A musical adaptation of A Bronx Tale will finally be hitting the stage. Though it hasn’t reached Broadway yet, Chazz Palminteri’s semi-autobiographical story will premiere as part of the Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2015-16 season, with Robert De Niro on board to helm the production.
A Bronx Tale is based on Palminteri’s one-man play and film by the same name, which starred and was directed by De Niro. Jerry Zaks, who directed the one-man show, will be teaming up with the Hollywood star for its newest inception. The show will feature music by Tony and Oscar winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by the movie’s screenwriter, Palminteri.
The project first came to light in February 2013, with De Niro and Palminteri on board for the production. However, at that time, instead of Menken, Bon Jovi’s David Bryan was slated to pen the score.
All adaptations of A Bronx Tale are inspired by Palminteri’s childhood. The story takes place during a volatile time in the 1960’s and follows Italian-American teen Calogero’s relationship with Sonny, a local mob boss. De Niro plays Calogero’s father, a law abiding citizen who tries his best to keep his son on the straight and narrow.
The play, written and performed by Palminteri, premiered in Los Angeles in 1990 and soon moved to off-Broadway. Following the 1993 film, the play ran on Broadway in 2007.
The Paper Mill season kicks off with another world premiere musical: Bandstand, a musical about a group of World War II veterans. Other shows in the line-up include A Christmas Story, Pump Boys and Dinettes and West Side Story.
Performances of A Bronx Tale will run from February 4, 2016 through March 6.
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