeth Beeler (whom I worked with in Scott White's Dance of the Dead). The show will be directed by none other than Richard Ouzounian (yes, he who moonlights as the Toronto Star theatre critic) and Reza Jacobs is musical director. It'll run from November 27 through December 6th at this point at TIFT's Downtown Theatre in Barrie. I can't wait to sink my teeth into some of his fresh, contemporary musical theatre tunes. Exciting!

After these two shows, I hope to have some down time over the holidays. I love having time off over the Christmas season to hang with our extended families. But I have a few irons in the fire for some work early in the new year, and hope to squeeze in one more show before heading west to Winnipeg March 16. (For those of you who didn't see the article in Playbill.com about THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, and all the dish to follow, check my Blog Post immediately below this one!)

2. New Website Updates

Yes, I've got the fine folks at Indiepool putting together a fab new website for me. Indiepool is the company that manufactured my CD 'Taking The Wheel'. Their design of the cool 12-page booklet and the layout of the many gorgeous pictures made me so excited that I had to have them design the website. And with so many of you complimenting me on the CD, I'm sure you'll love the new website too. Should be done sometime this fall.

3. Family Changes

No, not another baby - don't get excited. But, to fill you in on the kid situation, Sydney turns TWO years old this week, and is beginning Montessori school soon! Her vocabulary continues to make me feel inadequate most days.
And baby Emily turns six months old next week. She smiles all the time, has begun exploring her voice with a few Da-Da-Da-Da's (which makes me VERY happy!) and is already starting to creep around a bit. What a pleasure these girls bring us each and every day.

4. Leaving Shaw

This is perhaps the biggest change coming my way. Surprisingly, it has been eight years for me with this company, proving the old adage true once again, 'Time flies when you're having fun'. My life has changed tremendously during these eight years. Since my first season, I have gotten engaged, bought a condo, gotten married, learned to play cricket of all things, had a baby girl, moved into a new house, had another baby girl... oh, I almost forgot... and done 16 Shaw Festival productions among countless other readings, workshops, and projects.

Sure, I've worked elsewhere six or seven times in the winter between seasons, but I always knew I was coming back to Shaw. Well, not this year. When I leave Shaw this October 5th, I have no idea when I'll be back. That gives me an odd feeling. In some ways, I feel as though I have grown up here, both as an actor and as a man. I know it probably sounds corny, but The Shaw does feel like my home. I have always looked forward to coming back each year, to see so many familiar faces and places, to feel the comfort and excitement of beginning a new artistic journey in the friendly confines of Shaw's rehearsal halls. I will certainly miss that. I'm sure I'll write more about this in later posts.

Now, don't get me wrong, people. Change is not a bad thing. It's necessary. It's healthy. It's exciting! I am about to begin a new chapter in the book of my life, and like reading a good book, I'm anxiously looking forward to turning every page, to find out what's going to happen next. It's a thrilling feeling, this anticipation of discovering the future.

After all, that's what Taking The Wheel is all about. If I'm not driving, who is?

Comments? Click it. You know you wanna.

BOYS in the NEWS

2008-09-14T12:01:00.006-04:00

Hey Everyone,

For those of you who didn't catch it last month, a story promoting THE BOYS IN THE PHOTOGRAPH appeared in the mother of all Broadway theatre websites, Playbill.com.

Copy and paste this url into a new tab to read the full article entitled "Madden, McMillan and Peck to Star in Lloyd Webber and Elton's Boys in the Photograph": www.playbill.com/news/article/120410.html

Hmmmmm. This is a fascinating story. You may recall that my offer was to play the lead dude in TBITP in Winnipeg in April-May 2009, followed by a Toronto run in May-June. There were full-page colour ads in the newspapers advertising the show in the Mirvish season. Excited, I eagerly agreed. Then, things started to get, well, interesting. The contracts were slow to arrive. And when they did, they were quickly revised to eliminate the Toronto portion of the run. Meanwhile, the Toronto run of the show was still being advertised. Confused, we waited for answers, explanations, anything. None came. Nothing changed.

The popular sentiment was that maybe Mirvish had to pull out of the Toronto run because of their legal issues with their competitor, Dancap. But then this Playbill.com story appears August 13th, out of the blue, saying the show will play Toronto after all. But, no changes had been made to our contracts. Still confused, nobody I spoke to could figure out why this story ran when it did, nor why it still contained erroneous information.

Then, exactly one week later, the newspapers reported the court case between Mirvish and Dancap has been resolved in the Mirvish's favour. Meaning that they will go ahead with their purchase the Canon and Panasonic theatres, and program whichever plays they like. Good news! TBITP is going to play the Canon after all. Just like it says in the Playbill.com article, right?

Uh, not so fast, Mister. If one goes to the Mirvish website today (copy and paste this url: www.mirvish.com/ComingSoon/) it appears that their May-June show is none other than... RIVERDANCE! Huh?

It appears there may be other goings-on behind the scenes. I have some suspicions, but won't waste space on them here.

So, now what? These are the facts, as I know them. The Winnipeg run is still on. The Mirvish's are still co-producing TBITP with the Manitoba Theatre Centre, meaning they are throwing a bunch of money into the production. The Mirvish's still hold the rights to produce the show in Toronto, and apparently intend to do so. But nothing is set in stone.

OK. So, what am I going to do? Well, I actually decided months ago that I would go ahead and do the show anyway. I mean, in spite of all this crazy stuff, this is still a very good offer to play a great part in an exciting show with top-notch musical theatre artists. Trust me, these types of offers do not come along very often.

However, accepting it means I will not be back at Shaw next year, after eight consecutive seasons. It's taken quite a while, but after much soul-searching, I have come to peace with this decision. I believe getting this offer happened for a reason. I am ready to go wherever it takes me. Whatever happens, I know I'll land on my feet.

One thing's for sure, though. This story surely isn't over yet. I'd bet this journey continues to be very interesting!

Let me know what you think, friends. That little icon below that says "comments"... please use it.

Good News, Bad News

2008-06-06T01:11:00.002-04:00

It’s been a bit of a wild ride these past 10 days.

First, the Good:
A week ago last Saturday, we officially opened "Wonderful Town" to great reviews in all the major papers (NOT THAT I READ THEM). The sold out crowd was charmed into loads of laughs, making the evening a fun night for us on stage. We continue to run the show around four times a week through to October 5th, so plan to come on down to see it if you haven’t yet.

When I’m not running Wonderful Town, I was finishing tech rehearsals for "A Little Night Music". This past Sunday we did our first preview to an enthusiastic sold out house. Of course, it has been a lot of work, but learning this show has also been a fun and enriching experience . We have 15 more previews before our official opening July 4th, and each and every one of them is sold out! So, if you really want to see this show, book ahead!

Speaking of looking ahead, and proving that good news comes in threes, I will have the honour of singing in front of none other than Prince Edward. Yes, THEE Prince Edward. You know... 7th in line to the throne (I think). He’ll be in NOTL this weekend, and there is a function at which he will be entertained (or so we hope) by myself and four other Shaw folk. How cool is that? Actually, the Prince and I go way back. We met once before, in 1999 after a performance of “Emily” when he visited Charlottetown, PEI. After the concert I think we’re going bowling, then hitting the Angel for a few pints.

And now, here’s the Bad:
The Mirvish’s have backed out of the Toronto run of “The Boys in the Photograph”. This is the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Ben Elton musical that I was offered the lead in, which was to play in Toronto’s Canon Theatre after opening in Winnipeg. Well, it seems the Mirvish’s may be in a little legal trouble with another theatre producer, Dancap, over who runs the Canon. Dancap, the only other major commercial theatre producer in Toronto, is trying to block the Mirvish’s from using the space so that it can run its own plays there. Apparently they still hope to produce the show at some point down the road, but there is no guarantee of it happening.

So, it seems I have a major decision to make. I could still do the one-month Winnipeg run, and be a part of an amazing team debuting a new musical by a major composer, and then cross all my fingers and toes that there will be a future engagement of the show somewhere down the line. Or, I could turn this offer down and hope to be back at Shaw for a 9th season, where I have enjoyed myself immensely. I just can’t do both. It’s one or the other. It seems I have to make this major decision without knowing how it’s all going to work out. And it's not just me I've got to worry about these days. I've got to be on the lookout for Christine, Sydney and Emily too.

Ah, the life of an actor. You just never know how it’s all going to turn out. Good news, bad news, ups and downs. Just another week in the life. I can hear my Dad saying... “What? And quit show business?”

Support Canadian Talent

2008-05-13T23:40:00.009-04:00

Shawp Talk

Wonderful Town has been in previews for a while now, and has really hit its stride. People just love this show. They are warmed by the set and costumes, dazzled by the music, and finally overcome by it’s sweet story and sense of goodwill. That, and some amazing performances by the entire cast, led by the hilarious Lisa Horner. I am having a blast doing the comedy thing for a change. Our official opening night is 10 days away, May 24th. I’m told there are good seats available for performances through the end of June, but after that it gets tougher. So, book now and don’t be disappointed.

For a video with actual show footage, go to the following site, and click on the Video tab. It gives you all the info you need about our production: www.shawfest.com/web/content.asp?docid=1_3_2_1

When I’m not chewing the scenery in Wonderful Town - and believe me, I chomp away pretty good - you'll find me in rehearsal hall 3, working on A Little Night Music. The show is really coming along. The music is definitely a challenge to perfect, as is the complex staging of the show on the three-sided Courthouse stage. We are looking forward to moving into the theatre this Friday to begin technical rehearsals. June 1st is our first preview performance, with the official opening night July 4th. So, all you Sondheim fans, don't wait - A Little Night Music is the best selling show so far this season! Get your tickets now!

Field of Stars

I had so much fun last night. I had the privilege of singing in a concert celebrating the release of a new CD/Songbook called “Field Of Stars - Volume 2”. First, let me tell you about the book. The songbook is the second in a series dreamed up by Jim Betts, featuring 22 Musical Theatre songs written solely by Canadian composers. Included in the book is the sheet music to each song, plus two CDs. Disc 1 is a CD of all the songs recorded by various "stars" of the genre (including me, of course), and Disc 2 is a CD of just the piano accompaniment, so you can fire up the karaoke machine and sing along at home. It’s a great idea for any actor just starting out, or who is looking for new audition repertoire, or for any fan of canadian music who wants to listen to a kick-ass compilation of songs and/or play along on the piano.

So, this past fall I had the privelege to record two songs for the Songbook, and last night I got to sing them live at Statlers, a club downtown Toronto. The songs come from two shows very close to my heart : “One Face” from Tristan with composer Paul Sportelli accompanying me, and “Disappointed House” from Emily with composer Marek Norman at the piano. I am thrilled to say that both songs went over extremely well! It was so exciting - you could have heard a pin drop in the packed club. Actually the entire event was such a hit that they had to turn people away. Many people were forced to stand out on the sidewalk, listening through the open windows and doors. It was quite an inspiring night, to be surrounded by so many talented supporters of Canadian Musical Theatre.

If anyone is interested in buying a book, go to this site for a bunch of information: http://northernriver.com/FOS2Preview.html. I believe you can buy it at Theatrebooks and Song and Script in Toronto, two stores that coincidentally also carry my CD, "Taking The Wheel". And if you haven't picked that up yet, get on it already! There are 14 beautiful tracks of musical theatre and pop songs with all new arrangements. It's really fine stuff. Actually, the easiest way to buy my CD is through my website www.jeffmadden.ca, or if you're in town to see a show, pick it up at the Festival Theatre Shaw shop. If you must, download it on iTunes. But if you do, you won't get the lovely 12-page booklet with lots of beautiful photos and information on why I chose each song. Trust me, the booklet really completes the package.

Support Canadian musical theatre talent! And, you'll have the added bonus of knowing that you helped put my kids through university. Well, daycare, anyway. Cheers, everybody.

The New 'Normal'

2008-05-13T00:45:00.007-04:00

Lately, it seems like every post begins with an apology for not writing more often! The last post I wrote was exactly seven weeks ago today. I remember the day so well, because it was the day of Emily’s birth. I was so euphoric that day that I just had to post a photo and the good news right away. You see, tiredness had not yet crept in. Exhaustion was still around the corner. Collapse was several weeks away. In the meantime, whenever I even thought about blogging I began to laugh at the absurdity of that idea. Life has been such a blur. As you might imagine, having a newborn and a toddler and a 6-day-a-week job acting, singing and dancing takes a lot out of you. But I think we have now started to understand the new 'normal'.

Sleep. Hmmm, how can I put this... I really miss it. I miss being able to come home from work, maybe have a drink, relax, and finally hit the pillow knowing that eight hours later, I’ll gently wake up feeling wonderfully rested. These days, it’s a really great night when we get six hours of semi-interrupted sleep. On not-so-great nights, it’s more like four or five. After a week straight of crappy sleep you start to become some other person. Someone who bumps into things, mumbles two-word answers, and ceases to find anything funny. It’s rough a lot of the time. But somehow, we make it through.

We do, because in spite of everything, it’s unbelievably amazing.
Holding Emily as she squirms to find just the right position in my arms before falling asleep gives me an incredible feeling of joy.

And taking Sydney for a walk to the park these days is an amazing experience, listening to her say things like “Where are you, school bus?” and “Hi squirrel!” and “Oh Boy, the slide!”. These and a hundred other simple things a day give me such a sense of pride and contentment that it’s nearly impossible to describe. Crazy. And so, on we go stumbling around with smiles on our faces...

At this point I have to say that my incredible wife Christine is doing an amazing job holding it all together, managing motherhood with skill and grace. She got her great mothering instincts from her mom Ilse, just as I learned everything I know from my mom Jody. Happy Mother’s Day again to you three great ladies. There is no job more demanding than being a mother. What an undertaking. Thank you for doing such a great job, and for being such awesome grandparents.

Now, when can you come down to babysit???

Jeff in The Toronto Star today

2008-04-07T12:04:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Guess how surprised I was to see my picture in the Toronto Star today? Plenty.

The unedited article is at http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/410890

An edited bit of the article appears below. In the actual newspaper, there's a nice picture of me by David Cooper that accompanies the article, but it doesn't show up online.

***
"THEATRE NEWS

Sudden Spring Awakening

Apr 07, 2008 04:30 AM
Richard Ouzounian
Theatre Critic

SHAW'S SUNSHINE BOYS

It also seems Shaw is proving a propitious place for its young actors these days. Three recent or current company members are all currently facing sunny scenarios.

Jeff Madden, star of last season's Tristan and still with the company this year, has reportedly landed the leading role in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton's The Boys in the Photograph, which the Mirvishes will be presenting next season."
***
Just to set the record straight, it is true that I have been offered the male lead in the show. However, my agent and I have not even begun contractual negotiations with the theatre producers. So, it is not a done deal yet. Far from it, actually.

I am very excited about the prospect of doing this role in this show next year. I hope that negotiations move ahead smoothly, and I fully expect to make an official announcement soon. 2009 could be a very interesting year indeed.

For more information, check back here in the coming days.

Until then, keep on Taking the Wheel.

New Baby News!

2008-03-24T23:17:00.007-04:00

Today was the day!!!

And in this corner, weighing in at an intimidating 8 pounds 12 ounces, measuring over 21 inches tall, in the pink trunks and knitted cap concealing a shock of black hair, Emily Rose Madden!!!

Yes sir, at 5:34am Monday, March 24, 2008, Emily Madden became a citizen of Planet Earth. Both Mother Christine and baby Emily are doing extremely well, resting at home. I couldn’t be happier with my amazing wife and two fantastic girls by my side.

Big sister Sydney, who is just 18 months old herself, is very sweet towards her new little sister. She asked me to pass this note along to you all on her behalf: “It is with prodigious delectation that I welcome Emily into our family unit. With firm conviction, I believe she will possess the facility, willingness and initiative to be an expert servant to my each and every whim, as any younger sister should. Peace out.” Wow, those Baby Einstein DVDs are really paying off, huh?

But seriously folks, it has been a bit of a struggle for us these last few months. As some of you know, Christine had a tougher time with this pregnancy than with the first. Basically, with her being unable to work and care for Sydney full-time, we were extremely fortunate to have the love and support of both of our families for extra help. But, an extra loud shout out must go to Christine’s mother Ilse. We couldn’t have made it through with your tremendous help. Thank you sooooo much to all the Maddens and Bajins!

"So, give me details, Madden! How did it happen?" Well, the discussion begins and ends with Christine. She is Superwoman. Not only did she have the consideration to go into labour on my day off, she was extremely efficient. The labour and birth were finished in near-record time (you won’t believe me, so I won’t bother telling), she ate, rested, recovered, and walked out of the hospital by 5pm. Not bad for a day’s work. Keep in mind, Emily weighed almost nine pounds. Like I said, Christine is Superwoman. Oh, and we’re seriously considering changing Emily’s middle name to Torpedo.

For now, we will take it a day at a time at Christine’s family's home in Oakville. In a couple weeks, we will move back home to Niagara, and try to get back to normal. Whatever the heck that is.

Lucky for me, being sleep-deprived will suit my klutzy awkward character in Wonderful Town just fine. If I happen to incorporate slurring speech and narcolepsy into the mix - no one will know the difference! But, I think I’m screwed in A Little Night Music, which starts rehearsal in a week. Those high B-flat’s scare me - there’s no faking that in rehearsal. Holy crap. One way or the other we will get through this! What a memorable summer it is going to be!

Oh, and stay tuned for thousands of ridiculously sappy baby pictures!!!!

And, with that, in Sydney’s words, Peace Out.

Wonderful Shaw

2008-03-20T01:16:00.004-04:00

Greetings to my Taking The Blog devotees! I trust you have all had exciting winters and like me, have come out of hibernation full of energy, ready to Take the Wheel of your lives yet again. Here’s the latest news from all things Madden.

Well, we are already one month into my current season at the Shaw Festival. That’s number eight, for all of you counting out there. Seriously, time does fly when you’re having fun. As I mentioned on a previous blog post, this season I will appear in the musicals Wonderful Town and A Little Night Music.
Wonderful Town starts preview performances in two weeks, and we’ve been busy putting the show together in the rehearsal hall. And so far, things have definitely been Wonderful. With a capital W. (Insert snap here.) The show tells the story of two sisters from Ohio who leave their humdrum lives at home to “make it” in New York City, circa 1935. One is a plain-looking writer, one is a pretty actress, and they meet all sorts of interesting people (read: nut bars that only exist in Musicals, of which I play one) as they gradually succeed in their endeavors.

I must admit, upon first reading the script last year, the show seemed a bit ... oh, I don’t know... bland. But, let me tell you, I was wrong! To me, the show is a perfect afternoon or evenings diversion, full of heart, warmth, and generosity of spirit. I can’t imagine an audience member not enjoying him/herself, not smiling, or not getting on board inside the first half hour. After that, though, its complete crap -- No! Just kidding. It’s just a really sweet show, sure to please the crowds.

Rehearsals started as they always do at Shaw with a focus on learning the music. Although I had not heard any of the tunes before, I was surprised at the number of beautiful melodies and gorgeous harmonies, fitting together perfectly with the witty lyrics. For you Shaw history buffs (or, basically for you, Mom and Dad, who come to every show I’m in 23 times), Wonderful Town lyricists Comden and Green also wrote the lyrics for Shaw’s unforgettable 2003 production of On the 20th Century. Who could forget the image of Bridget Robinson’s religious wing nut hanging on for dear life to the front of the train? Wonderful Town’s Music composer is Leonard Bernstein, the composer of West Side Story’s classic score. Who could forget seeing me onstage with the ballet at the Opera House this past winter doing West Side Story Suite? Oh dear, the ballet. My woo-woo still has the boo-boo from the tu-tu. But I digress...

Back to the program. The other great joy so far has been playing Frank Lippencott, the manager of the Walgreen’s drugstore on 44th Street. Frank is the type of guy who, upon first meeting is totally normal and sweet, the kind you’d bring home to Mom. Then, as you get to know him, you find out he’s a FREAK! My, how I have embraced my inner geek, my inner klutz, my inner awkwardness. I know what you’re all thinking... Inner? My ass! I am an awkward geeky klutz! Huh... What do you know anyway?

So, yeah, that’s about it for now. Do plan on coming to see Wonderful Town this summer - it’ll only play 643 times, so book ahead!!! And when you do come, please send me a note either before your trip or during the show. I always like to know who’s in the crowd. There will be more updates to come, as we get into previews of Wonderful Town and rehearsals of A Little Night Music. You can count on me to keep you posted.

The Year in Review

2007-12-14T00:21:00.001-05:00

As I type away this December morning, flakes of snow steadily fall onto our back deck, putting me in a suitably reflective mood. It is the perfect setting for the occasion... looking back, and looking forward.

2007 was a banner year for my family and I. Sydney grew from an infant to a toddler to a little girl right before our eyes. She now has 10 teeth, weighs 20 pounds, and has started calling Christine “Mamma”. She also throws and kicks everything in sight, recites poetry, does woodwork, and plays the english horn. Left-handed. Quite a fascinating child, really.

There was a great family Christmas get-together in Windsor a few weeks back, there was Sydney's first Halloween and Birthday parties, her first trip to the hospital, and her first scary high fever. Lots of milestones.

In August, we said goodbye to the “Grounds” at Sis’s place and moved all our belongings from her tiny rental cottage into our great new house.To my delight, we still have about 25 boxes of crap in the basement to sort through, but the upstairs in looking sharp. Needless to say, we love our place, love the location, and hope to settle down here for a good many years.

What else? Oh Yeah, I released my debut CD “Taking the Wheel”, I performed in Mack and Mabel 124 times (I wish I was kidding), and I premiered the first new Canadian musical at the Shaw Festival, (Tristan), receiving great notices for each. Artistically speaking, it was a wonderful year.By the way, the CD would make a great last minute Christmas gift, for all you music lovers out there... stocking stuffer... drink coaster... is this thing on?... hello ... anybody ... Bueller ... go to www.jeffmadden.ca ... ugh.

Christine returned to work after her year of maternity leave to begin a new position in the Niagara region, with new teammates and new clients, and did it all with her usual class and style. She’s now calling on Pediatricians, funnily enough, and is focused on promoting a treatment for attention deficit disorder.

And to top it all off, she is now 24 weeks pregnant with what I’m told will be our second daughter. Oh, for all you poolies out there, Vegas is laying 5-2 odds. Get your names and due dates in now for the pool... winner take all. And, I’m sorry, but Sausage is already taken (Thanks, Alison). You’ll have to choose another name. By the way, the baby is due mid-to-late March.

So, what’s next on the agenda? November 12th marked our five year wedding anniversary, and since we got married on a Caribbean cruise, we decided to celebrate the same way! Yes, this Sunday morning we are flying to Fort Lauderdale and boarding the Millennium, a Celebrity Cruise ship headed for the Eastern Caribbean.We’ll be joined there by both my parents and Christine’s parents, just like our wedding cruise, as well as her brother Markus. This will be Sydney’s first flight (uh oh), and of course, her first cruise, but judging from how well she handled bungee jumping and hang-gliding, she should be just fine. Oh, we’re stopping in Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, and Haiti for those who want to follow on Google Earth or something. Once back in Fort Lauderdale, we’ll drive to North Port, near Sarasota to spend a couple weeks of R + R at a home owned by Christine’s grandparents. We’ll be back to the bitter cold in early January.

That’s all the news that’s fit to print. From the bottom of our hearts, Christine and I wish everyone a truly happy holidays. Raise a glass to a fabulous 2007 and a great 2008! Cheers, everyone.

Back at Shaw

2007-12-13T23:57:00.000-05:00

I can now officially report that I will be back at the Shaw Festival next year, for what will be my eighth consecutive season. I begin rehearsals on February 18th (an early start), and will end my run October 5th (three weeks sooner than normal). And, if you like musicals, and if you like seeing your man Jeffy in them, Oh Boy, you are in luck! Next year I might be in three of them!!!

Wonderful Town is the big show on the Festival Theatre stage, previewing April 1st, opening May 24th and running till October 5th. This is a zippy, entertaining, old fashioned musical comedy, which concerns the fates of two sisters from small town USA arriving in New York City to pursue their dreams. It’s based on the novel and film “My Sister Eileen” and features a score by Leonard Bernstein. I’m playing Eileen. Well, not really. I have a nice little part though, Frank, a sweet young guy smitten with one of the leads (Yes, for those of you keeping score, I was Frank in last year’s show too, a sweet young guy smitten with one of the leads... but I digress...) By the way, on the left of that photo, that really blurry guy is me. It took a lot of prep to find my inner blur, you know.

A Little Night Music is the smaller show on the Courthouse Stage, previewing June 1st, opening July 4th, and running till October 4th. This beautifully artistic show concerns the fates of three mismatched couples weekending in the country under Sweden’s mysterious Midnight Sun. Based on Ingmar Bergman’s film, this is one of Stephen Sondheim’s greatest shows. I have an interesting part, playing one of five story-teller chorus members, facilitating and commenting on the story through song. (Ok, I’m a chorus boy. Whatever. Moving on...)

And speaking of Sondheim, the Shaw is presenting another of his shows, Follies: In Concert, for only four performances August 29th, September 12th , 27th and October 4th. I may be involved in this one too, if I have any voice left. More info on that show to come.

All of this means, I will be rehearsing virtually the entire season. Hooray!!! What, and quit showbiz??? I'm Taking the Wheel, after all. Check the Shaw's great website for tonnes of useful information... www.shawfest.com

What I'm Watching

2007-12-08T00:12:00.000-05:00

Greetings and Salutations. This just in - it’s freaking cold! Winter is here, and with it, a new blog post to fill you in on some of what’s happening in my life.

One of the good things about being between gigs is that I get to see more shows. In the past few weeks, I’ve seen three big musicals in Toronto, and a handful of movies too. I find that seeing other people’s work helps me define what I like best about my work. Sometimes, it’s a fun few hours of entertainment. But other times it can make me think, and even inspire me to work harder at my craft.

First off, I took Christine to see Dirty Dancing for our 5th Anniversary. The movie made a big impact on both of us - come on, we were only 13! - so we were both excited to see the musical based on it. However, we were both disappointed with the result. It’s not a musical in the traditional sense of the word. What it was, was a very literal translation of the movie script onstage. Which is fine, I guess, but it was very slow moving, way too long show and took itself way too seriously. My eyes got sore from rolling so much. I wanted to shout at the writer and director, “We want to see them having fun! Dancing more! Singing more! Zip it along, people! It ain’t Shakespeare!” Anyhoo, if you REALLY love the movie, this is the show for you!

Next up, I saw the John Doyle’s touring version of Sweeney Todd. Sweeney is one of my all-time favorite shows, due to its intensely powerful score, incredibly clever lyrics, and well, it’s overwhelming Evilness. In this version, the actors literally ARE the orchestra. Which is an interesting gimmick on the one hand, and certainly peaked my interest. But, also, it’s one hell of a challenge to cast it. What was lost in pure volume and power of the acting and score was made up for in ingenuity of concept and design. Overall, I’m glad I bought my ticket. Just to see this show live, and performed by such multi-talented artists was inspiring. But, I still crave to see this show done more traditionally, where the full power of its story forces you to succumb to Sweeney’s charms.

Lastly, I took in Little Shop of Horrors at Canstage. This is a quirky show to say the least -- not many musicals feature a talking and singing plant, let alone one that eats people. I first saw the movie of Little Shop featuring Canadian Rick Moranis way back in the 80s, and have had a mini-crush on the show ever since. This was the first time I’d seen it live, and was surprised at how many tuneful songs came back to me upon hearing just the first few bars. Soulful pop sounds filled the air, and the cast grew on me as the show went on. It was a bit uneven, overall, but still an enjoyable night out at the theatre.

I’ve also caught a few movies over the last month. I would say 80% of the movies I see in a year are between November and February. That’s when I’m most often free, but it’s also when the best movies of the year are released, with the studios all vying for Oscar votes. These days when I see a good movie I get a very strong urge to act in front of the camera more. It was always a plan of mine to act in film and television as well as theatre, but things have worked out so well with Shaw that there is very little time to do anything else! The drive is still there, though...

Lions for Lambs features great actors and a bad script. Doesn’t matter how great the actors are - and Robert Redford and Meryl Streep are great - if the script sounds like it was written by a high school political science student, the movie ain’t gonna fly. I wish movies like this were better! The message is a good one, however.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is much better. It’s a dark and twisted story about a dark and twisted family. It also features a great cast, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman and Marisa Tomei, but here the director and writer pull you into the story, making you think with their time-jumping and other clever techniques. It’s not for the faint of heart, however.

Gone Baby Gone is an average film, at best. It’s Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, and he does a nice job. The thing about this movie that bugged me was the ending. The last 20 minutes features a really stupid plot twist. I mean, downright ridiculous. A better ending, and this would be a very good film. Ben’s brother Casey does a nice job in the lead, as does Amy Ryan as the worst mother you’d ever want to meet.

American Gangster stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. It could have been a fantastic film, but is merely very good. These two guys are kept apart for most of the movie, as you’re drawn in to the good guy- bad guy aspect of the story. But when finally they meet, there are few fireworks to push us towards a less than great finish. But seeing these two stars at the top of their game was definitely worth the price of admission.

OK, everybody, now it’s your turn. If you have seen any of the above shows/movies and want to add your two cents, go for it! Use the Comment icon below to leave it here, or e-mail me and I’ll post your comments on the blog. Or, if there are other great shows you’ve seen and recommend, write about those instead. Oh, the fun we’ll have on these cold winter nights! Until next time, Cheers.

My West Side Story - Part 2

2007-11-14T15:58:00.000-05:00

I had a good night’s sleep and felt great about what was to come today, Thursday November 8, 2007: in the afternoon, the final dress rehearsal for the understudy ballet dancers, and then Opening Night, baby!

So what did I do in the morning before my big day? I gots ma hairs done, of course! As I’m walking out of the salon feeling all sexy-like, I notice I have a new message on my cell phone. When I realize it’s from our esteemed Conductor David Briskin, I stop dead in my tracks. In his gentle voice, he calmly tells me to get my butt to the theatre ASAP because the Director has decided to have me sing my solo up on-stage!

I kinda freak out -- It’s great news... but it’s Opening Night for God’s Sake! The director wants me ON-STAGE? NOW??? After all the rehearsals, the sound-checks, the headphone-level checks, getting used to the sound in the pit (where I was READING my score, off my MUSIC STAND) now I have to perform it in front of 2000 people, memorized, at the new state-of-the-art Opera House, and make it look like I’ve been rehearsing it like that for weeks! No problem, right? He couldn’t have thought of this idea, oh, I don’t know, YESTERDAY??? Or maybe earlier in the week after one of our run-throughs? The odd thing about it is, the only other time this ballet has been performed in the world - in New York City in 1996 - at the same director’s ballet company, the singer was on-stage! It might have occurred to him, oh, I don’t know ... 10 years ago!!! But apparently not. Oh well, at least my hair would look good... But I digress...

So, I arrive at the the final dress rehearsal just before the beginning of “Glass Pieces”, and quickly warm up in my dressing room. 15-minutes later, during the first intermission, I get hooked up with a body-mic, and we try to squeeze in a sound check before Act 2 starts. I have to say, it did not go well. While I’m singing, I try to figure out what I’m hearing. Unfortunately I find the sound from the stage WAY different than from the pit. My voice was ringing around the hall so much that I lost track of the orchestra now beneath me. I forgot my lyrics, I lost my pitch, and got off the beat. YIKES. We stop. The sound guys, the conductor and I chat about it for a minute, and they make a few adjustments. We begin again, but we are stopped halfway through the song. Time was up. They were on a tight schedule, and Act 2 had to start.

I walk off stage with my head spinning a bit. I started getting really nervous, thinking that maybe the sound would still be such a problem for me that I’d blow the song on Opening Night, which could seriously affect the whole show. Back in my dressing room, I keep running the lyrics over and over until Act 3 is about to start.

When I get down to the stage for the run-through of West Side, the sound guys tell me that they have boosted the orchestra in an off-stage monitor so I won’t get lost. Feeling relieved, my cue comes and I walk out there to sing it for real - my one and only crack at it before the Opening Night audience. My heart pounding, I was like a bunny in the headlights. I notice all the seats in the theatre, I see the production team sitting out there talking to one another, and to top it off the orchestra still sounds too quiet. With all these things racing through my mind, I mess up a few lyrics off the top, but somehow get through the song. Afterwards, I ask for even more orchestra in the monitor, and I was told they would do what they could for the show that night. With my solo now done and the run-through still going on, I head down to the pit to finish the show, only to find the plexi-glass walls gone from around our microphones. Ch-ch-ch-changes...

In my 10 years of theatre experience, usually by Opening Night there are zero last-minute surprises. You spend so much time in rehearsal polishing and tweaking, making things just right. You have a few preview performances to get the feel of how an audience might affect the show. Everyone’s confidence is about as high as it will be. But I could remember nothing in my past that would help me here.

I spend the break from 4:00 - 7:30pm visualizing myself singing on the stage (with the correct lyrics, of course) and convincing myself that everything will be fine. It was mind over matter. And before I knew it, it was SHOW-TIME. I was focused and confident, and ready. I love this music so much, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could overcome these obstacles, and to prove to the brilliant Mr. Briskin that he was right to hire ME, and not some other guy. The audience won’t know that I just got up on-stage that very afternoon. They expect me to knock it out of the park.

I don’t know if I knocked it out, but I certainly smashed a bases-clearing double. I did it! I was nervous all right, but somehow I nailed all the lyrics, hit all the notes, and maintained my composure. The applause carried me off-stage, and into the safety of the wings, while my arms and legs were tingling with the adrenaline of the big moment. My sound guy Greg smiles at me. “So, did you have fun?” he asked. I pause to process it all... “NO!” I said exasperated. “It was frickin' hard!”

The rest of show goes off without a hitch, and the crowd obliges with a standing ovation. Even us singers are given a bow up on-stage, and if you've ever been to the ballet, you know how long the bows can be! It was at that point when it finally sunk in. What a sense of relief and accomplishment I felt. Amazing, this job. All in a days work, I guess.

Since that first show, I have had A LOT OF FUN singing my solo on-stage, and singing the finale from the pit. It’s been a wonderful experience, a learning experience, and one that I won’t forget for a long time. Sometimes, things are NOT what they appear to be. Was it the easiest gig I have ever had? As it turns out, no freakin’ way!

"What, and quit showbiz?"

Not me.

My West Side Story - Part 1

2007-11-11T12:19:00.000-05:00

The day was Wednesday November 7, 2007, the day before Opening Night of "West Side Story Suite" with the National Ballet of Canada. The dancers have been preparing this ballet for months, and were very ready to bring it to an audience. And despite this being only my eighth day of rehearsal, I was ready too, mostly because I sing for a total of about four minutes in the show. Remember when I said this was the easiest gig I've ever had?

I arrived at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (that’ll be the last time I use its full name... jeeesh) at about 11am for the beginning of rehearsal. Since the show is a mixed program made up of three short 1-act ballets, with "West Side" being Act 3, I had the chance to watch the first two ballets. Both were quite enjoyable, and considering they were all choreographed by the late Jerome Robbins, surprisingly different from one another and from West Side Story. “Glass Pieces” is a modern piece set to the minimalist music of Phillip Glass. The dancers wear bright, colourful one piece spandex suits, and move about the stage swiftly in pleasing geometric patterns and formations. It was really cool. The second act is called “In The Night” and is a romantic period piece, set to four Chopin Nocturnes, played on solo piano. In each of the first three scenes, a couple dances a pas-de-deux, and in the fourth scene, the three couples' stories surprisingly all come together. It was very beautiful. And, in an interesting coincidence, the last Nocturne in this ballet is the same nocturne featured in the musical Tristan I just finished doing at Shaw. It was a real treat to hear this beautiful piece of music in its entirety, and it brought back some warm memories of this past summer.

Then, it was our turn to put "West Side" together for the first time in the Opera House. I want to share my thoughts with you all, because it was such a new and fantastic experience. Try to picture me, sitting there in the pit of the brand new state-of-the-art Opera House in Toronto, amongst the 63-piece orchestra (YES, 63 pieces!), with a ballet happening three feet above my head. The pit is enormous, much larger than the pits I’ve ever seen, and it’s surprisingly almost completely open to the auditorium. Only the vey back of the pit is covered, and that's where we five singers were situated, dead centre. From our vantage point, not only could we see the conductor perfectly, who was on a raised platform, but we could also see about 1000 seats in the house. Yikes. I got a bit giddy, knowing that soon those seats would have bums in them, and the people that own those bums will be able to see us, too!

The sound department had set up for us a pseudo-studio (say that five times fast), complete with headphones, music stands, and plexi-glass walls from the floor to the roof (the underside of the stage). Hey, wasn’t that a Phil Collins song from the 80’s? Pss-pss-pss-pseudo-studio-ooooo... but I digress.

Next we did a sound check of the mics and monitors, taking care to make sure we can hear ourselves singing over the orchestra. Then, we started. I could barely contain myself as the orchestra tore into the Prologue. Bernstein's music is so fantastic, and here I was, right in the middle of this driving enormous orchestra, thinking 'They're actually paying me to sit here and listen to this!'. A couple minutes later however, I freak out, remembering, 'oh shit, now I have to sing!'. My solo is called “Something’s Coming” and as I'm singing it, I can hear the footsteps of our 'Tony' dancing above my head. Thankfully it goes well, and there are no sound difficulties. I have a good mix coming through my headphones, and am comfortable.

Then I sit back and relax for nearly 20 minutes and enjoy the music. “The Dance at the Gym” is unbelievable. To my immediate right is the percussion section, where four guys are banging away, laying down that infectious Mambo rhythm. I think about how my Dad would be salivating and jumping up and down right now if he were sitting with me. It is mind-blowing watching them switch between vibraphone to xylophone, from wood blocks to cowbells, from bongos to timbales, from tambourine to timpani with incredible efficiency and precision. David Briskin, the conductor and musical director is great fun to watch, too. He is a real artist, and you can see the passion he has for the music on his face as he leads the musicians through the numerous changes of keys, time signatures and feel. Later, in “Cool”, another smile comes across my face as the lead trumpet player goes crazy, blowing some impressively strong high notes. In “America”, the four female pit singers - Melissa, Loiuse, Robyn, and Gabi - sing the choruses in 3-part harmony, to fill out the singing from the dancers on-stage. Soon after, Melissa sings “Somewhere”, and then the five of us join the full company singing the Finale, a reprise of “Somewhere”. The whole thing goes well, and we all are excited and confident for tomorrow’s Opening Night Performance. I thank my lucky stars as I head home for a good night's sleep. Life is good.

Part 2 of My West Side Story is coming soon, where I'll share with you just how surprising things can get on Opening Night!

Ballet Beginnings

2007-10-30T07:37:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I started rehearsals for West Side Story Suite, with the National Ballet of Canada. That’s right - Canada’s National Ballet company. No, I’ll not be wearing point shoes and a tutu, Jeté-ing across the stage singing “I Want To Live In America”, much as you’d all like to see, I'm sure.

The show is a 30-minute ballet piece that first premiered in 1996 with the New York City Ballet, and is part of a 3-act night of mini-ballets created by Jerome Robbins, the choreographer and director of the original musical West Side Story and the Oscar-winning movie.

The ballet company has been rehearsing this show for a couple months now, and I, along with four other female singers have been added in to the mix just nine days before opening night, November 8th, 2007.

I know what you’re thinking... So what exactly am I doing in this show? Answer: Not much. The show begins with the memorable Prologue, after which I sing the shows first song, “Something’s Coming” while the dancer portraying ‘Tony’ acts out his character’s story. Then I sit and watch. Later, I sing a short reprise of “Somewhere” in the finale, and take my bow. That's it. This could be the easiest gig I will ever have in the career.

We five singers will be singing into microphones from the orchestra pit. A 40-piece orchestra will provide the glorious music, and the dancers will provide the rest, including some singing and dialogue.

Yes, this element could be the most intriguing aspect of this production. Hmmm... ballet dancers singing and speaking. The best ballet dancers move us through of beauty of their movements. Relating all this passion through movement is accomplished by drilling the technique of dance, which, fundamentally goes counter to the technique of producing sound. To dance ballet is to hold your stomach tight, to suck in for all you’re worth, to be as long and elegant as possible. Alternatively, speaking and singing comes from being as relaxed as possible through the stomach, allowing the diaphragm to expand down and out. To see how these brilliant dancers can accomplish this seemingly impossible task will be something I look forward to during this run.

So, back to the details of yesterday’s rehearsal. After a quick sing-through with musical director and conductor David Briskin to solidify tempos, intros and harmonies, we gathered into the large rehearsal hall at the Walter Carson Centre. There, the dancers were running through some exercises, generally warming up before the “stumble-through”. (That's what we call it in the musical theatre world, although here, it seems rather ill-named). There was a palpable excitement as the two groups eyed one-another for the first time, anticipating what was about to happen. It felt like we were the Jets and they were the Sharks, only we were outnumbered 30 to five!

Greeting us was Rex Harrington, former star dancer, and Karen Kain, who besides being a former star dancer is the company’s current Artistic Director. (Interestingly, both Rex and Karen appeared acting and singing the Christmas Panto a few years ago, which was produced by her husband Ross Petty, lest we forget ... but I digress). And then, they’re off! Those memorable melodies floating out of the piano inspired some brilliant and passionate dancing, right before our eyes. Even in their rehearsal sweats, I could imagine the show coming together in front of 2000 raptured audience members. It was really cool to be literally five feet away from them, watching them work through their show, intensely focused, sweat dripping off their brows, encouraging one another on after each number. And I’m getting paid to do this!

Let me correct myself, this surely is the easiest gig I will ever have in my career. No doubt about it. Usually, it’s me up there, busting my butt trying to learn the steps, trying to find my spikes on the floor as I whip set pieces around the stage, legs cramping up at night, bruises blooming deep purple. Not this time! I look forward to the remaining 2.5 weeks of this job. And not just because I can sit back and watch their beautiful bodies do it. Because, later, I can tell everyone I did a show with the National Ballet.

Keep taking that wheel, everyone. Because if you don’t someone else is in control.

Cheers!

Jeff

Endings and Beginnings

2007-10-28T12:55:00.001-04:00

Today, we close down Mack and Mabel after 124 fabulous performances. It’s a bittersweet time for most of us. On one hand, we must shed the skins of the characters that we put so much effort into creating - and wearing - for the last 8 months. We must say goodbye and leave behind the many friends that we’ve made, even if its only for a few months. On the other hand, however, we will have the lasting memories of the time spent entertaining the hundreds and hundreds of audience members day in and day out. We will have the laughter and joy that we shared together in those crazy backstage antics that just seem to follow us around in the theatre.

But in the end, everything has its season, and it is time to move on. Four performances a week over 24 weeks is enough of doing anything! That’s one of the great things about being an actor -- you never get too bored of your work. There’s always another job around the corner and with it comes a new character to play and a new world to live in.

In my case, my new job begins tomorrow morning! I’m thrilled to be starting West Side Story Suite with the National Ballet of Canada at the new opera house in downtown Toronto. It is part of a 3-act night of ballet featuring the dance pieces of renowned choreographer Jerome Robbins. I’ve never worked with a ballet company before - not many actors have, I can assure you - but I am ready for something new. I don’t know if I’ll be on-stage with them yet or not, but I do know that I will be singing with a 40-piece orchestra! I am really excited about that. More details to come on this one.

After West Side Story Suite finishes, I’ll be taking some time off to be Sydney’s full-time caregiver until the Christmas break. At that time, the three of us will be vacationing down south for a few weeks. Other plans for the winter include doing a little renovating in the basement and rubbing Christine’s feet as we get ready for another season at Shaw, and more importantly, another baby girl! Yes, by the end of March our family will have a 4th member. We are over the moon about it.

Until next time, keep on taking the wheel. If you don’t, somebody else is in control.

Cheers!
Jeff

Hello Again!

2007-08-26T18:48:00.000-04:00

My heartfelt apologies for taking so long to post another entry. Over the next week or so I hope to get you caught up with what's been keeping me so busy this past month.

Rest assured that while my life has been busier than ever, I have never been happier. Everything is good.

Tristan opened and is being received very well by audiences at the Courthouse Theatre at The Shaw Festival. Mack and Mabel is still getting standing ovations, night after night down the road at the Festival Theatre. Christine and I are feeling settled in our new house in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Little Sydney celebrated her 11th month on the planet by walking unassissted, and she has barely stopped since. Birthdays were feted, family gatherings were enjoyed, and weddings were attended. In short, it's been a full month.

Before you go, check out my newly updated website, at www.jeffmadden.ca. I'm going to be adding content slowly over the next few weeks, so keep checking back to see what's new.

All the best, everyone.
Jeff

TRISTAN in the News

2007-07-09T23:11:00.000-04:00

WELCOME Faithful Readers!

It's been a good week. TRISTAN is getting ready to take centre stage at the Shaw. We finished Technical rehearsals this past week, and are in good shape leading into our first Preview performance, this Thursday July 12th. The lighting cues are stunningly beautiful, the scenes flow into one another smoothly now, and we have finally added the gorgeous costumes. Best of all, after all these technical rehearsals, we ran the play and it's better than ever. (That is not always the case, as sometimes you "lose the show" for a few days after Technical rehearsals.) We have only two more chances to run the show, and work out any last minute kinks before our first audience. These are exciting times!

Another cool thing happened this week. I was asked to take part in an interview about TRISTAN for the Toronto Star. On Thursday at 11am, Richard Ouzounian (theatre critic and entertainment reporter for The Star) and I spoke by phone for 15 minutes. He also interviewed Glynis Ranney, the show's leading lady, and Jay Turvey and Paul Sportelli, the show's writers. Later in the day, a photographer from The Star came down to take photos of the four of us for the article. It was a fun experience. I've known Richard for a long time, (I premiered "Emily", one of his musicals at The Charlottetown Festival) and thankfully he made the interview fun and easy. I know he has a soft spot for any Canadian Musical, haven written many himself. He wants to see TRISTAN succeed.

Lo and behold, there it was, in Sunday morning's Toronto Star, on the front cover of the Entertainment section, a full-page, full-colour photo of Glynis and I, with Jay and Paul in the background! The article was on page 6, with another large photo of the four of us. Sections of the article appear below:

************************
Embracing The Music Of Love - Paul Sportelli and Jay Turvey have created a new musical that tells a timeless love story
July 08, 2007 - RICHARD OUZOUNIAN, THEATRE CRITIC

Let the commercial theatre search for the next Jersey Boys or Wicked. Those are all well and good in their own way.

But when one of Canada's largest classical festivals puts its considerable resources to bear toward the creation of a new piece of musical theatre, the odds are that that it's going to be something out of the ordinary. And that's what everybody at the Shaw Festival hopes is going to happen with Tristan, the new show by Paul Sportelli and Jay Turvey that starts previews on Thursday, prior to an opening on July 28.

After all, events like this don't happen very often. You could count the completely original musicals presented over the years by Shaw and Stratford on one hand and still have fingers left to wiggle. So obviously, Tristan is a major investment, not just financially, but artistically and emotionally as well.

It's based on a 1902 short story by Thomas Mann, set in a sanitarium in the German Alps. (***ACTUALLY, in a sanitOrium)

While they are both being treated for tuberculosis, a brooding poet (Spinell) becomes attracted to a happily married woman (Gabrielle) who has sacrificed her great talent as a pianist to serve her family. (***ACTUALLY, my character Spinell is NOT ill)

The two of them become hopelessly entwined, with Gabrielle's playing of the famous aria from Wagner's Tristan and Isolde proving the flash-point for a series of emotional explosions.

It's a work with the depth that you'd expect from Sportelli and Turvey. What drew them to this strange story? They both agreed that the scene where Gabrielle finally plays the piano "leapt off the page" to them as something they had to theatricalize. But what they see underneath that moment is slightly different. "For me it's about reawakening," asserts Turvey, "rediscovery." "While for me," insists Sportelli, "it's about the power of music, the power of art, to change lives."

The two people who are playing the leading roles, Jeff Madden and Glynis Ranney, have been with the show from the first reading in 2003 and their feelings haven't changed. "What struck me immediately," recalls Ranney, "was the power of the music and the great passion that came alive through it. And I continue to be amazed by it four years later." "It's the complexity that appeals to me," finds Madden, "the struggle between what your heart wants and what your brain says is right. The morality of choice."

Sportelli adds, "I enjoy art that can exist on many levels. If I'm just in the mood to be entertained and have someone tell me a story for a couple of hours, fine. But, if into that experience the author can drop some truly serious ideas that's even better. A piece of art should be flexible enough, plastic enough, for that to happen." Turvey's vision is a bit more intense. "I'm hoping we can provide moments of transcendence, flashes of feeling that the audience can recognize and take home with them."

It's obvious these men are playing for higher stakes than normal and it's inspiring that the Shaw Festival has had the courage to stick with them every step of the way. Whether or not Tristan turns out to be the thing of beauty its creators are hoping for still remains to be seen, but in the often heartbreaking battle that constitutes the history of musical theatre in this country, a certain kind of victory has already been won.
**************
For the full article, copy and paste this link:
http://www.thestar.com/article/233520

Have a great week, folks, and WISH ME LUCK!!!!!

Cheers,

JEFF

A Successful CD Release Party

2007-07-03T19:59:00.001-04:00

Hello Everyone,

The CD Release Party was a huge Success!

To begin, I must thank those who helped make the big day a reality. Firstly, I have to thank my wife Christine for Taking The Wheel on organizing and planning the entire day. Everything was perfectly laid out... you definitely have a second career in event planning waiting for you. Secondly, I must thank my Mom and Dad, without whom this party would have, well, sucked. From food to flowers, tents to tables, you helped tremendously. Also, Aunt Laurie, Catherine, and Anna all deserve kudos for their help on the day. It was a perfect afternoon.

Sunday June 24th was indeed a special day. At 11am, I had the pleasure of singing "One Face" from 'TRISTAN' at a coffee concert in the Festival Theatre lobby. Paul Sportelli played piano and the Blue Spruce String Quartet accompanied me, and the 200 folks in attendance really made me feel special with their applause. After the concert, I was even given the opportunity to sell a few of my CDs to the crowd. Paul was kind enough to welcome me to the table where he was selling the 'TRISTAN - The Musical' CDs. What a cool experience that was, selling CDs, mingling with the crowd, and meeting new people, well... fans, I guess. It's all new to me, but a welcome change in my life. By the way, the 'Tristan- The Musical' CD is great, and can be bought in person at the Shaw Festival. So, plan on picking one up when you come down to see 'TRISTAN', or any other show.

After the concert, we quickly took care of last minute details for my CD Release Party, and by 1:30pm guests were starting to arrive. For those of you who couldn't make it, we had a tent set up in the main part of the yard, under which was a table with flowers, a guest book and my CDs for sale. Music from my CD was quietly playing in the background. Guests mingled around tables and chairs, and wandered the beautiful grounds. Inside our 2-room guesthouse, we had a Food room, decked out with savoury and sweet goodies, and a Listening Room. This room had the CD playing much louder, on a super set of speakers that Freddy Gabrsek set up - and if anyone knows sound, it's my Producer, Freddy. We also had a slideshow of photos from the recording session projected on a screen above the speakers, so the guests could see just how many artists were involved in the recording, and how it all looked behind the scenes. The party was great - 7 Hours have never passed so quickly in my life!

The feedback from the CD (and the party) has been really positive. So many of my colleagues are really pleased with the quality of the recording in general. But I have to say, the song getting the most feedback at this point is "The Prayer", which I recorded with Glynis Ranney. A close second would probably be "How Glory Goes", from 'Floyd Collins'. I'm getting lots of other kudos for the quality of the arrangements, the mix, and also my voice. Leave me a comment on this message, and let me know what you like best about the CD.

And for the love of God, if you haven't yet, you can buy the CD online, anytime. Just go to www.jeffmadden.ca and follow the links. (They make great birthday gifts, right Peter???...)

AND IN OTHER NEWS...

On Friday June 29th, the cast of 'TRISTAN' gave a one hour concert of music at the Canadian Opera Company's 4 Seasons Centre of the Performing Arts, in downtown Toronto. This was my first time in the new building, and it is absolutely beautiful. I have to say, it felt like I was home among those wood floors, glass staircases and open spaces. Who knows, maybe I'll be performing there again in the future... What a treat that would be.

SOME BREAKING NEWS...

Check out the Toronto Star's Entertainment Section this coming Sunday. 'TRISTAN' composers Jay Turvey and Paul Sportelli will be featured, along with Glynis Ranney and Yours Truly, in an article by Richard Ouzounian. Should be cool!

I'm working on a few more BLOG posts - so check back in a few days... One is a "The Making of... Taking the Wheel" post.

CHEERS, EVERYONE!

PS
For more photos of the CD Release party, copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=33437&l=880b0&id=689660602

PPS
Leave a comment below!

Making Those Dreams Real

2007-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone. A fantastic Friday to you all.

So much news to tell... let's get to it! TAKING THE WHEEL is now in my hands, and it looks fantastic! I picked the CDs up the other day in Toronto, and it was very surreal loading box after box into the back of my car... It hasn't really sunk in yet that the whole thing is finished, but that will probably change once I release it into the world this Sunday.

So... This coming Sunday, three days from now, I'm having my CD Release Party. It'll be a Listening party and a Garden party all at the same time. You're all invited. Come. Have some food, something to drink, and buy a CD. You won't regret it. In the garden at 234 Johnson St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake. 2pm-7pm. Drop in anytime.

How to buy it... If you can't attend Sunday, and you want to buy a CD (and who doesn't) you have options!
Option 1: Give me $20, and I give you a CD. Either in person, or thru the mail, whatever you like.
Option 2: Go to www.jeffmadden.ca, click the BUY CD icon on the left, follow the steps and order it online. $20 + shipping.
Option 3: Go to The Shaw Festival Theatre Shop, pay them $20 + tax.
Option 4: Wait a few weeks, and buy it digitally from PureTracks or iTunes. Pay by the song, or the whole album.
Just don't burn a copy for your friends. Tell them get one themselves!

Big Day... Sunday will be a big day. Not only will I have my CD Release Party, but the new cast recording of 'TRISTAN - THE MUSICAL' is also having its CD Release Party! We recorded this album in April 2006, and it's only surfacing now, just in time for the World Premiere of TRISTAN next month here at the Shaw. It'll be released at a 'Coffee Concert' featuring the Shaw's Blue Spruce Spring Quartet, who were featured heavily on TAKING THE WHEEL. At this concert, I'll be singing "One Face" from Tristan, which appears on both CDs! Come check it out - 11am Sunday June 24th, Festival Theatre Lobby.

Beautiful Set... In other Tristan news, we rehearsed on the set in the Courthouse this week for the first time. It is going to look stunning! It is so beautiful, even without lights and costumes. You're in for a treat... especially in ACT 2 during the Chopin/Wagner section. Breathtaking... (Did you know that most of our rehearsals take place in rehearsal halls away from the stage? We tape out the outline of our set onto the floor, and use rehearsal pieces instead of the actual props. This way, other shows can take place on the actual stage, as we do our work in another location.)

The COC... Next week, we're doing a 1-hour concert of Tristan at the Canadian Opera Company! That's right, on Friday June 29th at 12 noon, in the lobby of the new 4 Seasons Centre, we'll sing through most of the music from Tristan, with narration by Jackie Maxwell, the Shaw's Artistic Director. And, it's totally FREE. So, come down if you can.

And Finally... (as I'm sure your eyes are burning) a little news from Mack and Mabel. Today, we had the pleasure of meeting the legendary Broadway composer JERRY HERMAN himself. Aside from Mack and Mabel, he wrote Hello Dolly, Mame, and La Cage Aux Folles. We met with him onstage after our curtain call, and he was so generous with his compliments, and seemed quite moved after seeing our show. I had a chance to shake his hand and thank him for making the trip. He is in his 80's and was quite sick earlier this spring, so we didn't think he'd be make it all the way up to Canada... but, there he was. A very special moment indeed.

OK everyone, that's it for me. Now it's your turn. Leave a comment for me. I love to read them. Just click the little COMMENT icon below, write your comment to me, click OTHER or ANONYMOUS, and click PUBLISH POST and your done. Until next time.

CD NEWS!!!

2007-06-06T23:01:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone!

The BIG news is ... my CD "TAKING THE WHEEL" is finished!!! It's being manufactured as I write this, and should be ready in a couple of weeks.

I am so relieved to finally be at this stage of the process. I'm like a little kid at Christmas, counting down the days until I can rip open my presents. And with any luck, you can all celebrate with at my big fat CD RELEASE LISTENING PARTY. Details will be coming soon...

The last week has been a flurry of activity, building up to my signing off on the project yesterday. Firstly, I made the decision to go ahead with all 14 songs. I love them all so much, and after spending so much time making each one shine I couldn't let any go! And, since I received the copyright licenses for the final two songs that day, I figured that was a sign.

Next, my producer Freddy Gabrsek and I made our final tweaks to the mixes of the songs. We've been working on these mixes part time for months! Once we were absolutely satisfied, we sent it off to be 'mastered' by my long-time friend and technical wizard Andrew Seok. He would work on the songs, and send the mastered tracks back to Freddy and I. We would listen together, make notes on Andrew's work, and send it back for some tweaks. This process continued until Tuesday morning when I was satisfied that the songs could not possibly sound any better.

In the mean time I had been in contact with my Graphic Designer Heidi at Indie Pool, the company responsible for manufacturing the CD. Over the last two weeks, I had sent her the documents that I wanted to include in the CD liner booklet, along with photos of me from a recent session I did with David Cooper, the Shaw's main photographer. I would stay up working into the wee hours of the morning, trying to get my ideas down, so that Heidi could do the work the next day. There I was, after a show of Mack and Mabel or rehearsal of Tristan (or both), at the computer while Christine and Sydney slept soundly. Heidi and I bantered back and forth about possible layouts and ideas, and between the two of us, we finally settled on a layout.

By Tuesday, her work was finished, and it is spectacular. And it's not just me saying that. Trevor, my agent at Indie Pool said he thinks the booklet design is the best he's ever seen Indie Pool do. And the boss himself stopped to stare at the printouts, raving about the quality of the photography and the overall design. I just hope the beauty of the music can match it!

As I walked out of Indie Pool after signing off on the work, I had a tremendously euphoric feeling, like I was floating down the driveway to my car. This project has been in gestation for 9 months, and at that moment, I felt like I was giving birth... spiritually... (I know, all the mothers out there are gonna let me have it)... but seriously, in two short weeks, I'm going to set my baby free into this world, and see what happens. Will it be a success? Or will it be flipping burgers for a living? Time will tell, but I think I know how it will turn out.

That's all the news that is fit to print at the moment. Check back really soon for information about the impending CD RELEASE LISTENING PARTY!!!

Until then, keep Taking the Wheel everybody.

Time Flies

2007-05-21T16:27:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it's been a few weeks since my last post. Time sure flew by while I was having fun.

The biggest news of the past few weeks is, of course, the official Opening of Mack and Mabel at the Shaw Festival Theatre. It truly was one of the most exciting nights in the theatre I've ever been involved with. Before the Overture had even finished, the sold-out house of 850+ burst into applause. Let me just say that this is not usual. From the very first scene, with Ben Campbell out there all by himself, you could feel the electricity in the air. Songs were cheered for. Every laugh landed. And the cast was calmly going through the paces, clipping along in a very controlled, but energetic manner. We were on. Act 1 was cheered to a close, only to be topped by the reactions for Act 2. It was with tremendous pride and joyful exuberance that we came out for our curtain calls - yes there were THREE bows that night. It's hard to describe just how good that made me feel.

In the next few days, virtually all the papers declared us a HIT, which made us feel even better, but only for knowing that even tired old grumpy theatre critics can enjoy a show every once in a while too. That week, 4 other shows opened as well, and each of them received excellent reviews. This the first time in my seven years here that all of the opening shows received such critical praise.

So, book your tickets soon, and don't miss out on a great season of theatre. (No, I don't get a cut of the action.)

What else... TRISTAN rehearsals began! Even doing 'table work' for Tristan is such a joy. Forget about the eventual production, we get paid to sit around a table and talk about Music and Art??? How great is that!!! The show is in great hands, has a great director and designers, will look and sound beautiful, and will likely break your heart. Bring tissues. Who could ask for anything more? Now that we're running Mack and Mabel about 4 times a week, we will have about 5 Tristan rehearsals each week, until about the end of June. Then we move into the theatre for "Tech rehearsals" prior to our first preview on July 12, the day before my birthday. (Get those cards in the mail now...) I'll fill you in on more Tristan dish as we go along.

What else... The CD!!! Is not done. (what else is new?) No, but seriously, it is sounding amazing. Final tweaks are being made (mostly to make me sound like Avril Lavigne), the design is well underway, and within a few days, the final step of mastering will begin. I guess we're looking at 4 weeks till it drops. That's music industry lingo for 'we ran out of money so it's as good as it's gonna get'. More news to come soon, I promise.

What else... SYDNEY is now 8 months old, and is now reading Rousseau. Never before has such a brilliant child lived. And, she's just signed a 7-figure deal with Gerber. Finally, Christine and I can buy that house we've always wanted. And in this town, you need 7-figures...

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather, and check back soon for another update.

Tiny Little Triumphs

2007-04-25T10:07:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, you just need to step back, and celebrate the small accomplishments that occur along the way to bigger things.

For example, little Sydney now has 2 teeth poking through her gums, both on the bottom. This milestone was marked by some minor whining accompanied by biting of anything she could get her little hands on... including her Daddy's fingers. "YOWSA! What the hell - is that a tooth mark? ... Hey, way to go!" She's still number one in my books, even if there's lots of number 2's to clean up... ugh.

Mack and Mabel is still going strong. This is great, considering we're still 10 days from Opening Night. However, a weird thing is happening to me now... There is a tap number in the show -- I know, I know, I won't ruin it for you -- and by the time it's over, the stage is littered with tiny little beads from the tiny little beaded dresses worn by the tiny little dancers. When I come on for the next scene, somehow these beads end up embedding in the rubber soles of my shoes, so that by the end of the scene, I'm skating on glass. Well, for the second show in a row, I have slipped and nearly fallen on my ass, which as funny as it sounds, is tweaking my lower back a bit. Anyhoo, the costume folks are looking at changing my shoes, or at least the rubber soles, or as per my suggestion, removing the tiny little dresses from the dancers. We'll see what happens...

On the CD front, there's some good news. I had a photo session with David Cooper (Shaw photographer extraordinaire) the other day. The shots look great, and I think we've settled on a cover photo! (The photo above is NOT the cover photo - although this one is nice, it was taken at a recording session with my camera.) David took sooooo many good ones, and it's really difficult to settle on just one. But, there will be other photos included too, so we've got lots to play with.

Also, I got to hear 7 more tracks mixed by Freddy Gabrsek (Shaw sound-technician extraordinaire) bringing the total up to 10 of the 14 songs. They're all sounding REALLY good, and I am so pleased. We're almost there now, and after a couple more sessions to tweak things, we can move on to the mastering stage. I have lined up potential Mastering Technicians, but as it's not a done deal yet, I won't mention their names (but trust me, they're extraordinaire too...)

And, to top it all off, "Tristan" rehearsals start next week. I am SOOOOOOO looking forward to that show. Can't wait.

So, it's definitely exciting times right now. We're inching closer to the light at the end of this extremely long tunnel. And celebrating those tiny little triumphs along the way.

Have a good one, everybody.

Jeff
:)

2007-04-20T21:25:00.000-04:00

Right from the start, you could tell today was going to be a great day. The brilliant morning sun shining through the cottage windows, the sweet smell of daffodils carried in the warm air... ah, it finally feels like Spring.

After breakfast and my morning coffee, I had a great talk with the folks at Indiepool about the manufacturing of my upcoming CD, "Taking The Wheel". We talked about the number of CDs to produce, the design of the CD liner, the mastering, the timeline ... all the details that still need to be done.

Then, I had a great meeting with photographer David Cooper. He and I knocked around details for shooting the photos for my CD liner and website, jeffmadden.ca. I am quite lucky to have David onboard. He is an incredible photographer, and has shot the program photos for Shaw Festival productions for years, as well as many other arts institutions across North America.

Then Christine and Sydney arrived from Oakville, and we all had a great lunch together before I ran to my preview of "Mack and Mabel". Yesterday, we played to an audience of about 80%, and it was great to have such a full house. Today, however, we had more like a 20% house, and at first it seemed like the show was going to be tough. But, to our surprise, this was one of our best audiences, always attentive, listening, laughing, and eventually giving us a standing ovation. It goes to show you, never judge a book by its cover.

Then, a fellow cast member and I were asked to take part in a post-show chat with a group of High School students from Barrie. They were a nice group of teenage girls, who asked some pretty interesting questions about the show, the rehearsal process, the audition process, etc. But, I have to hand it to their teachers, who no doubt had to convince their principal to give these girls the day off, drive them 230 kms to the Shaw to expose them to some world-class theatre, and hopefully have them learn something along the way. And, it felt great, knowing that I might have had a positive influence on a budding performer in this group. (Way to go, Madden, just what the world needs -- another actor!)

Then, after feeding and playing with Syndey for a bit, Christine and I enjoyed a lovely dinner of rainbow trout, wild rice and broccoli, with some 70% cocoa chocolate for dessert. And just as Sydney was getting tired and ready for bed, a beautiful pink sunset hung over the tree line to the west. A lovely end to a great day.

How was your day today? Do you find that you feel better when it's sunny and warm? Do you sometimes wish you could just pick up and move to Miami or LA or Hawaii? I'd love to hear...

Jeff
:)

Three-Day Weekend

2007-04-17T23:15:00.000-04:00

I just enjoyed a nice three-day weekend.

Huh, you say? This is particularly notable because during the season at Shaw, we actors usually only get 1 or 2 three-day weekends in 8 months. In fact, you could count the number of two-day weekends we get per season on one hand. Our typical work week is 6 days long, with Monday being the only day off. (You'd have to be out of your mind to come to the theatre on a Monday! Jeez, what's with you, Man?) So, when your family is off to the cottage on Saturday and Sunday, we're off to the theatre for a four-show weekend. And then we scramble to get a week's worth of errands done on our lone day off. That's the way it works just about everywhere in the theatre biz. Insert sorrowful violins here. As my dad would say,
" What -- and quit showbiz???"

Well, it just so happens that. this season, my schedule is quite free. I'm only doing the one show (Mack and Mabel - book your tix now!) right now, and my second show (Tristan - book your tix now!) doesn't start rehearsing for another 2 weeks. Which means, no rehearsals right now. Which means back to back three-day weekends! AAAAAHHHhhhhhhhhh.

So what did I do with all this free time, you ask? Did I go to New York City and see fabulous theatre and galleries as 2 of my co-workers did? Did I bust off to Toronto for 3 days of debauchery? Well, not exactly...

I set up my WEB SITE and BLOG! And then I shamefully sent out about 3 millions emails. (Feed that ego, Madden). I drove my inlaws to the Buffalo airport at 4am! (Don't ask). I spent 42 hours on Facebook (if you haven't signed up yet, I'm warning you, you will learn the true meaning of addiction). I did the groceries. I started an exercise program. I caught some sports on the tube (Sabres and Sharks in the Stanley Cup, that's my bet). I played with my girl(s). And I heard 3 tracks of my CD, after being mixed (sounds good!). Hmm, that's a lot more than I thought!

So, I start the work week afresh tomorrow (Ahh, Hump-day!) at 10:15 with a voice class, then a matinee. I'm even going to catch the Jays-Red Sox game tomorrow night with my brother-in-law at the Dome. Go Jays Go! It's a rough life, I know.

Have a good one, and hey, it's only 33 days until the May 24 Weekend. Plan that three-day weekend now!

Taking The What???

2007-04-15T18:53:00.000-04:00

So, you may be wondering what the heck 'Taking The Blog' means. And, you would not be alone. I think it's out there, myself.

But, bear with me for a moment.

As some of you may know, I am in the midst of producing my debut CD, entitled "Taking The Wheel". It's the title of one of the tracks on the CD, too, written by American theatre songwriter John Bucchino. I chose it as the title of the CD, in part because it's a great, fun song to sing (and also to listen to, I hope...) but mostly because of the metaphor of the lyric. The chorus goes like this:

"I've been in the back seat long enough, tagging along for the ride. I've been in the back seat long enough to know
That you never get what you deserve if you never can decide. There's only one way to get to where you want to go.
Throwing down the pencil and grabbing a pen. Taking the wheel, driving again.
Throwing down the pencil and writing in ink: This is how I feel. This is what I think.
Dreaming again, and making those dreams real. Taking the Wheel."

I don't know about you, but to some degree, I felt as if I was not fully in control of the direction of my career. (That's a topic for another whole blog I'm sure.) As an actor, you have very little control over where you work, which projects you work on, or whether you work at all. And, although I'm extremely grateful and fortunate to be one of the lucky ones, I still feel somewhat like I plopped my little dingy down (you did WHAT?!?!?) in the middle of the Niagara River, and although I can steer it a bit from side to side, I ain't never gonna change the path of the river. It's taking me.

That being the case, I felt that it was time to do something that I could control! To do something I had always dreamt of doing! To be in charge of not only my dingy (and who isn't, really), but the river, too! At least for one project, anyway. And that project became the biggest pain in the ass I've ever .... No, no, no, I'm kidding. It's been great. And continues to bring me joy every day. But, the point is, I knew exactly what John Bucchino was writing about in his song. I was there, myself. That's why I knew I had to name my CD "Taking The Wheel".

Now, if that ain't the most boring speech you'll ever hear...

So, I told you that story to tell you this one. The CD led to the website jeffmadden.ca, and the website led to this blog. So, 'Taking The Blog' makes total sense in my world. How about you?

Let me know what you think about all this shhhtuff. Have you ever felt like you weren't in control of your career, or your life in general? I'd love to hear what you think. Hit the comment link below, and share.

Until next time...