Check out musical production of ‘Jersey Boys’ in Lake Oswego

Isaac Lamb hadn’t directed a play at the Lakewood Center for the Arts since 2010 and said he was strongly encouraged by executive producer Steve Knox to return.

“He said ‘What would it take to get you to come back to work for us again?’ I was really honored to get that phone call,” Lamb said.

The answer to that question turned out to be a production of “Jersey Boys,” which Lamb wasn’t initially familiar with but grew inspired to replicate.

“There is quite a lot more to it than your typical jukebox musical. It felt like a fun, creative challenge, so I leapt at the opportunity,” Lamb said.

The Lakewood Theatre Company will showcase “Jersey Boys,” a Tony Award-winning musical about the genesis and careers of 20th century pop-rock group Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, this summer.

Lamb said that while some jukebox musicals have a thin story and seemingly exist for the chance to play hit songs, he felt that “Jersey Boys” had more depth and was more akin to a biopic.

“You get to see the genesis of how these four guys from a pretty notable area of history, at least in New Jersey, came together and came to be. It is very much about the creation of the music itself,” Lamb said.

The director also liked the palpable connection to home he felt when reading the script and created a stage design where aspects of 20th century New Jersey urban life — like the fire escapes, two-story walk up apartments, street lamps and other architecture and aesthetic items — serve as something of a ghost that lingers despite the play taking place in multiple settings.

“We’ve taken those and placed them around the set. It feels like there is always this ghost of New Jersey in the background. It was a fun way to mirror what the story was doing,” Lamb said.

Lamb also shrunk the cast from around 20 people to 12 so that actors reappear in different roles to remind the audience of what came before. The cast notably includes Russell Fischer, who played Frankie Valli on Broadway over a decade ago.

“He’s an extraordinarily gifted performer and spent a good portion of his career telling this story,” Lamb said.

Alongside the story, Lamb said the music is especially fun and danceable and he was even surprised how many hit songs The Four Seasons have.

“The show really grooves. It’s the kind of show where you are really going to want to dance in your seat,” he said.

The show will run from July 12 to Aug. 18. For more information, visit www.lakewood-center.org.