Oh, What a Night! Classic Hits, Modern Gentleman, at Kean Stage Oct. 7

Oh, What a Night! Classic Hits, Modern Gentleman, at Kean Stage Oct. 7

The Modern Gentleman, longtime backup singers and dancers to Frankie Valli, bring four-part harmony and high energy dance moves to Kean University

UNION, N.J. – Capture all the excitement of the real Jersey Boys in nearby Hillside, when The Modern Gentlemen – Frankie Valli’s longtime backup singers – arrive at Kean Stage’s Enlow Recital Hall on Saturday, October 7. The quartet will bring their four-part harmony and high energy choreography to the stage as they perform Motown, pop, rock and doo-wop favorites.

The Modern Gentlemen have performed background vocals and choreography for Valli for more than a decade. Landon Beard, Todd Fournier and brothers Brian and Brandon Brigham were all in-demand singers before being brought together as a quartet by the legendary crooner.

“My brother and I were athletes in high school but we were also in show choir,” said Brian Brigham. “We were in a barbershop quartet and a lot of the stage shows at Disneyland. It was fun. We were getting paid for doing what we love, and we really had a chance to hone our skills. It was great training.”

There, the Brighams met Beard and Fournier. One of them had a friend who worked for Newark-born Valli and suggested they audition for him. For the past 15 years, they’ve been performing alongside the 83-year-old rock and roll icon in about 75 shows a year.

“Ever since Jersey Boys took off, Frankie’s career has been rejuvenated,” said Brigham. “We’ve been very busy.”

Aside from their shows with Valli, The Modern Gentlemen have developed their own signature sound, bringing their four-part harmonies and impressive choreography, as well as the classic hits of Motown, pop, rock, doo-wop and, of course, the Four Seasons, to audiences worldwide.

“We perform music from a lot of our favorite vocal groups,” Brigham said. “I love seeing the audience reminisce about the first time they heard those songs. Jersey Boys has also brought us a younger audience, which is fun.”

They’ve performed for U.S. presidents and shared the stage with such greats as the Beach Boys, Manhattan Transfer and Tony Bennett. This is their first east coast appearance, as they must fit The Modern Gentlemen shows in between those of Valli.

“Frankie has been very supportive of us,” said Brigham.

They’ve also been spending time in the studio with Valli, working on a Frank Sinatra tribute album.

“We’ll be doing cool vocal harmonies, à la the Four Freshmen,” he said.

At Kean Stage, concertgoers are likely to hear songs from the Beatles, Bee Gees, Beach Boys and Earth, Wind and Fire, as well as Four Seasons hits, including Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry and December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).

“This is going to be a really fun show,” Brigham said. “We’re excited about our first tour date in New Jersey. It’s fun venturing out on our own. It would be awesome if we have a career half as successful as Frankie.”

The Modern Gentlemen will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, at Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave., Hillside, NJ. Tickets are $40 to $60 and are available at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre on the campus of Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ, by phone at 908-737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

PHOTOS/CAPTIONS:

The Modern Gentlemen perform at Kean University on Saturday, October 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Kean Stage’s Enlow Recital Hall.  

ABOUT KEAN UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The University’s five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers four doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master’s degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.

ABOUT KEAN STAGE
Kean Stage at Kean University educates, entertains and challenges audiences by presenting high-quality programs that reflect the diversity of the region and of the arts. These cultural offerings complement the intellectual life of the classroom for our students, increase opportunities for community engagement, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of professional theatre, Broadway tours, dance performances, concerts, international films and family-friendly shows. In addition, Kean Stage encourages University students to attend events, and provides several options to explore the performing arts through master classes, workshops, lectures, employment opportunities as ushers, backstage technicians and box office staff. Visit www.keanstage.com .

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Steve Cochran
Manager of Kean Stage
Phone: (908) 737-4081
Fax: (908) 737-4636
Email: scochran@kean.edu
Website: www.keanstage.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 19, 2017