CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Criminal justice students from Penn State Lehigh Valley recently experienced the powerful intersection of storytelling, personal responsibility and real-world decision-making during a visit to see "A Bronx Tale" at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
The theatrical performance, written and performed by Bronx native Chazz Palminteri, tells the autobiographical story of his childhood, including witnessing a gang-related killing at a young age. First created as a one-man play in 1988, the production features Palminteri portraying 18 characters, bringing to life the voices of family members, friends and figures from his neighborhood. The show later became a major motion picture, with Palminteri writing the screenplay and starring alongside Robert De Niro, who helped bring the story to the screen after seeing the original stage performance.
The Penn State Lehigh Valley group, led by Deb Dreisbach, assistant teaching professor and program coordinator of criminal justice, attended the March 29 performance after first connecting with Palminteri during a virtual campus visit in February. Following the show, students had the opportunity to meet Palminteri, present him with a framed Penn State Lion print signed by attendees and engage in a discussion about success, discipline and the importance of making meaningful choices.
“Experiences like this are incredibly valuable for our students,” Dreisbach said. “They bring course concepts to life by showing how individual decisions, environment and influence shape outcomes in the real world.”
For students, the performance offered both entertainment and reflection.
“My overall experience was fantastic,” said Pragti Handa. “The performance was incredibly engaging, but what stood out to me most was when Chazz called two kids up on stage to give them a card and make a promise. It was such a genuine, human moment that really broke the fourth wall and showed his character and kindness beyond just being a performer.”
Handa noted that the themes of the show extended beyond the stage.
“The message that has really stuck with me is his advice to make your parents proud, and his strong warning against wasting talent,” she said. “As a student, it served as a great reminder to stay focused on my goals and to make the most of the opportunities I have right now.”
Carl Elias, a criminal justice student, said the performance highlighted the power of storytelling and personal accountability.
“What stood out to me the most was how Chazz Palminteri was able to play so many different characters by himself and still make each one feel real,” Elias said. “The story had strong messages about respect, choices and growing up. It felt more personal and real, which made it more interesting to watch.”
Elias also reflected on a key lesson shared after the performance.
“The message that ‘the saddest thing in life is wasted talent’ really stuck with me,” he said. “He explained that talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be willing to grow, adapt and keep pushing yourself. It made me think about how easy it is to waste potential if you don’t stay focused.”
Students emphasized how experiences like this deepen their academic understanding.
“It’s one thing to learn concepts in class, but seeing them in real-life situations makes them easier to understand and connect with,” Elias said. “This experience helped me see how decision-making, influence and personal responsibility play out, not just in theory.”
The visit reflects Penn State Lehigh Valley’s commitment to experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to engage beyond the classroom and connect their studies to real-world perspectives.
Through performances like "A Bronx Tale" and direct engagement with industry professionals, students gain a deeper understanding of the human dimensions that shape the justice system, Dreisbach said, reinforcing the importance of critical thinking, ethical decision-making and personal responsibility in their future careers.