From Curiosity to Curtain Call: My Unexpected Love Affair with 'A Bronx Tale'

I'll be honest. I went into A Bronx Tale knowing almost nothing. I vaguely knew it was a musical set in the gritty, gangster-y streets of New York, and as someone who grew up obsessed with West Side Story, I figured, “Sure, let’s give it a shot.”

My mom really wanted to go, and let’s be real, if your mom asks you to see a Broadway show with her, you say yes. Especially in New York.

What I didn’t expect? To be completely floored.

Not only was I swept up in the story, the music, and the tension between loyalty and identity, but I was also lucky enough to catch Chazz Palminteri himself on stage, yes, the Chazz.

Seeing the man who created this story decades ago bring it to life right in front of me? That’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of theater magic.

One number that’s still stuck in my head years later is “Roll ‘Em," the toe-tapping, dice-rolling number where young Calogero becomes Sonny’s “lucky charm” at the craps table. It’s the moment everything shifts. The boy’s drawn into a dangerous but thrilling new world, all while his father watches from the sidelines, heart heavy. It's tense, it's jazzy, it’s so New York, and it somehow captures everything the show is about in one unforgettable scene.

For anyone visiting the city and craving a musical with soul, swagger, and a whole lot of heart, A Bronx Tale isn’t just a night out, it’s an experience. It’s for the dreamers, the tough guys with soft spots, and anyone who’s ever found themselves torn between two paths.

And if you’re lucky enough to catch Chazz on stage? Consider it Broadway fate.