Bandstand begins performances on Broadway tonight

The Broadway premiere of Bandstand begins previews at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre tonight, ahead of an official opening on April 26. The musical is currently booking through to December 30, 2017.

Bandstand features music by Richard Oberacker, with a book and lyrics by Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker.

Synopsis: "Set in the smoke filled, swing fueled night clubs of 1945, Bandstand brings the against-all-odds story of singer/songwriter Donny Novitski and his band of mismatched fellow WWII veterans to the stage. When a national radio contest to find America's next big swing band offers a chance at instant fame and Hollywood fortune, Donny must whip his wise-cracking gang of jazzers into fighting shape. Teaming up with the beautiful young war widow Julia as their singer, they struggle to confront the lingering effects and secrets of the battlefield that threaten to tear them apart. Playing for every voiceless underdog in a world that has left them behind, they risk everything in the final live broadcast to redefine the meaning of victory. With an explosive original score and choreography inspired by the high energy swing rhythms of the era, Bandstand is a truly American story of love, loss, triumph and the everyday men and women whose personal bravery defined a nation."

The principal cast of Bandstand includes Tony nominee Laura Osnes (Julia Trojan), Corey Cott (Donny Novitski), Tony winner Beth Leavel (Mrs. Adams), Joe Carroll (Johnny Simpson), Brandon James Ellis (Davy Zlatic), James Nathan Hopkins (Jimmy Campbell), Geoff Packard (Wayne Wright) and Joey Pero (Nick Radel).

The ensemble features Mary Callanan, Max Clayton, Patrick Connaghan, Matt Cusack, Andrea Dotto, Marc A. Heitzman, Ryan Kasprzak, Andrew Leggieri, Erica Mansfield, Morgan Marcell, Drew McVety, Kevyn Morrow, Jessica Lea Patty, Becca Petersen, Keven Quillon, Jonathan Shew, Ryan VanDenBoom, Jaime Verazin, Mindy Wallace and Kevin Worley.

Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler, the production's creative team also features musical direction by Fred Lassen, musical supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Greg Anthony Rassen, orchestrations by Bill Elliott, scenic design by Tony nominee David Korins, costume design by Tony winner Paloma Young, lighting design by Tony winner Jeff Croiter, and sound design by Tony nominee Nevin Steinberg. Mark Stuart also acts as Associate Choreographer.

Bandstand is produced on Broadway by Tom Smedes, Gabrielle Palitz, Terry Schnuck, Tom Kirdahy and Roger Horchow.

The world premiere of Bandstand opened at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, in October 2015.