Bobby Conte Thornton is nothing if not grateful. After graduating with a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan in 2015, he immediately started working in regional theatre and in New York (occasionally with some of his idols), before landing the lead role in A Bronx Tale on Broadway.

Thornton plays Calogero, an Italian-American boy torn between allegiance to the working stiff father he idolizes, and the local mob boss who takes him under his wing in this adaptation of Chazz Palminteri’s one-man show and film of the same name. It’s the kind of debut every young performer dreams of, but Thornton stays grounded, exuding positivity and sense of gratitude even when taking the final bow eight shows a week.