2 weeks Ago
Le Petit Theatre's cast of "Jersey Boys" rehearses for the first time with the band on March 6, 2025. The show will run through April 6, with a chance of being continued. Le Petit Theatre is located in the French Quarter at 616 St.
Peter St. in New Orleans. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save While the show must go on, sometimes it doesn't go as planned.
In theory, the plan for this column was to recount the adventure of my having a walk-on role in Le Petit Theatre's production of "Jersey Boys" this past weekend. A serious case of laryngitis/bronchitis changed those plans. In fact, the show did go on, but I ended up spending the weekend in bed.
Le Petit Theatre's cast of "Jersey Boys" rehearses for the first time with the band on March 6, 2025. The show will run through April 6, with a chance of being continued. Le Petit Theatre is located in the French Quarter at 616 St.
Peter St. in New Orleans. Fortunately, Le Petit has more shows.
I'll have my chance to fake my way across this coming weekend. "Jersey Boys" is scheduled to run through April 6, but because of its popularity, they may be adding additional shows. If you haven't been to Le Petit Theatre, there are things you should know.
First, I can't think of a more charming theater anywhere. It is one of those places that has a certain magic to it. The historic theater got its start way back in 1916.
It's been in its current location, just off Jackson Square in the French Quarter at 616 St. Peter St., since 1922.
The theater's lobby is connected to the restaurant Tableau, in all of its New Orleans glory, with a courtyard so picturesque that every time I look at it, I want to paint the scene — and I draw so poorly that my stick figures need therapy. Even still, when I look at that particular courtyard, I wish I had a canvas. It strikes all the right New Orleans chords.
Theater patrons take in all of that charm before even entering the 300-seat theater. Once inside, the space is cozy and feels good. Though I've only seen one show there, I went to a "Jersey Boy" practice two weeks ago, which I loved since I've long been a fan of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.
What is a sitzprobe? The theater folks explained that this wasn't just any old practice, this was the sitzprobe. If "sitzprobe" leaves you with a puzzled expression, you are not alone. Two weeks post-sitzprobe, I can enlighten you.
First, "sitzprobe" is German for "seated rehearsal." The event is the rehearsal when the cast and orchestra rehearse together for the first time, focusing solely on the music and singing, with no staging or costumes. Theater people get excited about the sitzprobe.
The coming together of different groups of people who have been preparing and practicing separately is monumental. Before the sitzprobe started, the actors were milling around the theater. I met Stephanie Toups Abry, who's currently playing a double role.
Not only is she Le Petit's development director, she also has the role of Lorraine in "Jersey Boys." Abry, who is originally from Baton Rouge, got her start at Le Petit when they did "Beautiful" a few years ago. "It was my first kind of dip-my-toe into the audition scene here — and got cast as Cynthia," Abry said.
"I joke that I pestered AJ (Allegra) and Don-Scott (Cooper) until they let me stay." Cooper is Le Petit's producing executive director. Allegra is the theater's artistic director.
Both take a hands-on approach with every show, and Allegra is co-directing "Jersey Boys." On cue, Allegra joined us. Abry explained that I would have one of the walk-on roles in an upcoming show.
At this point, it's important to note that I was recording the conversation, because it wasn't until I went back and listened that it hit me what Allegra said next — which is the biggest clue I have about exactly what I'll be doing in the show. Discovering this added detail was not, shall we say, comforting. He said, "You're gonna shimmy and shake like you're doing a, like you're doing a beach blanket bingo.
" He went on to tell me that 62 people are working to make "Jersey Boys" happen, including 16 in the cast and 10 people in the orchestra. The rest of the crew are behind the scenes building the sets, creating the costumes, handling the lighting/sound and directing music/vocals. There's also stage management/run crew, directors/choreography, wigs/hair and makeup.
Then there are the front-of-house people, production, and for this show set in New Jersey, they hired a dialect coach. I've since worked with the theater's costume department to get my wardrobe. I'm working now to regulate my breathing regarding that "shimmy and shake" thing and mentally preparing.
My teensy-weensy minor role occurs during the song, "Who Wears Short Shorts?" There is one definite answer to the question that the song title poses: "Not me." The good news is that seats for "Jersey Boys" are open for all 13 remaining shows as of now, and adult tickets start at $47 (including all fees). Student tickets are $27 (including all fees) for all performances (through college, with ID).
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