Three years ago, Academy Award nominee Chazz Palminteri teamed up with Academy Award winner Robert De Niro, Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks and Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo to create this streetwise musical, A Bronx Tale, based on Palminteri’s true life story.
A Bronx Tale takes audiences to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. The musical production is staged tonight, November 13, at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts (www.artistseriesjax.com).
Jacksonville native Trey Murphy stars as Young Calogero, in the Broadway musical. Murphy, 11, shared with EU Jacksonville the challenges of life on the road (tutors!), the importance of family and following your dreams.
“Calogero is a tough and innocent kid who goes through a lot of changes throughout the show,” says Murphy. “I developed this character by giving Calogero the spunk that he has, yet still the innocence that he needs. My dad and I are really close so this role hit close to home for me.
Growing up in a theatre family, Murphy received the support he needed to follow his dreams. Murphy made his professional stage debut at the Alhambra Dinner Theatre in 2018 as Jeremy Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Michael Hobbs in Elf The Musical. His dad Jeremy Murphy is currently appearing in the Alhambra production of Jekyll & Hyde. Murphy also played Colin Craven in The Virginia Stage Company’s 30th Anniversary production of The Secret Garden and made his first feature film debut this year.
“In the past, I played baseball which gave me a connection with the character and the show. All of the shows I have done in the past prepared me vocally, with dancing, and acting,” he says. “My parents were always helping me get better at acting and the directors of past shows always helped me and encouraged me. I enjoy the energy of the audience’s applause. It just feels so good.”
Murphy is excited to be part of a touring ensemble and grateful for the opportunity to hone his craft. He attends school with his younger castmates and a teacher travels with the tour to keep them current with their studies. He’s embracing the travel schedule and anxious for the opportunities this role will bring but he admits it can be hard to be away from home.
“I play video games in my down time at the hotel and also explore the different states I’m in. This tour lets me see so many cool places,” says Murphy. “The most challenging aspect of being on tour is leaving my hometown and all my friends and family. The things I miss most about home are my family and my two dogs. But I’ve made some great new ones and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We are all like one big family and we all support each other.”
For now, Murphy is relishing his role as Young Calogero but he is looking forward to new opportunities, including two future “dream roles.”
“I have two for when I’m older…Jesus in “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Drew in “Rock of Ages”. I love rock music,” he says, echoing the message he hopes audiences will take away from A Bronx Tale. “That the saddest thing in life is wasted talent and all the choices you make will shape your life forever.”
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