"Jersey Boys" producers have donated $15,000 to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund in honor of the musical's 10th anniversary.
NEWARK -- Producers of the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons-based musical "Jersey Boys" just donated $15,000 to a N.J. charitable organization to help needy residents this holiday season.
"Like Frankie says in Act Two of 'Jersey Boys,' 'you don't forget where you come from,'" said Edward Strong, a partner in Dodger Theatricals, lead producers of "Jersey Boys."
The original members of the Four Seasons were famously from New Jersey, and Valli was born in Newark.
The producers of the Tony-winning musical donated the money to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund on Nov. 6, in commemoration of the show's 10th anniversary.
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They designated 300 orchestra seats to the Nov. 6 performance in New York City at a special $50 ticket rate with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, according to a press release.
"'Jersey Boys' wanted to mark our tenth year on Broadway by sharing some of our good fortune with the community of Newark, who gave us, and the world, the original Four Seasons and their music," Strong said.
The Fund, which was founded by Newark businessmen in 1937, started as a holiday gift drive and now provides financial gifts to various social service agencies across northern N.J., including those in Essex, Union, Passaic, Hudson, Morris and Bergen Counties.
Its 11 partner agencies, including Children's Aid and Family Services in Paramus and the Urban League of Essex County, serve people in need of all ages, providing counseling, female empowerment, child care, and job training, among other services.
"The holiday time is an especially hard time for many people, and we're so grateful that 'Jersey Boys' reached out to people in their hometown, and helped out by giving funds that could be used for helping people in all kinds of need and crisis," said the fund's Administrative Director Fern Dickey.
"Jersey Boys," which opened Nov. 6, 2005, won the Tony Award for "Best Musical" in 2006. It is currently playing in New York, Las Vegas, London, and other cities across North America and the United Kingdom on national tours.
Laura Herzog may be reached at lherzog@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LauraHerzogL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.