★★★★★ - Irresistible
Oh What a Night it was, indeed! If you're looking for irresistible, 5-Star entertainment singing, banter, & precision choreography, just ask any audience member who sang along and gave a standing ovation to this crowd-pleasing production, through November 10th at the Summerlin Library Theatre.
The popular Las Vegas revue, Oh What A Night: A Musical Tribute to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons was written by Motown producer and creative consultant George Solomon, conceived and directed by award-winning producer/director Michael Chapman, and choreographed by Paul Holmquist.
You almost don’t believe the four performers are singing live, until their remarkable a cappella rendition of “Silence is Golden” proves that to be true. Noteworthy in its tight harmonies and clarity, and without a backing track, the voices are left to stand on their own and were up to the challenge. On the opening weekend, four rock-steady musical theatre performers -- Brandon Albright (a regular with Signature Productions), Colin Cahill, Taylor Campbell, and Christian Nielsen -- "nailed it" perfectly.
They are four of nine artists who will be performing in this local production. Others include: writer George Solomon, choreographer Paul Holmquist, James Bullard, Katch Gray, and Rob Hyatt. Solomon formed the tribute group with Holmquist and director Michael Chapman in 2008; and there's a pool of about 40 singers who tour and perform across the globe.
Since the show isn't a biography, the performers aren't playing characters. They are being themselves onstage and each cast member brings something unique. Split into two 45-minute sets with a 20-minute intermission, the show did provide a number of highlights – literally hitting all of the highest notes easily, which made the program even more memorable.
Although many have compared the show to stage musical Jersey Boys, writer and performer George Solomon said Oh What a Night! is not a biography.
“It’s more of a variety show; it’s a concert but with a lot of humor, a few costume changes and a lot of great dancing.”
While Jersey Boys is a scripted musical biography of those boys from Jersey, Oh, What a Night! is an intimate concert and tribute that features the Four Seasons’ hits, several Top Ten releases not in Broadway's Tony Award-winning show, and Frankie Valli's biggest solo hit from the movie Grease!
The show actually started in Las Vegas in 2008. It was an immediate success and what used to be only four cast members has grown into a wonderful talent pool that performs all over the world. Oh What A Night! spans two decades of magic music-making, from early 1960s doo-wop (Rag Doll) to late '70s disco (Who Loves You). Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were at their prime during the 1960s and 70s. More than 40 years after their last release, their music has managed to stand the test of time.
Executive producer Karl Larsen, his production team, lighting designer Elizabeth Kline, Board members, and all of their dedicated volunteers should be as delighted as their audiences with this top-notch, high energy production.