Soprano henchman rises from dead on Broadway

TONY SOPRANO killed off henchman Ralph Cifaretto just in time for actor Joe Pantoliano to make his Broadway debut.

Pantoliano and Rosie Perez go into Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune on January 1, replacing Edie Falco, who plays Tony’s wife, Carmela, and Stanley Tucci in the Terrence McNally two-hander.

Two weeks ago, Pantoliano’s character on The Sopranos was throttled to death by Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini.

On November 17, Kathleen Turner was replaced in the Broadway production of The Graduate by Lorraine Bracco, who plays Tony Soprano’s psychiatrist, Dr Jennifer Melfi, who hasn’t yet been told of the Cifaretto murder. Other Sopranos appearances on Broadway have been rumoured but not confirmed.

Frankie and Johnny opened on August 8 and quickly went on to become the highest grossing play on Broadway, recouping its $1.5 million investment in a mere six-and-a-half weeks. The show’s producers had originally announced a five-month limited engagement, but after its surprise success at the box office, they quickly began the recasting process.

Playing a waitress and short-order cook, respectively, Falco and Tucci give their last performance in the play December 29. In addition to Pantoliano, Perez will also be making her Broadway debut.