Jersey Boys: Matt Bogart is to play 'Nick Massi'

Matt Bogart will join the Broadway cast of Jersey Boys, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical, in the role of 'Nick Massi' on 30 Sep 2008.

J. Robert Spencer, who originated the role at La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway, will play his final performance on 14 Sep 2008. In the interim, the role of 'Nick Massi' will be played by understudy John Leone.

Bogart made his Broadway debut in 'Miss Saigon' (1991), his other Broadway credits inclide 'Smokey Joe's Cafe' (1995), 'The Civil War' (1999) and 'Aida' (2000). Off-Broadway he played in York Theatre Company's 2000 production of 'h You Were Here'.

Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, about a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide - all before they were thirty.

The musical opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on the 6 Nov 2005, following previews from the 4 Oct and is currently booking to the 26 Aug 2009.

The musical opened to excellent reviews: "The real thrill ... is that Mr. Young (Frankie Valli) has crossed the line from exact impersonation into something more compelling." (New York Times); There's no point in beating around the bush � I had a great time." (New York Daily News); "A hot new Broadway show." (Star-Ledger); "It�s basically a nostalgic evening�but a thoroughly enjoyable one." (newyorktheatreguide.com)

Winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with Orchestrations by Steve Orich and Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music by Ron Melrose.

The cast of Jersey Boys currently features Tony Award winner Christian Hoff (Tommy DeVito), Sebastian Arcelus (Bob Gaudio), J. Robert Spencer (Nick Massi) and Michael Longoria (Frankie Valli).

Jersey Boys is produced on Broadway by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, in association with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner/Oshen/Staton/Bell/Mayerson Group.

Jersey Boys debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse, running from 5 Oct 2004 through to 16 Jan 2005, with an opening night on 17 Oct 2004. It became the most successful production in the history of the playhouse, extending three times.