Overview
Synopsis
On the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, gang warfare reigns supreme. Here, it’s all about the streets and who owns them. The story is narrated by Calogero who tells us how he witnessed the murder of a man on the street in front of his Belmont Avenue home as a young boy. The killer was local gangster Sonny, who proceeds to take Calogero under his wing when the young boy protects him by lying to the police. Calogero begins performing odd jobs for Sonny and starts to make serious money, despite the concerns of his father Lorenzo. Calogero can’t resist Sonny and his dangerously glamorous lifestyle and quickly becomes the toast of the neighborhood thanks to his association with Sonny. However, complications arise when Calogero falls for a girl from the wrong side of the Metro North line, an African-American teenager named Jane. Before their relationship can even get going, they become caught between the hostilities of their neighborhoods in a violent series of events.
Show Information
- Book
- Chazz Palminteri
- Music
- Alan Menken
- Lyrics
- Glenn Slater
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- A Bronx Tale (1990 play)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2016
- Genres
- Historical/Biographical, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- The Bronx, 1960s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Broadway Licensing
- Ideal For
- College/University, Diverse Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
|
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
Songs
Act One
- "Belmont Avenue" – Calogero and Ensemble
- "Look to Your Heart" – Lorenzo and Young Calogero
- "Roll 'Em" – Sonny, Young Calogero and Ensemble
- "I Like It" – Young Calogero and Ensemble
- "Giving Back the Money" – Lorenzo, Young Calogero, Rosina and Sonny
- "I Like It (Reprise)" – Calogero, Young Calogero, Sonny and Ensemble
- "Ain't It The Truth" – Calogero and Male Ensemble
- "Out of Your Head" – Calogero, Jane, Denise, Frieda, and Ensemble
- "Nicky Machiavelli" – Sonny and Male Ensemble
- "These Streets" – Lorenzo, Sonny, Rosina and Ensemble
Act Two
- "Webster Avenue" – Jane, Calogero, Tyrone, Jesse, Denise and Frieda
- "Out of Your Head (Reprise)" – Jane
- "One of the Great Ones" – Sonny
- "Ain't It The Truth (Reprise)" – Tyrone and Jesse
- "Look to Your Heart (Reprise)" – Rosina
- "One of the Great Ones (Reprise)" – Calogero
- "Hurt Someone" – Tyrone, Calogero, and, Ensemble
- "In a World Like This" – Calogero, Jane and Ensemble
- "The Choices We Make" – Calogero, Lorenzo, Jane, Rosina, Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A piece of writing based on the writer’s own life.
A style of R & B music that uses a simple beat, vocal harmonies, and little (or no) instrumentation.
The northernmost borough of New York City, between the Harlem River & Long Island Sound.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher