ROMEO & BERNADETTE eyeing Broadway for spring 2022

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 1:21pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROMEO-BERNADETTE-Announces-Plans-For-Spring-2022-Broadway-Production-20210510

Producer Eric Krebs, in association with Amas Musical Theatre, announced today plans for a Broadway-bound production of the Off-Broadway hit Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn, with book and lyrics by Mark Saltzman, music adapted from classic Italian melodies, and directed and choreographed by Justin Ross Cohen. Casting, creative team and theatre to be announced at a later date. For further information, please visit www.romeoandbernadette.com.

"It seems to me that Romeo & Bernadette is the perfect musical for this challenging time," shares Krebs. "It is joyous. It is funny. It is romantic. It will feel like a great banquet of comfort food after a long period of deprivation. Our pre-pandemic Amas Musical Theatre New York Premiere received unanimous ecstatic reviews. That very positive response coupled with a celebratory return of the Broadway universe this fall will re-enforce why we all need and love live theater so strongly."

Romeo-yes, THAT Romeo-finds himself in 1960 Brooklyn, chasing a girl he believes is his beloved Juliet. But no, it's Bernadette, the beautiful, foul-mouthed daughter of a crime family in this wild spoof of Shakespeare's timeless tale.

The original cast for Romeo & Bernadette featured Nikita Burshteyn (Newsies), Anna Kostakis (NY debut), Carlos Lopez (Man of La Mancha), Michael Marotta (Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), Michael Notardonato (NY debut), Ari Raskin (NY debut), Troy Valjean Rucker (August Rush - Upcoming B'wy), Zach Schanne (Pippin), and Viet Vo (Viet Gone).

The creative team included Walt Spangler (Scenic Design), Fabio Toblini and Joseph Shrope (Costume Design), Ken Billington (Lighting Design), Andrew Keister (Sound Design), Aaron Gandy (Music Director), Steve Orich (Musical Supervision/Arrangements/Orchestrations), Kathryn Ann Wright (Associate Choreographer). Christine Viega was the Production Stage Manager. Casting by Carol Hanzel Casting, CSA.

Romeo & Bernadette was developed and presented by Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) at A.R.T./NY Theatres. Originally produced by Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami, FL, and Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 1:35pm

I skipped this when it was playing Off-Broadway. Some people I knew liked it, others didn't, and ultimately I decided it wasn't worth it. I seem to recall I had a lot of shows on my list at the time, and this one got cut for time. So I can't weigh in on whether this show deserves a transfer.

But I will say: I seem to recall it was on papering sites pretty regularly. And that's a really bad omen for a Broadway run. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:02pm

Yeah this seems a bit risky in terms of “will it make any money,” but it sounds fun and could be a fun, light-hearted new musical the country needs right now.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:14pm

This is exciting- in fact, I just had an interview with Amas last week.

I see this causing some confusion with “& Juliet” if that were to transfer to B’way (and honestly, I don’t see how it won’t). I guess this option would suffice for the people that believe Romeo deserves more stage time and should not be such a douche.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:24pm

Jordan Levinson said: "I see this causing some confusion with “& Juliet” if that were to transfer to B’way (and honestly, I don’t see how it won’t)."

Why? This doesn't even have Juliet in the title...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:34pm

Curious which theater it goes into? Doesn't seem like too much is available. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:35pm

I know, but these are both spoofs of Romeo and Juliet, which might confuse some tourists looking for the one they want to see.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:42pm

The average tourist is very bad with show titles, especially if they speak English as a 2nd language. I can totally see tourists hearing about one show or the other, and later thinking “the title was kind of like Romeo & Juliet, but different” and not knowing which is which. Based on my anecdotal experience, that strikes me as entirely plausible.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 2:54pm

And is “& Juliet” still hoping to come in? With that, this one and “WSS”, that would be Juliet overload.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 3:19pm

WSS has announced nothing and may not reopen. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 3:39pm

RippedMan said: "Curious which theater it goes into? Doesn't seem like too much is available."

By my count, the Barrymore, Booth, Lyceum, Marquis, Nederlander, and St. James are all unspoken for (and that's assuming every show comes back that hasn't announced cancellation already).  Granted, we still need theaters for American Utopia, The Minutes, A Christmas Carol, and Spring Street, but it does seem like there should be enough to go around.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 3:42pm

Jordan Catalano said: "And is “& Juliet” still hoping to come in? With that, this one and “WSS”, that would be Juliet overload."

Just what we need... "a plague on both your houses"...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 4:03pm

Oh true, I could see this at the Nederlander. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 5/10/21 at 7:21pm

it it doesn’t star Bernadette Peters as herself they can keep it

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 5/11/21 at 12:35am

I doubt this will happen. A press release that has the name of the producer first, especially a first-time producer, is a sign of that. If they had a theatre, you'd think they would announce which theatre owner at least.

[bk]

Posted: 5/11/21 at 4:51am

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "I doubt this will happen. A press release that has the name of the producer first, especially a first-time producer, is a sign of that. If they had a theatre, you'd think they would announce which theatre owner at least."

Bingo. And what show isn't "eyeing" Broadway? Silly.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 11:20am

Returns February 1st for a limited engagement at Theater 555:

https://www.playbill.com/article/romeo-bernadette-musical-will-play-return-engagement-off-broadway

Tickets start at $25 for the first week of previews, and are available here:

https://theater555.venuetix.com/show/details/gllNj7GVHoeBMIrF2rvn

[kwoc91]

Posted: 11/18/21 at 11:53am

To anyone going...do yourselves a favor and sit in the middle at Theater 555.

I sat on the side when I saw Turtle on a Fence Post, and my neck was extremely sore by the time intermission rolled around.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/2/22 at 11:21am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROMEO-BERNADETTE-Will-Begin-Performances-Off-Broadway-in-May-20220202?

Off-Broadway Previews are now set to begin on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, with an official opening on Monday, May 16, 2022. Tickets go on sale on Valentine's Day (2/14) and will be available through June 26, 2022, at www.VenueTix.com. For more information, please visit www.romeoandbernadette.com.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/2/22 at 6:17pm

I thought they were trying to come to broadway?

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/21/22 at 7:14pm

Does this theater have any covid policies?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/22/22 at 1:01pm

VintageSnarker said: "Does this theater have any covid policies?"

When I saw it they didn't check for vaccinations but you did have to wear a mask. The theatre was extremely hot and I was miserable.

[inception]

Posted: 6/18/22 at 11:00pm

Saw a note on All That Chat that this has now extended until July 31.

TheatreMania has a code TM49 that gets you seats for $49.

[mcsquared]

Posted: 7/1/22 at 3:54am

Not sure if this posted elsewhere but it actually had its last performance last weekend because of  COVID in the cast. Too bad--I was really hoping to see it. It seems like it would be good for regional theaters.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/30/23 at 10:26am

https://www.playbill.com/article/off-broadway-musical-romeo-bernadette-to-get-cast-recording

Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn, which played a limited return Off-Broadway engagement at Theater 555 last spring, will get a cast recording thanks to Jay Records.

The recording, according to Jay President and Founder John Yap, will be released on CD and available for streaming in September.

Orchestral tracks will be recorded in London, and the company will record vocals in New York in June. Craig Barna conducts.