Paper Mill Playhouse's A BRONX TALE, Directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks, Begins Tonight

Paper Mill Playhouse presents the world premiere musical A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL. The musical will be co-directed by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Sergio Trujillo. A Bronx Tale: The Musical features a book by Chazz Palminteri, music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater.

A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL will run at the Millburn, New Jersey theater from tonight, February 4, 2016, through March 6, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, February 14, at 7:00 pm.

Leading the company are Jason Gotay as Calogero, Joshua Colley as Young Calogero, Nick Cordero as Sonny, Richard H. Blake as Lorenzo, Coco Jones as Jane and Lucia Giannetta as Rosina.

Based on the real life story by Chazz Palminteri‚ A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL is set against the backdrop of racial strife and organized crime in the 1960s. It is the story of an Italian-American teenager finding his path in life as he must choose between the father who raised him and a mob-boss father figure who fascinates him.

"A BRONX TALE has always had a very special meaning to me," commented co-director Robert De Niro "The story is so rich and I look forward to working with Jerry, Chazz, Alan and Glenn to bring it to the stage in its latest incarnation."

"I've been in love with the story of A Bronx Tale ever since I directed Chazz Palminteri's one-man show on Broadway a few years ago," remarked co-director Jerry Zaks. "A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL is a universal story and I think it's going to be a real treat for audiences to experience. I'm really looking forward to working on this new musical at Paper Mill Playhouse this winter."

"There are only three things you can do to an audience - make them laugh, make them cry or you can scare them. In A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL we do all three," commented book writer Chazz Palminteri.

"I'm truly excited to be returning to Paper Mill Playhouse with this musical of A BRONX TALE," said Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken. "As a longtime fan of Chazz Palminteri, I have treasured the opportunity to bring his incredible story to life through songs that are inspired by the Bronx neighborhood he grew up in, the unique world of his formative years and the rich sounds of late 50's and early 60's pop music. Besides reuniting me with longtime collaborators like Glenn Slater and Jerry Zaks, I have had the amazing honor of getting to know and work with a legend like Robert DeNiro."

A BRONX TALE: THE MUSICAL will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:30pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:30pm,Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 8:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale now starting at $32. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express accepted. Groups of 10 or more can receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. College students may order $20 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski