Broadway's Frankie Valli joins West End's 'Jersey Boys'

John Lloyd Young who created the role of 'Frankie Valli' in the Broadway production of Jersey Boys will join the West End production when it reopens at the Piccadilly Theatre on 15 March 2014. (It closes at the Prince Edward 9 March)

Young won the Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Award for his portrayal of Valli in the original 2005 production, making him the only American actor in history to receive all four leading actor awards for their Broadway debut. He went on to revive the role in Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of the musical which is expected to be released in June 2014. He will take over from Ryan Molloy who has played the same role in the West End production since 2008, for a limited season from 15 March - 27 April 2014.

Young will be joined in the production by a new company at the Piccadilly Theatre which will also feature Matt Nalton making his West End debut as Nick Massi. Jon Boydon will continue playing the role of Tommy De Vito alongside Edd Post as Bob Gaudio.

The ensemble will include: Nicola Brazil, Sophie Carmen-Jones, Thomas Goodridge, Lucinda Gill, Matthew Hunt, Mark Isherwood, Charlotte Jeffery, Ben Jennings, Stuart King, Sandy Moffat, Sean Mulligan, Tom Senior, Emma Stephens, Matt Thorpe, Graham Vick, Ben Wheeler and Rob Wilshaw.

Jersey Boys is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio and lyrics by Bob Crewe.

The London production originally opened at the Prince Edward Theatre in February 2008 and reunited the original Broadway creative team. The musical is currently booking until 25 October 2014 at the Piccadilly Theatre, and the first UK touring production is set to launch in September 2014.