A Bronx Tale: The Original One Man Show

By Chazz Palminteri

In 1989 Chazz Palminteri wrote a one man show about a killing he saw in the Bronx when he was nine years old. He performed it at a little theatre in Hollywood California. It became a hit and the most sought after property since Rocky. With only two hundred left in the bank and million dollar offers, he refused to sell his play unless he played Sonny and wrote the screenplay. He held out and got his wish with Robert De Niro. This is the original one man show he wrote and performed in 1989 that made him a star.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9780989264518

Book preview

Confirmation · 1960

Bronx, NY · 1968

Copyright

Copyright © by Chazz Palminteri, All Rights Reserved

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without prior written consent of the publisher.

Neighborhood Media

P.O. Box 622

Bedford, NY 10506

First eBook Edition: May 2013

ISBN: 978-0-9892645-0-1

Reviews for A Bronx Tale · The Original One Man Show

'A BRONX TALE' IS A GOOD YARN, A VIVID TRUE STORY.

- Stephen Holden

New York Times

… a raucous, solo tour de force written and performed by Chazz Palminteri … (He is) a chameleon … What we have here is the theatrical genesis of a terrific movie.

- Ray Loynd

Los Angeles Times

… a touching, strong and honest portrayal of growing up in the Bronx during the turbulent '60s. Palminteri is an extraordinary storyteller - and he knows the territory.

- Ed Kaufman

The Hollywood Reporter

… strong, deeply affecting, well-rendered. It pulsates with life … Palminteri plays his younger self and the colorful people of his youth flawlessly …

- Meex.

Daily Variety

A BRONX TALE is BRILLIANT! STUNNING, SEETHING THEATRE!

- Jerry Tallmer

New York Post

Chazz Palminteri's one-man recreation of his childhood … is so authentic, and is delivered so lovingly that anyone capable of an ounce of sentiment must be moved.

- Joey Levy

Los Angeles Reader

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Play

About the Author

Introduction

In 1989 Chazz Palminteri wrote a one man show about a killing he saw in the Bronx when he was nine years old. He performed it at a little theatre in Hollywood California. It became a hit and the most sought after property since Rocky. With only two hundred left in the bank and million dollar offers, he refused to sell his play unless he played Sonny and wrote the screenplay. He held out and got his wish with Robert De Niro. This is the original one man show he wrote and performed in 1989 that made him a star.

A BRONX TALE

THE PLAY

A ONE MAN SHOW

by

CHAZZ PALMINTERI

(Pre show: We hear the music of Dion and the Belmonts. Lights come up on a set depicting a street corner in the Bronx, New York: the corner of 187th street and Belmont Avenue. A stoop, a lamppost perhaps a window frame, a doorway, fire escape are all that is needed. The setting is sparse, merely representing the locale. It is in the middle of the night. Unusually quiet and peaceful. The lights fade on the street and the sounds of Dion and the Belmonts drift away to be replaced by the evocative - Bronx theme.) (As the lights drift across the various shapes of the setting, we discover the Narrator (the actor) sitting on an old chair next to the stoop - (Narrator acts out all the actors)

NARRATOR

to audience

It's 3:00 AM In the Bronx, New York. I'm sitting here on The corner of 187th and Belmont Avenue. I can hear a Million voices in my head and one voice in particular. His Name was Sonny.

(Moves to lamppost)

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

And he stood right here. Right under this lamp post. He was the number one man in the neighborhood. I can still see him calling me…

SONNY

Hey kid. Come here, kid. See this kid? I love this kid.

NARRATOR

This was his neighborhood. A Doo Wop group sang right in that alleyway there. Carlo, Freddy, Angelo and a guy named Dion. They got their name from the street sign. They were called Dion and the Belmonts and they could sing better than anybody I ever heard. I use to listen to them when