Frankie Valli announces Broadway concerts

The Broadway smash "Jersey Boys" is about to get some tough competition -- from an original Jersey Boy, The Associated Press reports.

Frankie Valli, whose falsetto fuels The Four Seasons' music, announced plans Wednesday to make his Broadway debut with seven shows at the Broadway Theatre from Oct. 19-27. The band is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

That will put him up against "Jersey Boys," the behind-the-music musical about the group. At his concerts, Valli will sing many of the same songs that appear in the show. Tickets go on sale Aug. 23.

Producers of "Jersey Boys" took the news in stride. "We are thrilled that Frankie is making his Broadway debut," they said in a statement. The Tony-winning musical, which opened in 2005 at the August Wilson Theatre, tells the story of the band -- Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi -- and features 20 Four Seasons songs.