Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

City of Philadelphia Will Welcome the Award-Winning Musical JERSEY BOYS to Forrest Theatre at Sept. 30 Opening

SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

Legendary Philly Deejay Jerry ‘The Geator’ Blavat & Greater Phila. Traditions Fund Will Host Block Party, Music, Dancing Adjacent to Theatre

 

1200 Block of Walnut Street Closed for Festivities between 4 pm- 7 pm

 

The City of Philadelphia along with legendary local radio personality Jerry Blavat will welcome the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award Winning Best Musical, JERSEY BOYS, to Philadelphia for an 11-week engagement at the Forrest Theatre beginning Sept. 30 to Dec. 12 with a block party celebration before the first performance. JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

 

The block party – open to the public – will be hosted by The Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund (GPTF) and famous Philadelphia radio disc jockey Jerry Blavat. In hosting the event, the City and GPTF hopes to showcase the critical rolde that the Philadelphia music scene played in launching the group and the genre of music it came to epitomize.

 

Known on local radio as “The Geator with the Heater” and “The Boss with the Hot Sauce,” Blavat will host a dance party for theater-goers adjacent to the Forrest Theatre on the 1200 block of Walnut Street (between 12th & 13th on Walnut) before the 7.30 pm first performance of JERSEY BOYS, beginning at 4 pm till 7 pm. Walnut Street will be closed to traffic between 12th & 13th Streets during that time. ‘The Geator’ will be playing his trademark collection of oldies music, including many of the classic tunes made famous by the Four Seasons during the 1960’s and ‘70’s.  

 

Local Philadelphia VIPs will also be on hand to attend the first performance, including guests from the worlds of music, show business and City government.

 

The Forrest Theatre box office will be open during the festivities for anyone wishing to purchase tickets to JERSEY BOYS. Tickets are still available and may be purchased at the Forrest box office (1114 Walnut St.), by calling 800-447-7400 or online at www.telecharge.com. For more information visit www.forrest-theatre.com, www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway or www.JerseyBoysInfo.com. JERSEY BOYS is part of the 2010-2011 Broadway Season presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization.

 

JERSEY BOYS is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award, the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, and the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Directed by twotime Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

 

Broadway Season Press Contact:

Carole Morganti/CJM Public Relations

CJMpr01@aol.com 609-953-0570

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