Tony Danza on Why the Broadway-Bound Honeymoon in Vegas Has the ‘Best Score Since West Side Story’

Who’s the Boss? favorite Tony Danza is living it up in New York City this week! He’s in town for the April 5 industry reading of Honeymoon in Vegas, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy based on the hit 1992 film. The new tuner by Jason Robert Brown will premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse on September 26, starring Danza as scheming high roller Tommy Korman. We caught up with the stage and screen star at the opening of Brown’s The Last Five Years to find out why Danza is “going nuts” about the new musical.

“Jason has written one of the best scores I’ve ever heard,” Danza told Broadway.com. “You can’t get these songs out of your mind!” One song in particular, “Out of the Sun,” really had Danza hooked. “I heard it and I just went crazy,” he said. “It’s such fun, toe-tapping music and there’s so many different styles. Jason and [book writer] Andrew Bergman really have come together so wonderfully.”

For Danza, one of the most exciting moments of his Vegas experience has been sitting in on the casting process. “We’re all cast up, and you know Rob McClure, who played Chaplin? He’s going to play Jack, so it’s really exciting.” The new musical adaptation tells the story of commitment-phobe Jack (McClure), who finally gets up the nerve to ask his girlfriend Betsy to marry him. But when they head to Las Vegas to get hitched, wealthy gambler Tommy Korman (Danza) falls head over heels for Betsy, too. Directed by Bergman, the 1992 film starred James Caan as Tommy. “Jimmy has given me his blessing to play the part,” Danza said. “It’s such a great character.”

Before Danza sings the new songs onstage, he’s singing the praises of his new musical to Broadway.com. “I’m telling you, it’s got the most beautiful songs. I could hit you with some hyperbole: This is the greatest score I’ve heard since West Side Story! That’s pretty good, right? Plus, it’s got Vegas in the title,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t beat it!”