Six weeks and counting

Jersey Boys director Danielle Siata is pictured with cast members, from left, Tahi Paenga, Alex Raines and Joshua Lobb, with Bruce Reid at the piano. Picture supplied

Danielle Siata is about to make her directorial debut with Centre Stage Gisborne’s production of Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

It takes the audience behind the scenes, dramatising the formation, success and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll group.

Danielle remembers seeing the show in Sydney about five years ago and being blown away by it.

“I didn’t know anything about it at the time, but I was determined to go and see a show in Sydney, so I dragged my friend along and we just fell in love with it,” Siata says.

“It was at the Capital Theatre and it was incredible. I remember my jaw being on the floor. I grew up listening to Frankie Valli as my mum was a huge fan so I knew the music.”

So, when the amateur rights came up for the production in New Zealand, they grabbed it. Centre Stage is one of a handful of New Zealand theatre groups to get the rights here and this will be the first time Jersey Boys has been staged in Gisborne.

With only six weeks to go until the show opens at the War Memorial Theatre, Siata says she is happy with how everything is progressing.

“Everything is fully blocked — so, now we’re just finishing the choreography and fine tuning everything — making everything flow.”

The show is full of singing and dancing, with Jaeda Mapu doing the choreography.

“The cast is incredible — they are all so dedicated and obviously (they) go home and rehearse as it’s very line heavy. The script is massive but they know about 80 percent of their words at this stage, so I’m happy with that.”

Tahi Paenga plays Frankie Valli and is  also the vocal coach. Paenga played Jesus in the recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The rest of the band are: Joshua Lobb as Tommy DeVito (Danny in Grease); Bruce Reid  is Bob Gaudio (Drew in Rock of Ages); and Alex Raines is Nick Massi (Billy Flynn in Chicago).

Siata wants Jersey Boys to take the audience on a journey.

“They will get to laugh and maybe shed some tears and I’m hoping by the end of the show they will be singing and dancing and enjoying themselves.”

With hits such as Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man and Oh What a Night, people should be familiar with the music.

“But there are also a few songs that people might not realise they sang,” she says.

Gisborne audiences will know Siata from her appearance in many local productions at Evolution Theatre. These include Charlotte’s Web, Proof, Pride & Prejudice and Mousetrap to name a few.

She has also been in Rock of Ages (Regina); Grease (Jan in the Pink Ladies) and Jesus Christ Superstar where she was also production manager and costume coordinator.

Her grandmother Maureen Potroz was the founder and president of Centre Stage and Danielle has been on the committee for many years.

“I enjoy both plays and musicals, but there’s something about a musical.  In plays it’s only you and the words — you can’t hide behind anything else and have to make a script come to life. But, in a musical, you have lots of other elements — the singing, dancing and acting combined.

“This is my first time directing and it’s interesting being on the other side of the action.

“I wondered if I was going to miss being on stage, but I’m so proud of what these guys are creating and it’s great to be part of it.”

Having two experienced people — Scotty McSloy and Tim McAneney — handling the backstage production means Siata can put her energy into managing the 20 strong cast.

“Everyone gets along so well. It’s a nice environment — we work really hard, but there’s fun and laughs as well.”

With three rehearsals a week, a full-time job and busy family life, Siata says she couldn’t do it without the support of her husband Nick.

“This is the thing that I have for myself, outside of work and home.

It’s the thing that I love to do in my spare time — I can’t imagine what I would do without it.”