Hit Broadway musical 'A Bronx Tale' will play Eisenhower Auditorium on Oct. 30

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — NETworks Presentations has announced that the North American Tour of “A Bronx Tale,” the new musical featuring a book by Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri; music by Oscar, Grammy and Tony award winner Alan Menken; and lyrics by Grammy winner and Oscar and Tony nominee Glenn Slater will make its Penn State debut at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

Visit the Center for the Performing Arts online or call 814-863-0255 for more information.

“A Bronx Tale” premiered at the Tony-winning Paper Mill Playhouse to critical and popular acclaim in spring 2016. The show opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on Dec. 1, 2016, following previews from Nov. 3. The show ended its Broadway run on Aug. 5, 2018, having played 700 performances and as the second-longest-running show in the history of the Longacre Theatre.

Based on the one-man show that inspired the now classic film, this streetwise musical takes audiences to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s — where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score, this is a tale about respect, loyalty, love and, above all else, family.

“A Bronx Tale,” based on the original direction by two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks, will feature tour direction by Stephen Edlund with choreography by Tony winner Sergio Trujillo. The creative team also includes: Beowulf Boritt, scenic design; William Ivey Long, costume design; Howell Binkley, lighting design; Gareth Owen, sound design; Paul Huntley, hair and wig design; Anne Ford-Coates, makeup design; Stewart/Whitley, casting; and Robert Westley, fight coordinator. Music supervision and arrangements are by Ron Melrose and orchestrations are by Doug Besterman.

“A Bronx Tale” evolved from the one-man Off-Broadway play of the same title, written and performed by Palminteri in 1989. During the original Off-Broadway and subsequent Los Angeles engagements, De Niro came to see the show. He brought the story and star Palminteri to the screen in 1993, making his film directorial debut in the process. Following the success of the film, Palminteri performed the one-man show on Broadway in the 2007-08 season.

The original Broadway cast album is available on Ghostlight Records in digital formats, with CDs in stores and online.

Audio description, which is especially helpful to patrons with sight loss, is available for this performance at no extra cost to ticket holders. Reservations for audio description are required by Wednesday, Oct. 16. Phone 814-238-0132 to reserve the service.

Northwest sponsors the State College performance.

Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or artists, is offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity, so seating is available on a first-arrival basis.

For tour dates and more, visit “A Bronx Tale” online. Follow the production on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Find the Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Principal cast bios

Nick Fradiani (Lorenzo). Fans fell for Nick as he soared through “American Idol,” claiming the champion title in 2015, and released his debut solo project, “Hurricane,” in 2016. Following multiple national tours, Fradiani released his follow-up EP in 2017, titled “Where We Left Off,” and his most recent single, “Empire,” in 2019. Now based in his home state of Connecticut, Nick begins a new journey into musical theater with his national tour debut in “A Bronx Tale.”

Jeff Brooks (Sonny). National Tours: “Bullets over Broadway” (Cheech), “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” (Gaston), “Oklahoma!,” “The Sound of Music” (Admiral), “Fiddler on the Roof” (Constable). Other credits include: “Carousel” (Billy), “Into the Woods” (Cinderella’s Prince), “Chicago” (Billy Flynn). Brooks is a proud graduate of SUNY Cortland and wouldn’t be here without the support of his family and everyone at ATB.

Alec Nevin (Calogero). NY/Regional: “Mamma Mia” (New Bedford Festival Theatre); “Two Tickets to Paradise: The Eddie Money Musical” (Eddie Money Productions); “Gaybraham Lincoln the Musical” (NYTF); “Rent” (Clear Space Theatre); “Peter and the Starcatcher” (Cider Mill Playhouse). Thank you to my reps, family, friends and this amazing cast and crew for their unconditional love and support. IG: @alecnevin.

Kayla Jenerson (Jane) is thrilled to join the “A Bronx Tale” family! National Tours: “Motown The Musical” (Diana Ross cover/Mary Wells), “Legally Blonde” (Pilar). Selected regional: “West Side Story,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “A Chorus Line,” “Violet.” Proud graduate of UW-Madison. Thank you to Stewart/Whitley casting for believing in me. Infinite love and thanks to my three ever supportive parents. Instagram: @kaylajenerson.

Stefanie Londino (Rosina). Off-Broadway: “The Mayor of Williamsburg” (HERE Arts Center); “What Do Critics Know?” (The York Theater); “Flak House” (Actors Temple Theater); “Red Wine in Paper Cups” (TheaterNOW). Regional: Pioneer Theater Company (“Romeo and Juliet,” “Dial M for Murder”); Playhouse On Park (“My Name Is Asher Lev”); Salt Lake Acting Company (“Master Class,” “Too Much Memory”); Cortland Repertory Company (“Women In Jeopardy,” S.A.L.T. nominee); “Much Ado...” (Beatrice); “Tristan & Yseult” (Yseult). BFA University of Utah Actor Training Program. She lives in New York City with her handsome beau Paul and their 11 musical instruments. She also fronts a blues rock band: westsidewaltz.com.

George Vickers V (Tyrone) is pumped to be joining “A Bronx Tale.” He grew up in Marietta, Georgia, where he graduated from Pebblebrook Performing Arts High School. After attending Penn State, he performed on Holland America's Eurodam and then went on to live and work in Osaka, Japan, at Universal Studios. Favorite roles include Donkey in “Shrek” and Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid.”