The Midtown Men — Tony winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer – bring a Broadway pedigree and showmanship to the signature sounds of the '60s. Their first public television special, "The Midtown Men Live In Concert!" captures their popular live show on their fifth national tour, recorded in May 2014 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Prudential Hall in Newark, New Jersey – a nod to the adopted ‘home town’ of these four stars from the original Broadway cast of "Jersey Boys." The genesis of the group is the bond they formed backstage during their Broadway run together as they embodied one of the biggest stories in popular music. Beyond four voices that blended together to rave reviews, they shared a common love of the music of the era and put their own spin on the greatest hits of the '60s.
The Midtown Men Reviews
"Authenticity is the core of this musical brotherhood... the Midtown Men sound as crisp as their Rat Pack-inspired suits!" - NY Daily News
"... as good as popping Meet the Beatles on my turntable for the first time!" - Charles Alexander, Long Time Senior Editor, Time Magazine
In concert, The Midtown Men perform songs made famous by a range that covers 1960s radio hits coast to coast, from New York City’s of-a-moment lyrics of longing from The Drifters and The Ronettes, to the California cool of The Turtles, The Mamas and The Papas and The Association, with the heart and soul of Detroit’s Motown Sound along the way. And to add to their '60s ‘street cred,’ Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Gene Cornish lends a hand on the harmonica for his band The Rascals’ hit, “Groovin’.”
Of course, the set list includes the songs synonymous with the show that brought these four talents together – the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Nearly ten years after they first thrilled audiences as the premier cast of "Jersey Boys" on Broadway, Hoff, Spencer, Reichard and Longoria enjoy performing “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” and “Oh, What a Night” as much as their fans love hearing them.
Later in the show, The Midtown Men showcase hits from the Motown label, with songs originally sung by The Jackson 5, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Throughout the concert, performing familiar hits with singular arrangements and precise choreography, The Midtown Men bring the sound and chemistry that launched them from Broadway phenomenon to national sensation to a new audience as only television cameras can. The enthusiasm these guys have for the music they perform – and the audience has for them – is palpable.
Their song list includes "Get Ready" (The Temptations), "Big Girls Don’t Cry/Sherry" (The Four Seasons), "Happy Together" (The Turtles), "Up On the Roof" (The Drifters), "Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell), "Ain’t That Peculiar" (Marvin Gaye), "Tears of a Clown" (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles), "Be My Baby" (The Ronettes); "Never My Love" (The Association), "California Dreamin’" (The Mamas & the Papas), "Cry for Me" (The Four Seasons), "Vehicle" (The Ides of March), "Groovin’" (The Rascals – with guest appearance by Gene Cornish), Motown Medley – "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg," "I Want You Back," "I Second That Emotion," "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "You’re All I Need to Get By," "December 1963 (Oh What A Night)" (The Four Seasons).
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The Midtown Men Live in Concert!
"Four stars from the original cast of Jersey Boys
