Jerome Vivona knew from a young age that he was meant to tell stories. From performing at his Bayville elementary school, to “West Side Story” and “Guys and Dolls” at North Shore High School, he found that there was a freedom in theater that was especially unique.
The accomplished performer, writer, producer, director, and choreographer, Vivona (Broadway’s “Seussical,” “Kiss Me Kate”) returns to the New York stage, Off-Broadway, in “JOY: A New True Musical.” Running now through Aug. 17, it’s based on the life of entrepreneur Joy Mangano. Vivona plays Judge Jeremiah Abernathy an integral figure in Mangano’s life, and also a standby for other roles.
Vivona is right at home with JOY, which is mostly set at Mangano’s childhood house on Long Island. As a teenager, Vivona was an avid athlete working part-time at an East Norwich ski shop (where he once helped Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley), and initially decided to attend college on a soccer scholarship; however, thanks to the encouragement of his teachers, he found that the calling to be a dancer was stronger.
At age 17 he entered a Sea Cliff studio and said, “I want to be a professional dancer.” He trained privately for six to eight hours each day for six months until he had caught up with the more experienced dancers.
“I worked very hard, and with the studio’s tutelage I ended up at the Joffrey Ballet School,” says Vivona. “[Afterwards,] I was very fortunate to tour with ballet companies.”
His life took another incredible turn when, at 23, he first met Jerome Robbins, for whom he was about to audition for “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway.”
“He took a liking to me and I took private rehearsal sessions with him in which I learned all of the ‘West Side Story’ choreography. Working with him and his believing in me was a seminal part of my career.”
Vivona went on to tour with Robbins’ show nationally and internationally, which was followed by a turn in the Paris production of “West Story,” where he met his wife, performer and dancer Michelle Vivona. It wasn’t long before he made his Broadway debut in “Guys and Dolls.”
“JOY” entered his life through the connections and friends he made through the years.
“My relationships are what brought me back and my friends having a belief that I would be the right fit. I’m really thrilled that [director] Lorin Latarro and choreographer Joshua Bergasse gave me the opportunity because the show is beautiful, powerful, and uplifting.”
“‘JOY’ is about the dynamics of a family and how that can change your trajectory in life if you let it,” says Vivona. “It’s a powerful story about one woman who found herself in a situation where she had her back up against a wall, and she was able to create this mop that allowed her to change her family’s life and the lives of countless others. It really is ‘joy,’ and I think that what we need right now is a story that makes us feel good about humanity.”
As the only native Long Islander in “JOY,” Vivona helped with the authenticity of the actors’ dialect.
“During rehearsals we had a dialect coach who was going to play a recording for the actors to help with their speech,” says Vivona. “Instead … I was the reference for them. Whenever Betsy [Wolfe, who plays Mangano] said, ‘How do you say this?’ they would look for me and ask how to say ‘mop’ or ‘car door.’ They even asked me to record my mom saying a couple of things.”
Vivona also spoke with the production team about local towns, mascots and street names.
“Any time there was something that didn’t ring true to Long Island, I would mention it,” he says. “It feels like home [on stage], and it feels good to be representing Long Island in a show about Long Island and someone as successful as Joy. I’m proud to be telling her story.”
At 58, Vivona stands by the same values he held true when he was raising his children, who graduated from the East Meadow School District.
“I’ve always taught them that you should follow your dreams and believe in what your impact can be,” he says. “This show has taught me that I can continue to believe in myself and that being on stage telling a story is what I’m all about.
When Vivona is not performing, he and Michelle can be found in Mineola, where they own and operate American Theatre Dance Workshop, an award-winning conservatory-type performing arts school.
With new projects on the horizon, Vivona surely wouldn’t mind seeing “JOY” head to Broadway.
“I don’t think you leave the theater without a smile on your face and maybe a tear in your eye.”
JOY: A New True Musical” is at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th St., New York. Tickets are available at joythemusical.com or by calling (833) 274-8497.
