I am Hoping that A Biography of Dion DiMucci Makes it to Broadway

There was an excellent article in the Metropolitan section of the New York Times today titled A Wanderer, the Singer Dion Returns to the Bronx. It states that Dion is collaborating with Charles Messina, a playwright and director, on “The Wanderer — the Life and Music of Dion.” It would be biographical similar to the Jersey Boys which actually took 10 years to get to Broadway. The author of the article, David Gonzalez, reports that Dion and Charles Messina actually toured Dion’s old neighborhood in the Bronx and are now trying to get investors for the show. I guess people outside of show business just don’t realize how difficult it is to take an idea to fruition as a Broadway musical. Many such “jukebox musicals” have failed including:

• Good Vibrations
• The Times They Are A Changin’
• Ring of Fire
• Baby It’s You
• All Shook Up

The article does not give any target date for the production of this proposed show. I certain hope that this show will come to Broadway and succeeds. I had the pleasure of seeing Dion in concert twice. Once was in 1985 or so when he appeared at a WCBS-FM concert at the Radio City Music Hall. The other time was in November 2009 when he opened for Bob Dylan at the United Palace Theater.