Off-Broadway NewsRomeo & Bernadette Musical Will Play Return Off-Broadway Engagement in May
The original company will return under the direction of Justin Ross Cohen, who also choreographs.
By
Andrew Gans
February 03, 2022
The on-again, off-again return ofRomeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn, which premiered in 2020 at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T./New York and was scheduled to transfer to Theatre 3 at Theatre Row before the pandemic closed theatres around the world, is now on again.
The return Off-Broadway engagement, which had been scheduled to begin February 1 at Theater 555 but was put on hold due to the Omicron variant, will now begin previews May 3 with an official opening May 16. Tickets will go on sale February 14.
"Well, perhaps the third time will be the charm,” says producer EricKrebs. “We have planned and suspended production twice—in March of 2020 and in December of 2021. Now, I feel that it is time to climb out of the theatrical abyss with a joyful, romantic musical. Right now, what could be better for our battered world than a Romeo and Juliet musical with a happy ending and lots of laughs? Once again we will celebrate as we sing in Romeo & Bernadette, 'There's Moonlight Tonight Over Brooklyn.'"
The musical comedy follows Shakespeare’s Romeo as he ends up in 1960 Brooklyn, chasing a girl he believes is his beloved Juliet but who is actually Bernadette, the daughter of a crime family. Directed and choreographed by Justin Ross Cohen, Romeo & Bernadette has a book and lyrics by Mark Saltzman, with music adapted from classic Italian melodies.
The returning original cast features Nikita Burshteyn (Newsies), Anna Kostakis, Carlos Lopez (Man of La Mancha), Michael Marotta (Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical), Judy McLane (Mamma Mia), Michael Notardonato, Ari Raskin, Troy Valjean Rucker (August Rush), Zach Schanne (Pippin), and Viet Vo (Viet Gone).
The production also has scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Joseph Shrope, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Andrew Keister, music direction by Aaron Gandy, musical supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Steve Orich, and associate choreography by Kathryn Ann Wright. Christine Viega is the production stage manager with casting by Carol Hanzel Casting.
Romeo & Bernadette was developed and presented by Amas Musical Theatre.
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