Broadway's A BRONX TALE Finds Full Company, Kicks Off Rehearsals

Rehearsals began today for the Broadway premiere of A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL, the new musical featuring a book by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri, music by Oscar, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Alan Menken, and lyrics by Grammy Award winner and Oscar and Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater, co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo. The show is produced by Tommy Mottola, the Dodgers, and Tribeca Productions.

A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL begins previews Thursday, November 3 and open Thursday, December 1 at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

Completing the 30-member cast is Hudson Loverro (Kinky Boots National Tour, A Christmas Storyat Paper Mill Playhouse) as Young Calogero. Athan Sporek (LES MISERABLES, New York City Ballet's The Nutcracker) is the Young Calogero alternate.

As previously announced, A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL stars Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero (Waitress, Bullets Over Broadway) as Sonny, Richard H. Blake (Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Matilda The Musical) as Lorenzo, Bobby Conte Thornton (My Fair Lady at Bay Street Theatre) as Calogero, Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, Bring It On, Motown The Musical) as Jane,Lucia Giannetta (LES MISERABLES - Broadway and 25th Anniversary Tour, Leap of Faith, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse) as Rosina, and Bradley Gibson (Rocky, Chicago national tour) as Tyrone.

A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL's ensemble will also feature Gilbert L. Bailey II (The Book Of Mormon, How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Joe Barbara (Grease, Jersey Boys in Las Vegas),Michael Barra (Man Of La Mancha national tour, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse), Jonathan Brody (Spamalot, Mary Poppins national tour), Ted Brunetti (Falsettos, Assassins), Brittany Conigatti (Matilda The Musical and Beauty and the Beast national tours, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse), Kaleigh Cronin (Cabaret, Jersey Boys national tour), Trista Dollison (The Lion King, Avenue Q), David Michael Garry (The Last Ship, Phantom of the Opera), Rory Max Kaplan(Jersey Boys, Chicago at the MUNY), Dominic Nolfi (Jersey Boys, Motown The Musical, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse), Christiani Pitts (Rent, Aida, Big Fish regional productions), Paul Salvatoriello (Tony n' Tina's Wedding, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse), Joey Sorge (Nice Work If You Can Get It; How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Drowsy Chaperone), Cary David Tedder (Memphis, Big Fish, Dames At Sea), Kirstin Tucker (Cinderella,Trip of Love, Zorba), Keith White (Jersey Boys national tour, A Bronx Tale at Paper Mill Playhouse), Michelle Aravena (Rocky, Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line), Gerald Caesar (Hairspray at MUNY, Aida and South Pacific at Pittsburgh CLO), Charlie Marcus (A Chorus Line, Peter Pan),Wonu Ogunfowora (Sister Act national tour), and Joseph J. Simeone (West Side Story national tour, Little Dancer, The Hunchback of Notre Dame).

A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL premiered at the Tony Award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse to critical and popular acclaim February 4, 2016, through March 6, 2016.

Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the now classic film, this streetwise musical will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s-where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he'd love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score, this is a tale about respect, loyalty, love and above all else: family.

The design team for A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL includes Beowulf Boritt, Scenic Design (Tony Award nomination for Thérèse Raquin, Tony Awards for Act One, The Scottsboro Boys);William Ivey Long, Costume Design (six-time Tony Award winner, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Grey Gardens); Howell Binkley, Lighting Design (Tony Award for Jersey Boys, Tony Award nomination for Hamilton); Gareth Owen, Sound Design (Tony Award nominations for A Little Night Music and End of the Rainbow); Paul Huntley, Hair & Wig Design (Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre, Fun Home, The Visit); Anne Ford-Coates, Makeup Design (On Your Feet!,Disaster!); Tara Rubin Casting, Casting (Aladdin, LES MISERABLES, Jersey Boys); and RoBert Westley, Fight Coordinator (Hand to God, Important Hats of the Twentieth Century). Music Supervision and Arrangements are by Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys), Orchestrations are by DougBesterman (three-time Tony Award winner, It Shoulda Been You, Bullets Over Broadway) and Musical Direction is by Jonathan Smith (Jersey Boys).

A BRONX TALE THE MUSICAL evolved from the one-man Off Broadway play, A Bronx Tale, written and performed by Chazz Palminteri in 1989. During the original Off Broadway and subsequent Los Angeles engagements, Robert De Niro came to see the show, and brought the story and star Palminteri to the screen in 1993, making his film directorial debut in the process. Following the success of the film, Palminteri performed the one-man show A Bronx Taleon Broadway in the 2007-2008 Season.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Nick Cordero (Sonny). Coming straight from playing 'Earl' in the Broadway smash hit Waitress, Nick is thrilled to be recreating this iconic role in A Bronx Tale. Nick played 'Cheech' in Woody Allen & Susan Stroman's Bullets Over Broadway, for which he earned 2014 Tony & Drama Desk nominations, and Outer Critics Circle and Theater World Awards. Nick also appeared on Broadway as 'Dennis' in Rock Of Ages, as well as the 1st National Tour. Other NY theater includes Nice Girl(LAByrinth), Brooklynite (Vineyard), The Toxic Avenger (New World Stages). Film/TV credits include "Queer As Folk" (Showtime), "Lilyhammer" (Netflix), "Law & Order: SVU" (NBC/Universal), A Stand Up Guy (2B Films), Going In Style (Warner Bros.).

Richard H. Blake (Lorenzo). Broadway: Jersey Boys (Tommy DeVito),Wicked (Fiyero), Legally Blonde (Warner), The Wedding Singer (GlenGuglia), Hairspray (Link), Aida (Radames), Saturday Night Fever (TonyManero), Rent (Roger), Matilda (Sergei), The Prince of Central Park(Prince), Macbeth (Boy Macduff), The Sound of Music (Friedrich), Teddy and Alice (Archie). National Tours: Wicked (Fiyero), Saturday Night Fever(Tony), Footloose (Chuck Cranston), The Sound of Music (Rolf). Film: Life of an Actress, The Factory, Any Day Now, Red light August. Numerous TV, Off-Broadway, commercial and radio credits. His favorite roles to date are that of husband and father to his amazing wife and son. @richardhblake

Bobby Conte Thornton (Calogero). Broadway Debut. New York: My Fair Lady (Bay Street Theatre), Starting Here, Starting Now (York Theatre Company). Regional: all-male A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Two River Theater), world premiere of Ken Ludwig's A Comedy of Tenors (McCarter Theatre Center/Cleveland Play House), Grease (Paper Mill Playhouse), LesMisérables (MUNY), The Light in the Piazza (Farmers Alley Theatre). Concerts: Feinstein's/54 Below, Venetian Room at San Francisco Fairmont, Symphony Space, Carolina Philharmonic. Training: BFA University of Michigan, RADA. @bcontethor

Ariana DeBose (Jane) is thrilled to join the incredible cast & creative team of A Bronx Tale, fresh off of her run as #theBullet in the original company of Hamilton An American Musical. A Raleigh, NC native, her other Broadway credits include Bring It On (Nautica), Motown (Mary Wilson) and Pippin. Film/TV: "Blue Bloods," VH1's "The Breaks" (Yvette),Company on screen with the NY Philharmonic and "SYTYCD" S6 top 20. Now an Astaire nominee, Grammy winner, and member of a Tony Award-winning cast, she is a proud product of public arts education and a firm believer that #ArtWorks. She received her dance training at CC & Co. Dance Complex in Raleigh, NC. Follow her on Instagram & Twitter @arianadebose or like her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ArianaNDeBose/).

Lucia Giannetta (Rosina). Broadway: LES MISERABLES, Leap Of Faith. National Tour: LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary. Off-Broadway: Godspell. Regional: Papermill Playhouse: A Bronx Tale The Musical, LesMisérables. NY: Radio City: Sinatra, Carnegie Hall: Noel Coward, Mad About The Boy, Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series: Alan Menken, Live From Lincoln Center: Billy Porter, City Center: Randy Newman's Faust, Mariah Carey's Christmas Special. TV: 2016 Miss America Pageant with Vanessa Williams, David Letterman, America's Got Talent, The Tony Awards. Lucia is a proud member of The Broadway Inspirational Voices. For my Bella - www.LuciaGiannetta.com Twit: @LuciaGNewYork Insta: lucia_giannetta_

Bradley Gibson (Tyrone). Broadway: Rocky. Off-Broadway: Love'sLabour's Lost (The Public Theater), School For Scandal (The Red Bull Theater). National Tour: Chicago. Regional: The Last Goodbye (The Old Globe). TV: "Mozart In The Jungle." The Boston Conservatory. Endless thanks to my amazing family & friends, this incredible creative team, BRS/GAGE, BoCo 2013, and Tara Rubin Casting. @bradgibson91

Hudson Loverro (Young Calogero) is thrilled to make his Broadway debut in A Bronx Tale! Other credits: Ragtime on Ellis Island; Kinky BootsNational Tour (Young Charlie); A Christmas Story, PMP (Randy). TV: Superwings (Jett). Thanks to Lisa Calli, BarryKolker, Justin Reamy, DMO, Alvin Crawford, Merri and A Bronx Tale team, Mom, Dad, Audrey, Chloe, family.

Athan Sporek (Young Calogero Alternate) is thrilled to be playing Young Calogero! Athan made his Broadway debut at age 7 in LesMisérables as the youngest Gavroche in Broadway history. Other credits: Fritz in NYCB's The Nutcracker, A Day By the Sea (Off-Broadway), "The Knick," "Odd Mom Out," "Butterbeans Café." Special thanks to manager Lauren Singer, Abrams Artists, Tara Rubin Casting, and the BXT team. Love you mommy, daddy, Angelina, family and friends! AthanSporek.com @athansporek

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