Jarrod Spector, Drew Gehling Join Broadway’s ‘Jersey Boys’ Cast

Jarrod Spector and Drew Gehling will return to the Broadway production of “Jersey Boys” next month.

Spector will reassume the lead role of Frankie Valli on October 2, which he originally performed on Broadway in 2008. Before that, he had played the role in the U.S. National Tour of “Jersey Boys,’ as well as in the Chicago production of the musical. Gehling will rejoin the cast October 9 as Bob Gaudio. He previously made his Broadway debut in the role, and also performed the role in San Francisco, Chicago and Las Vegas.

In other casting news for the show, Jeremy Kushnier also will join the production on October 9 as well, taking on the role of Tommy DeVito. Kushnier has toured with “Jersey Boys,” and will be taking over for Tony winner John Lloyd Young. On Broadway, Kushnier has appeared in “Rent,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Footloose.”

In other news for Spector, he will celebrate the release of a new CD in a solo show at Joe’s Pub on October 1 before he returns to “Jersey Boys.” His new CD Minor Fall, Major Lift will be available for purchase at the concert, which will be directed by Eric Michael Gillett.

According to a press release, Spector, who has performed the role of Valli more than 1,400 times to date, is often asked, “Is that your real voice?” The release goes on to say that the new album “attempts to answer that question and much more in an evening filled with truly great songs and honest, touching, funny moments.”

Not long ago, “Jersey Boys” became the 18^th longest-running show on Broadway, passing “Hello, Dolly” when it hit 2,845 performances. Actor/Director Jon Favreau is directing an upcoming film adaptation of the musical, as well. That production likely won’t be released until 2014.