Wilson Theatre , newly arrived in New York and 23 years old , with my own dreams of a life in the arts . I remember the energy of that neighborhood and the rambunctious joy that poured out of the theatre doors ( and into my bar ) after every performance .
But my connection to this story stretches even further back . My mother and her sister , growing up in the ' 60s and ' 70s , would roller skate to The Four Seasons ’ music with their friends , and those songs inevitably became part of the soundtrack of my childhood too . Now , as we bring this show to life , I hear those familiar harmonies in a new way — this time as a testament to grit and hard work , to the unshakable bonds that tie us to the people whose lives are entwined with our own , for better or worse , and to the resilience necessary in the search for happiness and success .
Biographical jukebox musicals have never been my go-to genre , but digging into Jersey Boys has unearthed something deeper : a powerful story about a group of guys who dreamed big and worked even harder to get there . Their journey reminds us that , as Frankie Valli says in the show , ‘ family is everything ’— even if it ’ s the kind of family you fight with but ultimately can ’ t live without .
Returning to Theatre Cedar Rapids to tell this story is a personal joy and a chance to reflect on how this community shaped my own journey . Just like The Four Seasons found their way from a street corner to the top of the charts , this show is a testament to the power of dreaming big and finding your voice . May it remind you , as it did me , that with persistence , the right people by your side , and a song in your heart , anything is possible .
Enjoy the show !
Matt Hagmeier Curtis , a Cedar Rapids native , is now a Boston-based theatre director and the Senior Creative Director at the Educational Theatre Association . His recent directing credits include Something Rotten ! ( 2024 ) and the upcoming Hairspray ( 2025 ) at Theatre Cedar Rapids . Matt previously worked on Broadway at Disney Theatrical Productions , overseeing the development of musicals and plays for licensed productions . He has contributed to the development of over 50 plays and musicals , including Newsies , Beauty and the Beast , Peter and the Starcatcher , The Hunchback of Notre Dame , Shakespeare in Love , and Freaky Friday , among others . Matt holds a BA in musical theatre and a master ’ s degree in theatre education from the University of Northern Colorado and was thrilled to guest direct their 2023 production of Rodgers + Hammerstein ’ s Cinderella . He is also honored to have worked with President Obama ’ s Turnaround Arts program , providing underserved communities with transformative theatre arts opportunities in schools .
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