by Ken Hoyt
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Culture Club
Jersey Boy
Bob Crewe was a man ahead of his time - think David Geffen set in the 50’s and 60’s. He was Fabulous and
Flamboyant at a time when those words were code. Known as “the Fifth Season” (working with Frank Valli and
The Four Seasons), he fashioned a group of street tough New Jersey guys into the top selling group.
Bob Crewe finally gets his time in the spotlight in the musical Jersey Boys, based on the music and careers of
The Four Seasons. Veteran Broadway actor Jonathan Hadley will be playing Crewe when the show comes to
Portland. The role offered an opportunity for Hadley, “It was the first time I’d played a gay role, so when I took
this part I came out at the same time, and it’s all good.” (Crewe self-identifies as bisexual.)
Hadley has been on the road in the role for the past five years. This is his second time playing the Crewe char-
acter. He had played the role when the show was being developed in workshops, but declined to play it on
Broadway, choosing instead to go to graduate school.
When the opportunity to play Crewe came about with the touring cast, he was excited to play the part. He points
out the show is “testosterone driven” and yet, “I get to play this wonderful character amidst all that, and it’s a fun
way for some people to be introduced to a gay man.”
One of the things he values is the way his “Paul Lynde type” character is totally accepted in the macho universe
he inhabits because of his talent. “They describe him as having the best ears in the business.”
Some people emphasize the difficulty in touring. Not
Hadley, “I like investigating new cities, and this will be the
first time I’ve been to Portland. Not only that, but I love
bringing this show to new people, and watching how they
enjoy it.” The show itself isn’t static. They were recently
in the Bible belt, “and we took out some of the more of-
fensive curse words.”
While there is a certain amount of nostalgia, Hadley
notes that the audience is made up of “kids of high school
age who are just discovering the music.”
When it comes to advising young people starting out,
he thinks it’s wise to be cautious about announcing your
sexuality. “There is still a stigma. America can’t handle a
leading man who is gay. On the other hand, actors like
myself, who play featured or character roles are more free
in that regard.”
He does see hope, “Adam Lambert was the first openly
gay recording artist to top the charts. It’s just now start-
ing to happen.” And he is very positive about the future.
“I’m so impressed with those who are already out and say,
‘who cares, I’m already out, this is me.’ It’ll be interesting
to see what happens for them. I think [people in the fu-
ture] will see them as pioneers.”
Jersey Boys is presented by Fred Meyer Broadway Across
America and plays July 18th through August 12th
at Keller. For tickets or information 503-241-1802 or
see BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com/Portland.
"CAN’T TAKE MY EYES
OFF YOU," SCORED
FRANKIE VALLI A
GOLD RECORD IN
1967. FEW PEOPLE
KNOW THAT IT HAS
A
GAY
HISTORY.
HADLEY SAYS, “BOB
CREWE WROTE THE
LYRICS, AND BASI-
CALLY THEY WERE
INSPIRED WHEN ONE
NIGHT HE WAS PAC-
ING THE FLOOR AND
COULDN’T
COME
UP WITH LYRICS TO
A SONG, AND HE
LOOKED INTO HIS
ROOM AND THERE
WAS
HIS
LOVER
SLEEPING ON TOP OF
A FUR BEDSPREAD,
AND THE LYRICS JUST
CAME.”
LEFT:Jonathan Hadley as Bob Crewe
Photo by Joan Marcus
RIGHT:The Vagabond Opera
and Abney Park.
Photo by Ben Z. Mund Photography
Reach out with your events to Arts &
Entertainment Editor Ken Hoyt.
ken@justout.com.