John Lloyd Young reprises his role of Frankie Valli in the film version of 'Jersey Boys'

NEW YORK, June 8 (UPI) -- Broadway's John Lloyd Young says he was happy the film adaptation of his stage musical, Jersey Boys, afforded him the rare opportunity as an actor to re-visit in a new medium a character he has already played.

Young won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his electrifying portrayal of rock 'n' roll icon Frankie Valli. Young was able to further explore Valli as a dramatic character in director Clint Eastwood's movie musical, which is set for release in North American theaters June 20.

"I think I just let it breathe," Young told UPI in New York Sunday when asked how he altered his stage performance for the big screen.

"There were a lot of insights I had because of playing this role so many times, but I was constrained by the script and how the stage show was directed. So, really, once the camera is right here," he said, indicating his face, "all those things you know about your character, you can just let them be there and you know the audience is going to see them. When they are in a balcony, there are certain things they just can't see [on the stage.] So, to me, it was like really being allowed to open up and let the character just really come to life in a new way."

Co-starring Christopher Walken, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda and Vincent Piazza, Jersey Boys chronicles how Valli started performing in 1950s New Jersey, then rocketed to national fame in the 1960s and '70s with his band The Four Seasons, recording a string of classic hits that includes "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Who Loves You" and "Oh, What a Night."