West Side Story
May 15 – 30, 2015
West Side Story
This is an exceptional musical based on a conception of Jerome Robbins, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. As far as songs are concerned this show has a number of favourites including: ‘Tonight’, ‘Maria’, ‘America’, ‘Jets Song’, ‘I Feel Pretty’, and ‘Officer Krupke’.
When it was first directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins in 1957 it was recognised as being the modern day version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Set on the West Side of New York City, this musical picks up on the passion and aggression of two gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, as they try to take control of their neighbourhood. In this environment a lifetime can last forty-eight hours, and that is the timespan of this story – a story that revolves around the two gangs and the ‘love at first sight’ relationship between Maria and Tony, who unfortunately come from opposite sides of the street. While the show was ‘modern’ in the late fifties, the story rings just as true today – covering themes such as peer group pressure, gang behaviour, racial prejudice, young love, and the misguided actions of youth who only see violence as a means to an end. This is a show that has a great music score and, through its cleverly structured story, takes you to a place that most of us don’t want our young adults to experience.
| Cast: | |
| Tony | Rewi Pakinga |
| Maria | Stephanie Quaglia |
| The Jets | |
| Riff | Phil O’Connor |
| Graziella | Paris Hambridge |
| Action | Jordan Jansons |
| Clarice | Helen Bell |
| Diesel | Max Hearn-Sarchfield |
| Velma | Jemima Seal |
| Baby John | Mitchell Hawkins |
| Anybody’s | Emily Daniel |
| Big Deal | Riley Dolahenty |
| Pauline | Christine Wilson |
| Arab | Liam Dailly |
| The Sharks | |
| Bernado | Adam Garden |
| Anita | Sarah Aylen |
| Chino | Alex Fisher |
| Rosalia | Raelene Buecker |
| Pepe | Jackson Eagles |
| Consuela | Keira Glasgow-McLean |
| Inio | Cameron Pracy |
| Francisca | Brooke Stephens |
| Luis | Andreas Cavanna |
| Teresita | Laura Murdocca |
| The Adults | |
| Lieutenant Schrank | Andrew McLean |
| Office Krupke | Ben Wilson-Hill |
| Doc | Ian McLean |
| Glad Hand | Daryl Osborne |
| Production Team: | |
| Director | Eddie Bruce |
| Musical Director | Leo Dent |
| Choreographer | Kate O’Neill |
| Christina O’Neill | |
| Fight Coordinator | Phil O’Connor |
| Stage Manager | Marvyn Lenders |
| Costume Coordinators | Julie Scargill |
| Judy Clarke | |
| Lighting Design | Ian Hardstaff |
| Lighting and Sound | John Nawotka |
| Kate Gandy | |
| Julian Floriano | |
| Follow Spot Operator | David Williams |
| DMS Ensemble: | |
| Violin | Emmanuelle Fonsny |
| Elisabetta Sonego | |
| James Palethorpe | |
| Cello | Karen Cortez |
| Bass | Peter Tesoriero |
| Woodwinds | Jessica Wood |
| Gemma Rolf | |
| Nicole Brice | |
| Keyboard | Kelvin Hui |
| Trumpet | Andrew Hamblin |
| Percussion | Matthew Moody |