NewsBite

Jersey Boys musical compared to ‘Formula One pit stop’ with singers needing as many as 10 wigs

The Capitol Theatre wings will become “a Formula 1 pit” during performances of Jersey Boys. So say the three singer-dancers who have so many roles in the hit musical they need a stunning amount wigs each in Act One alone.

Jersey Boys teaser

The Capitol Theatre wings will become “a Formula 1 pit” during performances of Jersey Boys.

So say the three singer-dancers who have so many roles in the hit musical they need 10 wigs each in Act One alone.

“I think in the first seven minutes I have four or five different characters,” Mackenzie Dunn said.

Female cast members from Jersey Boys Sage Douglas, Cristina D'Agostino, Mackenzie Dunn and Mia Dabkowski-Chandler. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
Female cast members from Jersey Boys Sage Douglas, Cristina D'Agostino, Mackenzie Dunn and Mia Dabkowski-Chandler. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

MORE: Student’s big break into Jersey Boys

MORE: Randwick star set for Jersey Boys role

Each character requires not only a new wig, but a full costume change.

“I’m part of the French hip-hop rap group, then I play a patron at a club, then (lead character) Frankie Valli’s mother, and then straight away into one of The Four Seasons’ dates,” Dunn said.

“That’s all within five or seven minutes. It’s very past-paced.”

Jersey girl Cristina D’Agostino and Mia Dabkowski-Chandler said the backstage team helps them fling off one character and assume another.

The ladies go through as many as 10 wig changes in the first act alone. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
The ladies go through as many as 10 wig changes in the first act alone. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“We have wiggies and our dressers, who are just so amazing to us,” D’Agostino said.

Sage Douglas is the “swing” who has to learn all the female roles in Jersey Boys, in case a cast member is unable to perform.

“It’s like the Formula 1,” Douglas said. “You go into the pit, you come out, you’re like ‘cool’.”

Jersey Boys hit Broadway in 2005, telling the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and how the band rose out of their tough New Jersey neighbourhood on the back of songs like Can’t Take My Eyes Off You and I Love You Baby.

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/arts/jersey-boys-musical-compared-to-formula-one-pit-stop-with-singers-needing-as-many-as-10-wigs/news-story/e5b94dd204d911e834d4c776c5ad45c7