Laura Osnes & Corey Cott Open on Broadway in the New Musical Bandstand

The original musical Bandstand, directed and choreographed by Hamilton Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler, opens on April 26 at the Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Tony nominee and Broadway.com vlogger Laura Osnes stars alongside Corey Cott in the musical that began performances on March 31.

Bandstand plays Broadway following a 2015 world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse. The musical, set shortly after World War II, features an original swing score by Richard Oberacker, who also co-wrote the book and lyrics with Robert Taylor.

Bandstand follows Donny Novitski (Cott), a singer/songwriter who leads his wise-cracking gang of jazzers to a national radio contest in search of America’s next big swing band. With the young war widow Julia (Osnes) as their singer, the group struggles to confront the lingering effects of the battlefield as they strive for fame and fortune through their music.

Along with Osnes and Cott reprising their performances from Paper Mill alongside Tony winner Beth Leavel as Mrs. Adams, the principal cast includes Joe Carroll as Johnny Simpson, Brandon James Ellis as Davy Zlatic, Nate Hopkins as Jimmy Campbell, Geoff Packard as Wayne Wright and Alex Bender as Nick Radel.

The ensemble features Mary Callanan, Max Clayton, Patrick Connaghan, Matt Cusack, Andrea Dotto, Marc A. Heitzman, Ryan Kasprzak, Andrew Leggieri, Erica Mansfield, Morgan Marcell, Drew McVety, Kevyn Morrow, Jessica Lea Patty, Becca Petersen, Keven Quillon, Jonathan Shew, Ryan VanDenBoom, Jaime Verazin, Mindy Wallace and Kevin Worley.

To commemorate the musical’s opening night, Broadway.com Resident Artist Justin "Squigs" Robertson sketched a portrait showing off Osnes, Cott and company bringing the big band sound back to Broadway.



About the Artist: With a desire to celebrate the magic of live theater and those who create it, and with a deep reverence for such touchstones as the work of Al Hirschfeld and the wall at Sardi’s, Squigs is happy and grateful to be among those carrying on the traditions where theater and caricature meet. He was born and raised in Oregon, lived in Los Angeles for quite a long time and now calls New York City his home.