Mantello, who earned a Tony Award for his direction of Greenberg's Take Me Out, will direct the classic musical, which is scheduled to begin previews Nov. 21 at Studio 54 prior to an official opening Dec. 11. Greenberg, who won his Best Play Tony for Take Me Out, has penned a new book for the musical based on the original by John O'Hara.
Graciela Daniele will choreograph the production with musical direction by Tony winner Paul Gemignani. The creative team will also boast Scott Pask (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes), Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher (lights), Tony Meola (sound) and Don Sebesky (orchestrations).
Roundabout Theatre Company will present the limited engagement of Pal Joey in association with Marc Platt.
No casting has been announced for the production, although Jersey Boys Tony winner Christian Hoff had previously been mentioned as a possibility for the lead role.
Pal Joey, which is set in 1930s Chicago, is the story of "Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub," according to press notes. "Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she'll set him up in business." Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's Pal Joey opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Christmas night 1940 with a cast that included Vivienne Segal and Gene Kelly. The Rodgers and Hart score boasts such tunes as "I Could Write a Book," "What Is a Man?," "Zip," "Pal Joey," "Happy Hunting Horn," "Chicago," "That Terrific Rainbow," "The Flower Garden of My Heart," "Den of Iniquity," "Plant You Now, Dig You Later," "Take Him" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." The most recent New York staging of Pal Joey was presented by City Center Encores! That weekend of concerts featured Peter Gallagher in the title role with Tony-winning actress Patti LuPone as Vera.
The revival will feature "I'm Talking to My Pal," a song that had been dropped from the score during its out-of-town tryout.
Pal Joey will play Tuesday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 PM.
Tickets will go on sale in the fall.
Studio 54 is located in Manhattan at 254 West 54th Street. For more information visit www.roundabouttheatre.org.
