Breaking News: Menken, Slater & Palminteri's A BRONX TALE Musical to Debut at Paper Mill Next Year; Full 2015-16 Season Set!

The New York Times writes that the new musical version of A Bronx Tale, helmed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks, will debut at Paper Mill Playhouse as part of its 2015-16 season. The production will run February 4 - March 6, 2016.

With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Chazz Palminteri, the musical will also feature choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Palminteri, who starred in the original BRONX TALE film and its subsequent solo stage adaptation, will not be leading the New Jersey production.

A BRONX TALE hit the big screen in 1993 as De Niro's directorial debut. Set in the Bronx in the '60s, the tale follows a young Italian-American teenager as he grows up under the influence of his biological father (De Niro) and a local mafia boss, Chazz Palminteri. The story is partially based on Palminteri's childhood. The actor's solo show opened on Broadway in 2007, helmed by Zaks.

Also part of Paper Mill's 2015-16 season is the world premiere of BANDSTAND, described as "a musical about a group of World War II veterans that features an original score evoking the big-band era." Richard Oberacker wrote the music, and Robert Taylor and Oberacker penned the book & lyrics. IN THE HEIGHTS choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler will direct and stage the show, which runs October 8 - November 8, 2015.

To round out the season, A CHRISTMAS STORY will run over the holidays, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES comes in the spring, and WEST SIDE STORY will play as Paper Mill's summer selection.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus