A Bronx Tale

A Bronx Tale is playing at the Longacre Theatre located at 220 West 48th Street. The musical runs two hours ten minutes with one intermission. It is an open ended show.

The musical is based on Chazz Palminteri’s book and film. The film version premiered in 1993. The play opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on October 4, 2007 and closed on February 24, 2008 after 108 performances and nineteen previews.

Jerry Zaks is the director. He won four Tony Awards for Guys and Dolls (1992), Six Degrees of Separation (1991), Lend Me a Tenor (1989) and The House of Blue Leaves (1986). Jerry was nominated for three Tony Awards for A Funny Thing Happen on the Way to the Forum (1996), Smokey Joe’s Café (1995) and Anything Goes (1988).

Robert De Niro is the director. He won an Academy Award for Raging Bull (1980), The God Father Part II (1974). He was nominated for five Academy Awards for Silver Lining Play Book (2012), Cape Fear (1991), Awakenings (1990), The Deer Hunter (1978) and Taxi Driver (1976). These are a few of the awards that he has won or been nominated for.

Chazz Paliminteri wrote the book in 1993. He is known for his role in A Bronx Tale.

Sergio Trujillo is the choreographer. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 2016 for On Your Feet. Sergio was nominated for four Drama Desk Awards for Hand on a Hardbody (2013), Leap of faith (2012), Memphis (2010) and Jersey Boys (2006).

Beowuff Boritt is the set designer. He was nominated for a Tony Award for The Scottsboro Boys (2011).

William Ivey Long is the costume designer. He was nominated for fifteen Tony Awards. He won six for Cinderella (2013), Grey Gardens (2006), Hairspray (2002), The Producers (2001), Crazy For You (1992) and Nine (1982).

Nick Cordero was nominated for a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Bullets Over Broadway (2014).

The place is the Bronx, New York; the time is 1960 and 1968.

Tremont Avenue is the area the kids in the area hang out. It is an Italian neighborhood.

Older Calogero (Bobby Conte Thornton) tell us how he grew in the neighborhood. Young Calogero (Hudson Loverro) tells us the story too. When he was eight he witnesses Sonny (Nick Cordero) kill someone. Sonny is the don of the neighbor, no one crosses him. He tells his parents. His father Lorenzo (Richard H. Blake) and his mother Rosina (Lucina Giannetta) tell him not to say anything but he does. He tells the police and they have a line up. Sonny is there but he says none of the people are the one that committed the murder.

Sonny mentors him. He teaches him the fine things in life like playing dice and gives him money from the wins. Of course his parents aren’t thrilled about. Calogero father is a bus driver. He doesn’t want to do that.

In high school he falls for Jane (Ariana DeBose). She lives in the area of Webster Avenue. That neighborhood is African American. He doesn’t know what to do. Afraid if his friends find out they will cause trouble. Sonny tells him he should take her out and will lend him his car. He tells him a secret on how to tell if she is right for him. I’m not telling you what it is. But hell does break lose.

This is a very enjoyable show to see. It tells a story of a boy growing up in the Bronx. Like any city different ethnic groups live in different areas and did not mingle in that time period.

The cast was great. Nick Cordero was convincing as the man you don’t want to cross. He was that good. Richard H. Blake and Bobby Conte Thornton were outstanding. Ariana DeBose did an amazing job in her role. Last but not lease was Hudson Loverro. He is ten going on twenty. Hudson shined in his role. Can’t wait to see what he does when he is twenty.

Go see this show it was very good. I liked it and so did the audience.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich.

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on a photo, then back to album and finally click on back to gallery for this and other shows.