Andy Karl and Quinn VanAntwerp to Join Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys
Broadway favorite Andy Karl and Jersey Boys tour vet Quinn VanAntwerp have been tapped to star as Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio, respectively, in the Broadway company of Jersey Boys, beginning October 11. The show is headed toward its sixth anniversary at the August Wilson Theatre, where it opened on November 6, 2005, directed by Des McAnuff.
Karl will become only the third actor to play the tough guy founder of the Four Seasons on Broadway, following Tony-winning original star Christian Hoff and original cast member Dominic Nolfi, who assumed the role in 2008 and will play his final performance on September 25. Erik Bates will play Tommy from September 27-October 9. The current Broadway also currently features Jarrod Spector as Frankie Valli and Matt Bogart as Nick Massi.
Karl most recently appeared on Broadway as Fiyero in Wicked. He made his Broadway debut in Saturday Night Fever as Joey and cover for the leading role of Tony Manero. He’s best known for playing homeboy Luke in the original cast of the off-Broadway hit Altar Boyz, UPS guy Kyle in Legally Blonde (opposite wife Orfeh) and Joe, Allison Janney’s office romance, in 9 to 5. Other New York credits include Broadway’s The Wedding Singer and off-Broadway runs in Saturday Night and Slut. Regional credits include Jekyll and Hyde, Grease, Romeo and Bernadette, Happy Days the Musical and national tours of Cats, Saturday Night Fever and On the Record.
VanAntwerp will make his Broadway debut as Four Seasons mastermind Gaudio after three years in the Toronto company and the show's national tour. He replaces Ryan Jesse, who will play his final performance on October 9. VanAntwerp's off-Broadway credits include That Other Woman's Child and Take Me America.
Jersey Boys, the true story of the Four Seasons, is currently playing in New York, Las Vegas, London, Sydney, Australia, and in cities across American on its continuing national tour. The ahow will open in Auckland, New Zealand in April, 2012.
