THEATRE REVIEW: "A Bronx Tale" at the Nederlander Theatre (Chicago, IL)

      On March 13th, 2019, I saw a performance of the Chazz Palminteri / Alan Menken / Glenn Slater musical "A Bronx Tale" when the National Tour performed for a two-week run at the Nederlander Theatre in Chicago, IL.  The cast of this Broadway Tour included Joe Barbara (Sonny), Michelle Aravena (Rosina), Joey Barreiro (Calogero), Brianna-Marie Bell (Jane), Antonio Beverly (Tyrone), Richard H. Blake (Lorenzo), Frankie Leoni (Young Calogero), Mike Backes (Eddie Mush), Michael Barra (JoJo the Whale), and more.  I'd list more of the cast members, but the character names are ridiculous.  




     Looking back, I'm not sure why I decided to see this show.  The ads said that ticket prices started at $27.  I don't think I knew about the ticket lottery yet, because I opted for paying the $27 and sitting far back from the stage in the rear mezzanine section.  I'm sort of surprised I stated for the second act.  I was also surprised that Alan Menken was involved with the music, because the songs weren't very good.  The tour had only been running since the previous October, and closed the August after I saw the show.  Beowulf Borritt's scenic design was pretty impressive--Unless the credit should go to associate scenic designer Jared Rutherford.  It was impressive scenery for a tour, I should say.  






     When I found out "A Bronx Tale" was coming to Chicago, and that it was a new musical, I got confused because I thought it had played in Chicago before.  Then I found out that before the musical, "A Bronx Tale" had been a one-man play written by, and starring, Chazz Palminteri. He was in the Broadway play, as well as the National Tour which played in Chicago in 2009 at the Oriental Theatre (ten years before the theatre was renamed the Nederlander Theatre).  I have never seen a one-man, or one-woman, show before.  I remember seeing an ad for the play back in 2009 (probably when I saw "Rent").  



2009 Ad for the Chicago Engagement of "A Bronx Tale," which starred Chazz Palminteri. 





     When I saw the ads for the musical production of "A Bronx Tale" that I saw, I couldn't help but notice the review quote that says "Jersey Boys meets West Side Story."  That didn't exactly make me want to see the show.  When I saw that some tickets were $27, THAT made me want to see the show.  Also, I think a better tag line or slogan for the ad would be "Jersey Boys, Meats, West Side Story."  I can just imagine it... during any climactic scene when there is friction, the characters solve their problems by slapping eachother with a leg of lamb or a brisket.  Then the victor would say "I mean you no disrespect.  It's just business."








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