Queensland is renowned for producing incredibly 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, Grace Driscoll, Sebastien Golenko and Jake O’Brien 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 (29 June – 17 July).
Considered one of the greatest pieces of musical theatre ever written, 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. Visit the Opera Australia website for full cast details.
A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet; this tragic love 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.
When the original West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, musical theatre changed forever as the most complex and challenging unity of music, dance, book and lyrics was realised in a way which has been rarely matched since.
Hailed as the greatest Broadway musical of all time, the genius of West Side Story’s creators is unquestioned. The remarkable collaboration between Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim and Jerome Robbins produced a timeless masterpiece.
Bernstein’s world-famous score features unforgettable songs including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty – that have been universally adored for generations; proving this iconic dance musical remains one of the most poignant stage works of the twentieth century.
Now former pupil of Jerome Robbins, Joey McKneely’s vibrant new stage production returns to Australia after wild acclaim world-wide. Since the first world tour in 2003, there have been more than 1500 performances of McKneely’s award-winning production of West Side Story.
McKneely is a two-time Tony Award nominated choreographer whose Broadway credits include Smokey Joe’s Café, The Life, Twelfth Night, The Wild Party and The Boy From Oz.
West Side Story
Crown Theatre Perth, Great Eastern Hwy, Burwood
Season: 29 June – 17 July 2021
Bookings: www.crownperth.com.au
Lyric Theatre – QPAC, cnr Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Brisbane
Season: 24 July – 22 August 2021
Bookings: www.qpac.com.au
For more information, visit: www.westsidestory.com.au for details.
Image: West Side Story (Australian Cast, 2019) – photo by Jeff Busby