Oscar winner Robert De Niro will be part of the creative team that brings the musical adaptation of the Chazz Palminteri film A Bronx Tale to the stage. Along with De Niro will be four-time Tony winner director Jerry Zaks. Palminteri is adapting his film script for the stage while Alan Menken & Glenn Slater will score the musical. De Niro directed and starred in the 1993 film, which is based on Palminteri’s childhood.

The Genesis

A Bronx Tale is set in the ‘60s. It focuses on Calogero, an Italian-American teen, and his friendship with a neighborhood gang member named Sonny. When Calogero sees Sonny murder someone, it makes the bond between the two grow stronger, as Calogero remains loyal to his friend and keeps the killing a secret. First a play by Palminteri, it was performed in Los Angeles in 1990. It was then produced Off-Broadway, and, after the film was released, the play was produced on Broadway in 2007.

The musical was first reported to be in the works in February 2013. At that time, Bon Jovi’s David Bryan was signed to write the score. Palminteri and De Niro were part of the original team, as was current choreographer Sergio Trujillo.

Performances and the Season

Performances of A Bronx Tale are scheduled to run from February 4, 2016 through March 6. The Paper Mill’s 2015-2016 season will open will another world premiere musical entitled Bandstand. Andy Blankenbuehler (In the Heights and Hamilton) will direct the show, which is written by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor. Bandstand opens October 8. Three other musicals make up the Paper Mill Season- A Christmas Story, Pump Boys and Dinettes and West Side Story.