Queensland is renowned for producing talented performers, and the line up on stage for Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment’s production of West Side Story at QPAC this July and August is just another exciting case in point.
Leading ladies Sophie Salvesani (Maria) and Angelina Thomson (Anita) alongside fellow Queenslanders Jade Coutts (Swing/ Assistant Dance Captain), Grace Driscoll (Rosalia), Sebastien Golenko (Diesel), and Jake O’Brien (Big Deal) will join the next generation of musical theatre stars in the production which will open in Brisbane on 24 July, following a season at Crown in Perth. Considered a founding piece of musical theatre, this 2021 production will also feature Nigel Huckle as Tony, Temujin Tera as Bernado and Noah Mullins in the role of Riff, accompanied by a live orchestra.
The rest of the cast are as follows: Ritchie Singer (Doc), Paul Dawber (LT. Schrank), Berynn Schwerdt (Officer Krupke), Paul Hanlon (Glad Hand), Joshua Taylor (Action), Nicholas Collins (A-Rab), Christian Ambesi (Baby John), Nathan Pavey (Snow Boy), Molly Bugeja (Anybodys), Natasha O’Hehir (Graziella), Angelica Di Clemente (Velma), Taylah Small (Minnie), Sarah Dimas (Clarice/ Onstage Swing), Tomáš Kantor (Chino), Rania Potaka-Osborne (Pepe), Noah Missell (Moose/ Jet Boy Cover), Max Bimbi (Luis), David Aranjo (Anxious), Brady Kitchingham (Nibbles), Elysha Manik (Conseulo), Nikki Croker (Teresita/ Co-Dance Captain), Amba Fewster (Francisca), Amelia Sanzo (Margarita), Matthew Jenson (Swing/ Co-Dance Captain), Nicholas Jones (Tony Alternate) and Daniel Wijngaarden (Swing).
The musical is directed and choreographed by Joey McKneely, associate directed and co-choreographed by Brendan Yeates, the Musical Supervisor is Donald Chan, the Musical Director is Isaac Hayward and Assistant Musical Director is Katie Robinson. With music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story includes well known musical theatre songs – Maria, Tonight, America, I Feel Pretty and the achingly- beautiful Somewhere.
A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet; West Side Story tells the tale of two young people whose happiness is destroyed by the hate of two enemy camps in New York City’s urban jungle. The “Jets”, sons of previous immigrants to America, battle the new arrivals from Puerto Rico, the “Sharks”, for domination of the streets. This vibrant stage production also features Jerome Robbins’ dazzling original choreography, as fresh as it has ever been in this epic staging of one of the greatest love stories ever told.
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