Rehearsals Underway For Stepinac’s 'A Bronx Tale'

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Rehearsals are underway for Stepinac Theatre’s national high school premiere of the Broadway smash hit musical "A Bronx Tale," which is set for five performances beginning May 3. Based on the critically acclaimed play that inspired the classic film, the musical is set on the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, and is about a young man, Calogero, who is caught between Lorenzo, the father he loves, and Sonny, the mob boss he’d love to be.

Jeremy Fuentes of Mahopac, a junior, will play Calogero; Lachland Boyle of Hartsdale, a senior, will play Lorenzo and Thomas Bilotta of Vahalla will play Sonny.

The key female roles of Rosina, Calogero's mother and Jane, Calogero's romantic interest, will be performed by Gabriella Palminteri and Sasha Spitz, respectively.

Gabriella Palminteri of Bedford is a junior at Fox Lane High School and is the daughter of Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri who wrote the book for the musical version of his original play.

Sasha Spitz of Rye is a senior at Rye High School.

The cast is comprised of 50 young performers, the majority of whom are students of the all-boys Stepinac. The female roles will be performed by students from area high schools.

The Broadway musical was directed by two-time Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro and four-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Zaks. The songs were composed by eight-time Academy Award winner and Westchester resident Alan Menken and three-time Tony Award nominee Glenn Slater. And Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo staged the choreography.

Frank Portanova (Class of ’93), who will direct the Stepinac production, said the show is about choices.

"Like Calogero, our students often face the same temptations from a culture that values expediency over hard work; a culture that seduces with promises of power and wealth; and a culture that celebrates lawlessness over justice,” he said.

“A Bronx Tale” will be produced by Keith Sunderland (Class of ’94). It will be the second national high school premiere by Stepinac’s renowned theater program since "Billy Elliot the Musical," in 2015.

The opening night performance of "A Bronx Tale" will be staged at Stepinac’s Major Bowes Auditorium, 950 Mamaroneck Road, at 7 p.m., Friday, May 3. There will be four additional performances scheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday, May 4, Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11. A special Mother’s Day matinee will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 12.

Reserved seat ticket prices are $22 for adults and $18 for seniors and children under 12. To order tickets and more information, call 914-946-4800, ext. 200, or send email to theatre@stepinac.org.

CORRECTION: This article has been modified from its original version to correct the evening performance times for the musical. All evening performances will be at 7 p.m. Incorrect information was provided to Patch.

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