Entertainment Magazine: Celebrities: Thomas Fiscella

OH WHAT A NIGHT!
THOMAS FISCELLA IS HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE IN THE TOURING PRODUCTION OF JERSEY BOYS

BY  LYNN MARIE

THOMAS FISCELLA (Gyp DeCarlo and others).

Thomas Fiscella is currently appearing in the hit musical Jersey Boys as Gyp DeCarlo (primary role). This Michigan born actor is not a Jersey Boy but portrays the famous mobster who was a member of the New York Genovese crime family and dominated loansharking operations in New Jersey during the 1960's.         

Fiscella began rehearsals for the Second National Tour of Jersey Boys, in October of  2011.  "I saw the first touring production of this show very early on when it first came through Los Angeles," explains Fiscella.  

"I was just blown away by the show and I knew I could just fit into this musical somehow someway; there was something in my mind that just stuck."  

"Of course the audition process was lengthly but even going through that I just stayed positive and knew it was meant to be," explains Fiscella.  

Fiscella has been dazzling audiences for over two years now on this tour and his most recent stop included Fort Worth, Texas.  "I love being a part of this tour and the Jersey Boys family," explains Fiscella.  

Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons:  Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi.  This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.  They wrote their own songs, invented their own sound and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.  The show features all their hits including "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Oh What A Night," "Walk Like A Man," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Working My Way Back To You."

This musical really makes me wish I was part of the 1960's.  You have a score based on all the hits of the Four Seasons and later of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons,  from "Sherry" to "Maryann.". The staging is simple, with a clever bare bones set that still allows all the scene changes to occur quickly and creatively, adding in the lights and costumes.  The Jersey Boys are timeless and their contribution to the music industry remains recognized all these years later.

The show began with a young and vibrant Frankie Valli (played by Hayden Milanes) teaming up with Tommy Devito (played by Nicolas Dromard) Nick Massi (played by Adam Zelasko) and Bob Gaudio (Quinn Vanantwerp) to form one of the most notable musical bands of all time.  The story has so many ups and downs, twists and turns, from the rise and fall of the band to them performing at smaller venues to make their presence felt by singing one of their many greatest hits.  Next, the conflicts and problems, which slowly leads to the departure of two of the original band members.  Then, the tragic lost of Valli's daughter, which devastated him and leaving him lost.  Finally, the reuniting return of the original four when they were inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. 

Nicolas Dromard (Tommy DeVito) was very believable and likable despite all the problems the character has and you almost feel sorry for the guy.  Hayden Milane's performance of Frankie Valli was incredible, as his singing voice was much like the actual voice of Valli's. 

Jersey Boys is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award, the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, the 2009 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Musical (Australia)

Jersey Boys opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005.  The Jersey Boys US National Tour opened to rave reviews in san Francisco on December 1, 2006, and is still breaking house records in cities across North America.  Jersey Boys is currently playing in New York; London; Las Vegas; Utrecht, The Netherlands; Seoul, Korea and across North America on tour.  

Jersey Boys is part of the Broadway at the Bass series presented by Performing Arts Forth Worth.  To charge tickets by phone, call (817) 212-4280 in Fort Worth; 1-877-212-4280 (toll free) outside Fort Worth; or order online at www.basehall.com.  Tickets are also available at the Bass Performance Hall ticket office at 525 Commerce Street.  Ticket office hours:  Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  and Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4;00 p.m.  For group sales, call 817-212-4248.  Jersey Boys continues through June 15, 2014.

Visit Jersey Boys website at www.JerseyBoysTour.com.  See a sneak peek of the show at www.JerseyBoysTour.com/watch.