‘Jersey Boys’ returns to the Straz Center in Tampa

They seemed like one of the most squeaky-clean music groups of the 1960s, with their matching suits, short hair and a years-long string polished pop songs.

But the back story of the Four Seasons — who were later known as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons — involved jail time, hookers and mob bosses.

Together with their classic songs, the story makes for a great evening of theater. And it’s returning to the Tampa for seven shows, starting Wednesday at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

The show, of course, is “Jersey Boys,” and it’s one of the biggest hits of the 21st century. It opened on Broadway in 2005 and it’s still running.

The music comes almost entirely from the Four Seasons’ catalog, including “Let’s Hang On,” “Who Loves You” and “Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” most of which was written by group member Bob Gaudio and lyricist/producer Bob Crewe. But other songs from the era, including “My Boyfriend’s Back” by the Angels, also figure in to the story.

Besides a lot of great songs, “Jersey Boys” features an entertaining book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. Brickman is a longtime Woody Allen collaborator who co-wrote “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan.” Elice wrote the Broadway hit “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

Details: June 1-5, Morsani Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 8 pm. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $38.50-$115.50, plus service charge. 813-229-7827, strazcenter.org.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 4:38 PM with the headline "‘Jersey Boys’ returns to the Straz Center in Tampa."