Performances begin July 15 for The Muny’s production of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurent’s West Side Story, which plays the outdoor St. Louis venue through July 21.
Playing the star-crossed lovers are Christian Douglas as Tony and Kanisha Feliciano as Maria. Starring alongside them are Jerusha Cavazos as Anita, Yurel Echezarreta as Bernardo, Broadway veteran Ken Page as Doc, Kyle Coffman as Riff, Drew Battles as Gladhand, James A. Butz as Officer Krupke, Cedric Leiba, Jr. as Chino, Michael James Reed as Lt. Schrank, Ethan David Zeph as Action, Caylie Rose Newcom as Anybodys, Ethan Van Slyke as Baby John, Daniel Assetta as A-Rab, Tanner Ray Wilson as Big Deal, and RJ Higton as Snowboy.
Rounding out the company are Gabriel Amato, Angelica Maria Beliard, Jonathan Bryant, Veronica Sofia Burt, Devin Cortez, Daniela Delahuerta, Abbey Friedmann, Henry Julian Gendron, Yoni Haller, Eloise Kropp, Francis Lawrence, Macy McKown, Natalia Nieves-Melchor, Tatiana Nuñez, Courtney Ortiz, Daniel Pahl, Daniel Powers, Grace Marie Rusnica, and Ronan Ryan joined by The Muny Teen ensemble.
Rob Ruggiero directs with Jerome Robbins' original choreography reproduced by Parker Esse. The creative team also includes music director James Moore, fight coordinator and intimacy director Bart Williams, scenic designer Ann Beyersdorfer, costume designer Gail Baldoni, lighting designer John Lasiter, sound designer John Shivers and David Patridge, video designer Shawn Duan, and wig designer Ashley Rae Callahan.
With a book by Laurents, music by Bernstein, and lyrics by Sondheim, West Side Story opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre September 26, 1957. It played 732 performances before closing June 27, 1959. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Robbins, the original cast included Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria, and Chita Rivera as Anita. Robbins won the Tony for his choreography, and Oliver Smith took home the prize for Best Scenic Design. It was nominated as Best Musical but lost to The Music Man.
The memorable Bernstein-Sondheim score boasts such tunes as "Tonight," "America," "Maria," "I Feel Pretty," and "Somewhere."
The Telsey Office is the official casting partner for The Muny.
Following West Side Story at The Muny this season will be Little Shop of Horrors (July 25-31), Rent (August 4-10), and Sister Act (August 14-20).
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