Set in the smoke-filled, swing-fueled night clubs of 1945, Bandstand brings the against-all-odds story of singer/songwriter Donny Novitski and his band of mismatched fellow WWII veterans to the stage.

When a national radio contest to find America’s next big swing band offers a chance at instant fame and Hollywood fortune, Donny must whip his wise-cracking gang of jazzers into fighting shape. Teaming up with the beautiful young war widow Julia as their singer, they struggle to confront the lingering effects and secrets of the battlefield that threaten to tear them apart.

Playing for every voiceless underdog in a world that has left them behind, they risk everything in the final live broadcast to redefine the meaning of victory. With an explosive original score and choreography inspired by the high energy swing rhythms of the era, Bandstand is a truly American story of love, loss, triumph and the everyday men and women whose personal bravery defined a nation.

Directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award® winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In the Heights), starring two-time Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes (Cinderella, Grease, Bonnie and Clyde), and Broadway sensation Corey Cott (Newsies, Gigi), Bandstand is a celebration of perseverance and the courage to sing truth to power.

The dining scene of New York’s Theater District is quickly becoming one of the best of the city, and few people know it better than the actors who call the neighborhood their second home. In this installment of thEATer, we chatted with Andrea Dotto, who is currently playing Betsy in Bandstand on Broadway. Check out her go-to places below: Dinner with the family before a show? I love going to Nizza on 45th and 9th Avenue.  Its a great Italian restaurant thats nearby. It’s not too loud so you can truly enjoy the company you keep. They have great gluten free options too! I always ask for the Cacio e Pepe dish, it’s not on the menu anymore but if you bat your eye lashes just enough they’ll make it for you! Caffeine fix? I’ve been going to Frisson for my mid-show caffeine fix! It’s right next door to a reflexology spa so I can check off my entire to do list on the same block! LaDuca Shoes is  across the street so if you are character shoe shopping, make sure to stop by for a coffee! They like to have show tunes playing and the barista is always singing along. Saturdays, they have a no laptop rule which gets me but I’ll go and plop down with my journal instead. It’s a nice little oasis f …Read more