A Bronx Tale Tour

I'm with you on the music. My daughter really liked it. I thought the first half was better than the second.

Just saw this in Denver. I thought the first act was ....not good. We didn't have Richard Blake - his understudy was on. I hate to pick on child actors - but whomever we had as young C (I think it was the "at some performances" youngster) had the flattest, nonemotional and quickest line readings I've seen in a professional production in some time. I really couldn't wait for him to leave the stage.

I like the second act better - even though the second act goes in so many different directions.

I had high hopes - as I liked the OBCR for the most part. But, the show was just meh - and a little less than meh. My daughter thought is was the weakest professional production she'd seen in quite a while. The show is very forgettable as there was just nothing that stood out to me in the performances and staging, even though supposedly 11 of the tour cast were in the Broadway cast, at some point. . .

I can echo the recommendations. I saw it (multiple times) in SF. I had been aware of it, but it had never made my priority when in NY. When it was announced with the season, I put it in the "didn't see it already and hope it's worth a subscription seat" with minimal expectations. I was pleasantly surprised. Is it a great musical? Nah. But I had a great time. And it's a great, first class tour.

As a further mark of recommendation, I'm a part time usher at the theatre where it was running. I didn't get bored of seeing it. And most importantly, the audience came out loving the show (many of whom didn't know what to expect). Always an extra pleasure working a show where people are surprised and happy.

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 11:07 PM

Saw this Friday night. I went in with low expectations. I actually used a $20 Off discount code to score one of the cheapest seats in the house - I sat front row center balcony for $$38 including all fees. It’s not selling well here in Oklahoma City. They usually have 400 - 500 unsold seats for each performance. It started Tuesday and ends Sunday.

Look, it is far from a perfect show, but I can see why it played well with the bridge and tunnel crowd. It certainly worked its imperfect charms on me. Its biggest asset is its sentimentality even if that comes at the expense of soft peddling issues of race, including one character’s use of the n-word, which is easily forgiven. Listen, my dad died 6 years ago. He never stepped into New York City, but he was coming of age around the era this show is set in (he was born in 1937 so would’ve been 16 in 1953). I stagedoored (I was the only one) after the show and as I told one cast member (I was choked up so much I could barely get out the words and even then only with quite a bit of effort - hard to speak when your throat is closing up as you’re fighting the urge to cry) it was like I had my dad back for two hours. My dad would’ve liked this show.

In a nutshell, while far from perfect, this show exceeded my low expectations.

Before the show, i bought the magnet (it’s becoming a tradition for me to buy a magnet from every show I see). Afterwards, I bought the mug and the program. I almost bought the hoodie because it says Bronx across the front but the $65 price tag helped me refrain.

Tomorrow I’m seeing Girlfriend as a regional premiere of this musical inspired by 90’s alt-rock artist Matthew Sweet. Then Wednesday in Sacramento I’m seeing the touring production of Falsettos.

MrsSallyAdams - Mr. Palmienterri says the show isn't for you! He's kind of defensive about people criticizing the show, because it's "his story".

I was in L.A. not too long ago and this guy recognized me. “Chazz Palminteri,” he said, “I am surprised you are not inside. There’s a conference on Italian-Americans in cinema inside.” So I went in and I was standing there in the back. And the guy, on cue, I swear, says the next movie we are going to talk about is “A Bronx Tale.” He talked about how everyone loved the movie, then this pompous professor on the panel says, “I hated it. I thought it was stereotypical. It glamorized the mafia. It’s disrespectful of Italian-Americans.” The professor was ranting.I told the guy, absolutely, I understand your point and it is your right to not like the movie. It’s all subjective. But I also said this is not a gangster movie, it’s about family and it’s my story. I’m sorry, professor, you can hate it, but to be honest with you, you just didn’t get it. And I walked right out."

Palminteri: Pfft to Those Who Don't Like A Bronx Tale

The equity tour of A Bronx Tale closes this week at the Starlight in Kansas City. The tour starts back up in rehearsals with a non-equity company in September, launching in Elmira, NY in October, so all dates next season, including the one-nighter in Gainesville and the full week in Orlando will be the non-equity company.

I’m seeing this in about two weeks when the tour comes to Pittsburgh. Any updates from someone who has actually seen the non-Equity company? I’ve half a mind to skip it since I also have Les Miserables the following weekend and a road-trip to NC in between for Thanksgiving. That’s more driving than I care for all in one week.

From my place to Pittsburgh it’s just about 1-3/4 hrs each way.

Since you’ve seen it, the Equity cast was replaced with a non-Equity tour, and not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, but if it was flawed when you saw it I can’t imagine it’s any better now?

There’s something about this show that just doesn’t seem like my cup of tea, but it’s part of my season subscription package.

Updated On: 11/10/19 at 08:43 PM

Been listening to the OBCR for a week or so and it’s hard to get into. I’m sure it’ll make more sense when seeing the show. If I get there.

So, A Bronx Tale. It’s easy to say this show won’t be for everyone: peppered with ethnic and racial slurs, male-dominated sexual references about women, middle fingers, and F-bombs, at just around two hours including a 15 minute intermission this story pushes all the buttons considered offensive to some who may not be familiar with the lifestyles, story line, timeframe, and location which the story takes place. At one point deep into Act 2, when Calogero nearly says the entire N-word stopping short, it drew a gasp from the audience. But I think that was mainly because of the scene? And maybe not the word itself.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The cast, stage design, and performances were for the most part all very enjoyable.

The lead of Calogero - or better known as C - played by Alec Nevin, was actually probably the most difficult to understand, both while talking (which came out more like a yell due to microphone problems? and while singing. Same for his kid counterpart, Anthony Gianni Cipolla, of whom I barely ever understood anything (talk or song) that came out of his mouth.

The other leads - the mob boss Sonny (Jeff Brooks), C’s dad Lorenzo and mother Rosina (Nick Fradiani and Stefani Lodino), and C’s girl Jane (Kayla Jenerson), were all quite outstanding. Their acting, interactions, and vocal chops were all top notch.

Having now listened to the OBCR for several weeks I especially enjoyed their versions of: Look Into Your Heart; I Like It - Reprise; Ain’t It The Truth; Out of Your Head (Alec Nevin’s shining vocal moment); Nicky Machiavelli (Jeff Brooks was very good here); the powerhouse Act One closing song These Streets; Webster Avenue (Kayla Jenerson, just, wow); One of the Great Ones (another great Jeff Brooks song with a surprising ending on that one); Look Into Your Heart - Reprise (Stephani, great voice); and In a World Like This (C and Jane were just too adorable!!!). During several songs half of the stage would be covered only to have the curtain pulled back to briefly reveal a flashback scene, as in One of The Great Ones as well as Look Into Your Heart - Reprise.

As for the stage design, at times there would be only a single double-height lamp post and scrim, at other times there would be multiple layers of storefront signs, columned steel-frame stairwells, an apartment stoop, and backdrop scrim. Never once did I think it look cheap or low quality, except the flowers and casket near the very end. It was just not on par with the rest of the show.

And the gun shots? I sort of knew they were coming at the beginning of the show, but they still made me jump. The one I didn’t know coming was during the bar scene. That one was a real surprise.

No window cards. Boooooo. I bought the refrigerator magnet and dice set.

I chatted with my seat neighbors, people in line at the bathroom, at the souvenir stand, the slow death march out of the theater, on the way back to the parking garage, and in the elevator heading up to the car. All of them had quite favorable things to say and they all enjoyed it.

Overall this was a very good show. I’m not sure I’d had gone if I didn’t already have season tickets, but deep inside I think I really did want to see this. And I’m glad I did.

Here’s a link to some of the pictures I took today:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/57377062@N04/albums/72157711925966933

Updated On: 11/24/19 at 08:46 PM

Miles2Go2 said: "My (and I think most people’s) problem with the show wasn’t the use of the N-word so much as how easily that offense is forgiven. It didn’t feel believable and made its use feel gratuitous. The whole interracial couple storyline felt like an afterthought and spoke of a lazy book. I did enjoy it more than I thought I would, but I have had zero desire to listen to the OBCR since"


I guess maybe I’m still relatively new to this, but the interracial storyline - C knew someone already in a relationship like that, he had mentioned it to his dad, mentioned it to Sonny, and his dad had mentioned the mix of bus riders he encounters every day - was a big part of the racial tensions between C’s crew and the crew of Jane’s brother, as well as the character development of C into someone who can see beyond his own heritage and ethnicity.

Even the songs Webster Avenue, Out of Your Head, and Hurt Someone were about racially divided neighborhoods and mixed relationships.

Now. The bikers in the bar, that felt gratuitous and out of place.

As for the OBCR, I have another 11hr roundtrip road-trip to NC this coming weekend. I most always listen to my stockpile of recent and upcoming shows. And I’ll definitely be listening to A Bronx Tale again. And again. And again. That, and Les Miserables, my next show one week from today.