Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Chicago-area native Robert Pieranunzi will dance his way into the Nederlander Theatre as Frankie Coffeecake in the first Broadway national tour of the musical version of “A Bronx Tale.”
After leaving the biz for nearly 10 years to build a corporate career, Pieranunzi was whisked back to his passion when he was cast as Busby Berkeley in a world premiere musical titled “I Only Have Eyes” for You in Hollywood, California.
After that, he played two roles originated by one of his idols, Dick Van Dyke: Albert Peterson in “Bye, Bye Birdie” and Bert in “Mary Poppins.” And then luck struck when he got cast in the first National Broadway touring production of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Tony-nominated “Bright Star!”
Other favorite credits include: “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (Jimmy), multiple productions of “Cats” (Munkustrap and Rum Tum Tugger) and “Grease” (Kenicke, Doody and Sonny), “Pajama Game” (Prez), “Meet Me In St. Louis” (Lon), “Guys and Dolls” (Rusty Charlie), “West Side Story” (Riff), and the world premieres of “The Snow Queen” (with Alan Menken and Glenn Slater) and “Pilgrim.”
Pieranunzi graduated from Visitation Grade School in Elmhurst, Fenwick High School and Indiana University. His family has deep ties to Melrose Park, where the intersection of 23rd and Division is known as Pieranunzi Way.
“A Bronx Tale — The Musical” runs at the Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental Theatre) from March 12 to 24. For details, click here.
