Oscar Winner Robert De Niro Will Helm Paper Mill's A Bronx Tale, Featuring Score by Alan Menken & Glenn Slater

The musical adaptation of A Bronx Tale is finally hitting the stage, but not on Broadway (yet, at least). The tuner, based on the one-man play and film of the same name, will premiere as part of Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2015-16 season. Two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro, who directed and starred in the movie adapation, will helm the production alongside four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks. The show will feature music by Tony and Oscar winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by the movie’s screenwriter Chazz Palminteri. Performances will run from February 4, 2016 through March 6.

The project was initially reported in February 2013. While De Niro and Palminteri were attached to the musical adaptation from the beginning, Bon Jovi’s David Bryan was slated to pen the score. Sergio Trujillo remains on board to choreograph the New Jersey production.

Inspired by Palminteri’s childhood, A Bronx Tale takes place in the ‘60s and follows Calogero, an Italian-American teen’s friendship with Sonny, a neighborhood gang member. Calogero witnessing a murder at Sonny’s hands only makes their relationship stronger, which he must keep secret from his family. The play, written and performed by Palminteri, premiered in Los Angeles in 1990 and soon moved to off-Broadway. Following the 1993 film, the play ran on Broadway in 2007. 

The Paper Mill season kicks off with another world premiere musical: Bandstand. The show, written by Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, will begin on October 8 under the direction of Andy Blankenbuehler. Three other tuners are also on the lineup: A Christmas Story, Pump Boys and Dinettes and West Side Story.