For those unfamiliar with the history of the musical, “They Call It Gravy WE Call It SAUCE!” it is the brainchild and ‘labor of love’ of New Jersey native and Music Jar Productions CEO Lenny Gatto. A former student of music at Juilliard and a proud Navy veteran, Lenny has woven his many family, personal and world-spanning stories together into a dramatic comedy spanning three family generations. They Call it Gravy; WE Call it SAUCE! will be performed for a final three-day run in New Jersey on October 11th, 12th and 13th at the Brook Arts Center in Bound Brook, New Jersey, before it crosses the Hudson next year.
This Perry Award-nominee (Outstanding Original Musical) has enjoyed sold-out performances at the Strand Center for the Arts in Lakewood, NJ, The Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, NJ, The Union County Performing Arts Center’s Hamilton Stage in Rahway, NJ. and the Rosen Performing Arts Center in Wayne, NJ.
This original musical tells the story of the Sicilian American Garraffa family – The patriarch, Dante, matriarch, Gina and their American-born daughter, Rosa, living in New York’s Little Italy during the transformative 1970s… a time of political and social unrest. Yet, in Dante’s mind, this was the best opportunity for his family to prosper in America. Young Rosa is thoroughly disenchanted with the world she has been born into and dreams of a ‘little patch of land’ far from the big city. It is then Rosa meets a handsome, successful young Jewish lad, Aaron… and all her dreams of a better life seem to be coming true; but that sort of thing only happens in fairy tales! Twenty years later, it’s Rosa’s daughter Barbara, who discovers her roots and reunites the family. You will smile, laugh, shed a tear or two and even spark a distant or present memory.
Gatto was born in Kearny, New Jersey and moved to Lakewood, NJ at the age of two. Lenny’s love for music and performing goes back to his school days. He began studying the alto sax at age 12 and in high school he added music theory to his list of preferred subjects. He was a member of rock groups growing up in the 60s and performed in many venues throughout the Jersey Shore, including the iconic Steel Pier in Atlantic City where he performed on the Tony Grant Stars of Tomorrow TV show. In 2004 he founded his company, Music Jar Productions LLC.
Tickets are $25; $20 for seniors; $15 for students and Wounded Warriors. Tickets can be purchased online at musicjar.booktix.com, or at the theater prior to performances. Call 609-303-2013 for more information.
