Main Cast: Kathleen Turner, Danny Aiello, Cathy Moriarty, Frankie Nasso, Harvey Keitel
Release Year: 1999
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A child discovers a whole new world when he runs away from home in the family drama Prince Of Central Park. JJ (played by Frankie Nasso) is a boy living in New York with his foster mother (Cathy Moriarty). To say they don't get along is an understatement; one day JJ decides he's so tired of her abuse and tirades that he leaves his home for good, determined to make a home for himself in Central Park. JJ soon meets another resident of the park, an eccentric who calls himself the Guardian (Harvey Keitel); while the Guardian seems frightening at first, he soon proves to be a true friend to JJ. JJ also makes friends with Rebecca and Noah (Kathleen Turner and Danny Aiello), a couple who never entirely recovered from the death of their son several years ago. Rebecca and Noah take JJ under their wings, and JJ helps them come to terms with their loss. Prince Of Central Park was the first family film from the production company of Seagal/Nasso, co-founded by stone-faced action star Steven Seagal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
John Leekley - Director, Phillip B. Goldfine - Executive Producer, Theodore Shapiro - Composer (Music Score), Jonathan Herron - Cinematographer, Julius R. Nasso - Producer, Steven Seagal - Producer, Jeff Pullman - Sound/Sound Designer, John Leekley - Screenwriter, Don Sebesky - Play Author, Gloria Nissenson - Play Author, Evan H. Rhodes - Play Author
12-year-old J.J. Somerled (Frank Nasso) runs away because his mother died and is placed in the care of an abusive foster mother. He takes his electronic keyboard, and lives in Central Park in New York City. He learns a lot, and meets a lot of people there including a person called "The Guardian" (Harvey Keitel).
Adaptation
Rhodes also adapted his own novel for Broadway in 1989, but the production, starring Jo Anne Worley, was so poorly received [1] it closed after four performances.[2] The production was directed and choreoraphed by Tony Tanner. The sets and costumes were designed by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case,who received many good reviews for their turntable set design. The Lighting Design was by Norman Coates. There was a production prior to the Broadway opening in Miami Beach that was directed by Bob Bogdanoff and starred Nannette Fabray. Many have thought that if Nannette Fabray stayed with the show, that the musical would have lasted longer.
The Broadway production played at the Cort Theater. In addition to JoAnne Worley, it starred a young Richard H. Blake, who would go on to become a familiar face on Broadway in such shows as The Wedding Singer, Saturday Night Fever, and Legally Blonde: The Musical. Anthony Galde (of Starlight Express-Broadway and 1st U.S. Tour, Film: Just One of the Guys) played the leader of the street gang.
