Bandstand the New American Musical Corey Cott Laura Osnes

Bandstand the New American Musical

Corey Cott Laura Osnes

The musical tells the story of a mismatched band of military veterans who join together to compete in a national radio contest in New York City with a prize that will guarantee instant stardom to the winners. But with complicated relationships, the demands of the competition and the challenging after-effects of war, going all the way for a win in the contest seems like a dream that may break these musicians.

Bandstand is an original musical composed by Richard Oberacker with book and lyrics by Oberacker and Robert Taylor.[1]
The musical tells the story of a group of veterans returning home to the United States after World War II. Struggling to fit into their old lives while dealing with the lingering effects of the war – including post-traumatic stress and survivor’s guilt for friends who did not survive – they form a band composed solely of veterans to compete in a national radio contest in New York City. The prize will guarantee instant stardom to the winners, and by performing together they hope to help one another deal with their personal issues. But with complicated relationships, the demands of the competition and the challenging after-effects of war, going all the way for a win in the contest seems like a dream that may break these musicians.
The original production of Bandstand, directed by Andy Blankenbuehler and starring Laura Osnes, Corey Cott and Beth Leavel, premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn in October 2015 and opened on Broadway on April 26, 2017, closing on September 17, 2017.

Bandstand

Previews March 31, 2017 / Opening Night April 26, 2017

Closed September 2017

24 Previews and 164 Performances

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The Story

Bandstand is the high-stepping musical about love in full swing and tells the story of musician Donny Novitski who is about to take on the mission of his life: leading his band of fellow veterans into competition for America’s next swing band sensation. However, complicated relationships, the demands of the competition and the challenging after-effects of war may break these musicians. The original score is strongly influenced by authentic 1940s swing music, much of which is played onstage by the characters and band members. When Donny meets a beautiful, young singer named Julia, he finds the perfect harmony in words and music that could take this band of brothers all the way to the live radio broadcast finale in New York City. But to succeed, it will require every ounce of talent, stamina and raw nerve that these musicians possess

Corey Cott

Corey Cott b March 30, 1990 is an American stage actor and singer. He is known for his role in Newsies as the leading role Jack Kelly after replacing Jeremy Jordan on September 5, 2012 and closing August 24, 2014, as well as in recent short films. Since then, he has appeared as Gaston Lachaille in the musical Gigi alongside Vanessa Hudgens, which opened on April 8, 2015 on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre and closed on June 21, 2015.

Laura Osnes

Laura Ann Osnes b November 19, 1985 is an American actress and singer known for her work on the Broadway stage. She has played starring roles in Grease as Sandy, South Pacific as Nellie Forbush, Anything Goes as Hope Harcourt, and Bonnie and Clyde as Bonnie Parker, for which she received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. She also starred in the title role of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway, for which she received a Drama Desk Award and her second Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

Full Cast

Corey Cott – Donny Novitski
Laura Osnes – Julia Trojan
Alex Bender – Nick Radel
Joe Carroll – Johnny Simpson
Brandon J. Ellis – Davy Zlatic
James Nathan Hopkins – Broadway Debut Jimmy Campbell
Beth Leavel – Mrs. June Adams
Geoff Packard – Wayne Wright
Mary Callanan – Jean Ann Ryan / Production Assistant / Ensemble
Max Clayton – Tom / Ensemble
Andrea Dotto – Broadway Debut Betsy / Ensemble
Ryan Kasprzak – Broadway Debut Mr. Jackson / Ensemble
Erica Mansfield – Ensemble
Morgan Marcell – Entertainment Director / Ensemble
Drew McVety – Oliver / Ensemble
Kevyn Morrow – Al / James Haupt / Ensemble
Jessica Lea Patty – Jo / Ensemble
Keven Quillon – Ensemble
Jonathan Shew – Broadway Debut Andre Baruch / Ensemble
Ryan VanDenBoom – Roger Cohen / Ensemble
Jaime Verazin – Ensemble

Swings: Patrick Connaghan, Matt Cusack, Marc A. Heitzman, Andrew Leggieri, Becca Petersen, Mindy Wallace and Kevin Worley
Understudies: Mary Callanan (Mrs. June Adams), Max Clayton (Donny Novitski), Patrick Connaghan (Nick Radel, Wayne Wright), Matt Cusack (Davy Zlatic, Johnny Simpson, Nick Radel), Marc A. Heitzman (Davy Zlatic), Andrew Leggieri (Jimmy Campbell), Erica Mansfield (Mrs. June Adams), Jessica Lea Patty (Julia Trojan), Becca Petersen (Julia Trojan), Keven Quillon (Wayne Wright), Jonathan Shew (Donny Novitski, Jimmy Campbell) and Ryan VanDenBoom (Johnny Simpson)

Creative

Book by Rob Taylor and Richard Oberacker
Music by Richard Oberacker
Lyrics by Rob Taylor and Richard Oberacker
Co-Orchestrator: Bill Elliott and Greg Anthony Rassen
Music arranged by Greg Anthony Rassen
Vocal arrangements by David Kreppel
Musical Director: Fred Lassen
Directed by Andy Blankenbuehler
Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler
Associate Choreographer: Mark Stuart
Scenic Design by David Korins
Costume Design by Paloma Young
Lighting Design by Jeff Croiter
Sound Design by Nevin Steinberg
Hair and Wig Design by J. Jared Janas and Dave Bova
Makeup Design by J. Jared Janas and Dave Bova
Associate Scenic Design: Amanda Stephens
Associate Costume Design: Martin Schnellinger and Tina McCartney
Associate Lighting Design: Jamie Roderick
Associate Sound Design: Jessica Paz
Associate Hair Design: Brittany Hartman
Associate Makeup Design: Brittany Hartman

Productions

A workshop of Bandstand was held in September 2014 in New York City, and featured Laura Osnes, Corey Cott and Beth Leavel.[2][3]
The show, retitled as The Bandstand, began previews on October 8, 2015, at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, before its official opening on October 18, 2015, for a limited run until November 8, 2015.[4] Direction and choreography was by Andy Blankenbuehler, with the cast that starred Corey Cott, Laura Osnes and Beth Leavel as Donny, Julia, and Mrs. Adams, respectively. The musical contains swing, bebop, and jitterbug.[5]
The musical, once again titled Bandstand, premiered on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on April 26, 2017, after starting previews on March 31, with Osnes and Cott and direction and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler.[6] The Broadway cast features Beth Leavel, Alex Bender, Joe Carroll, Brandon James Ellis, James Nathan Hopkins, and Geoff Packard.[7][8] The production closed on Broadway on September 17, 2017, after 24 previews and 166 regular performances.[9]

Musical Numbers

Paper Mill Playhouse 2015

Source: Stage View^[10]

Act I

“Just Like It Was Before” – Flora, Oscar, Donny, and Ensemble
“Donny Novitski” – Donny
“I Know a Guy” – Jimmy, Davy, Nick, Donny, Wayne, Johnny, and Ensemble
“Ain’t We Proud” – Donny, Jimmy, Johnny, Davy, Nick, Wayne, and Ensemble
“Men Never Like to Talk” – Mrs. Adams
“Counterpoint/Pie Jesu” – Julia and Ensemble
“First Steps First” – Julia and Donny
“Will That Be All? ” – Julia, Donny, and Dolores
“You Deserve It” – Donny and Julia, the Band, and Ensemble
“What’s the Harm in That? ” – Julia
“Worth It” – Donny and Julia, with the Band
“Right This Way” – Donny and the Band

Act 2

“Nobody” – Donny, Wayne, Nick, Davy, Julia, Johnny, Jimmy, and Ensemble
“Love Will Come and Find Me Again” – Julia
“I Got a Theory” – Donny, Julia, the Band, and Ensemble
“Everything Happens” – Mrs. Adams
“Welcome Home” – Julia, with the Band
“A Band in New York City” – Donny, Julia, the Band, and Ensemble
“Give Me a Reason” – Donny
“Worth It (Reprise)” – Donny and Julia, with the Band
“Welcome Home (Finale)” – Julia, with the Band

Broadway 2017

Act I

“Just Like It Was Before” – Company
“Donny Novitski” – Donny
“I Know A Guy” – Jimmy, Davy, Nick, Wayne, Donny and Company
“Ain’t We Proud” – Donny and The Band
“Proud Riff” – Orchestra
“Who I Was” – Julia
“Counterpoint/Pie Jesu” – Julia and The Band
“Just Like It Was Before (Reprise)” – Mrs. Adams
“First Steps First” – Julia, Donny and The Band
“Breathe” – Donny, Nick, Wayne, Davy, Jimmy, Johnny and Julia
“You Deserve It” – Donny, Julia and The Band
“Dwight Anson & Jean Ann” – Jean Ann and Orchestra
“Love Will Come and Find Me Again” – Julia and The Band
“Right This Way” – Donny, Nick, Wayne, Davy, Jimmy, Johnny and Julia

Act 2

Entr’acte – Orchestra †
“Nobody” – Donny, Wayne, Nick, Davy, Julia, Mrs. Adams, Johnny, Jimmy and Company
“The Boys Are Back” – Company
“I Got a Theory” – Julia, Donny, Wayne, Nick, Davy, Johnny, Jimmy and Company
“Everything Happens” – Mrs. Adams
“Welcome Home” – Donny, Julia and The Band
“A Band in New York City” – Johnny, Davy, Jimmy, Nick, Wayne, Julia, Donny and Company
“This is Life” – Donny and Julia
“This is Life (Reprise)” – Donny
“Welcome Home (Finale)” – Julia and The Band
“Epilogue” – Donny, Julia, The Band and Company

† Not featured on Original Broadway Cast Recording

Characters and Original Cast

Character	Workshop (2014)^[11]	Paper Mill Playhouse (2015)^[12]	Original Broadway Cast (2017) ^[8]
Donny Novitski	Jarrod Spector	Corey Cott
Julia Trojan	Laura Osnes
Mrs. June Adams	Beth Leavel
Jimmy Campbell	James Nathan Hopkins
Davy Zlatic	Brandon J. Ellis
Nick Radel	Joey Pero		Alex Bender
Wayne Wright	Geoff Packard
Johnny Simpson	N/A	Joe Carroll
Jean Ann Ryan	N/A	Stacia Fernandez	Mary Callanan
Al	N/A		Kevyn Morrow
Mr. Jackson	Ryan Kasprzak
Andre Baruch	N/A	Thomas Cannizzaro	Jonathan Shew
Jo	N/A		Jessica Lea Patty
Oliver	N/A	Thomas Cannizzaro	Drew McVety
Roger Cohen	N/A	Jeff Pew	Ryan VanDenBoom
Entertainment Director	N/A	Tanya Birl	Morgan Marcell
James Haupt	N/A	Daniel Cooney	Kevyn Morrow
Production Assistant	N/A	Lauren Mufson	Mary Callanan
Tom	N/A	Max Clayton
Betsy	Andrea Dotto
Flora Novitski	N/A	Lauren Mufson	N/A
Oscar Novitski	N/A	Daniel Cooney	N/A
Talent Booker	N/A	Jessica Lea Patty	N/A
Blue Wisp Waitress	N/A	Tanya Birl	N/A
Dolores	N/A	Jessica Lea Patty	N/A
Sydney Lemon	N/A	Daniel Cooney	N/A

Awards and Nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
2017	Tony Awards	Best Choreography	Andy Blankenbuehler	Won
	Tony Awards	Best Orchestrations	Bill Elliott & Greg Anthony Rassen	Nominated
	Drama Desk Awards	Outstanding Actress in a Musical	Laura Osnes	Nominated
		Outstanding Music	Richard Oberacker	Nominated
		Outstanding Book of a Musical	Richard Oberacker	Nominated
		Outstanding Orchestrations	Bill Elliott & Greg Anthony Rassen	Won
		Outstanding Choreography	Andy Blankenbuehler	Won
		Outstanding Costume Design in a Musical	Paloma Young	Nominated
		Outstanding Lighting Design in a Musical	Jeff Croiter	Nominated
	Drama League Award	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical		Nominated
	Drama League Award	Distinguished Performance	Laura Osnes	Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Award	Outstanding Choreography	Andy Blankenbuehler	Nominated
		Outstanding Sound Design	Nevin Steinberg	Nominated
		Outstanding Orchestrations	Bill Elliott & Greg Anthony Rassen	Nominated
	Chita Rivera Awards^[15]	Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show	Andy Blankenbuehler	Won
		Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show		Nominated
		Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show	Max Clayton	Nominated
		Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show	Ryan Kasprzak	Nominated
		Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show	Andrea Dotto	Nominated
		Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show	Jaime Verazin	Nominated