Opening Night

Gettin' the Band Back Together Set to Open on Broadway

The brand-new musical is ready to blow the roof off the Belasco tonight.

Manu Narayan, Jay Klaitz, Paul Whitty, Sawyer Nunes, and Mitchell Jarvis in a scene from Gettin' the Band Back Together, opening on Broadway tonight at the Belasco Theatre.
Manu Narayan, Jay Klaitz, Paul Whitty, Sawyer Nunes, and Mitchell Jarvis in a scene from Gettin' the Band Back Together, opening on Broadway tonight at the Belasco Theatre.
(© Joan Marcus)

Gettin' the Band Back Together celebrates its Broadway opening tonight at the Belasco Theatre where it began previews July 19.

The original musical follows Mitch Papadopolous, who always dreamed about being the next Bon Jovi. However, he chose security over stardom and left those daydreams behind for a day job. For a while, he thought he had everything — the high-paying job, the high-rise apartment — until his 40th birthday, when he got handed a pink slip and had to move back in with his mom in Sayreville, New Jersey. When his high school archnemesis threatens to foreclose on their house, this big-shot banker must save his small-town home the only way he can…by winning the Battle of the Bands.

Marilu Henner returns to Broadway as "Mitch's Mom" in Gettin' the Band Back Together.
Marilu Henner returns to Broadway as "Mitch's Mom" in Gettin' the Band Back Together.
(© Joan Marcus)

Gettin' the Band Back Together is directed by Tony Award winner John Rando and choreographed by Chris Bailey, with original music and lyrics by Mark Allen and a book by Ken Davenport and the Grundleshotz, with additional material by Sarah Saltzberg.

The cast features Mitchell Jarvis (Mitch Papadopoulos), Jay Klaitz (Bart Vickers), Manu Narayan (Dr. Rummesh "Robbie" Patel), Paul Whitty (Michael "Sully" Sullivan), Sawyer Nunes (Ricky "Bling" Goldstein), Marilu Henner ("Mitch's Mom," a.k.a. Sharon Papadopoulos), Kelli Barrett (Dani), Becca Kötte (Tawney), Garth Kravits (Ritchie), Tamika Lawrence (Roxanne Velasco), Noa Solorio (Billie), and Brandon Williams (Tygen Billows). Rounding out the ensemble are Lindsey Brett Carothers, Ryan Duncan, Scott Richard Foster, Jenny Hill, Nehal Joshi, J. Elaine Marcos, Rob Marnell, Jasmin Richardson, Ian Ward, and Tad Wilson.

Kelli Barrett and Mitchell Jarvis star as Dani and Mitch in the new Broadway musical.
Kelli Barrett and Mitchell Jarvis star as Dani and Mitch in the new Broadway musical.
(© Joan Marcus)