WEST SIDE STORY - THEATRE PREVIEW

‘SOMETHING’S COMING’ AND IT’S GOING TO BE BIG AS ‘WEST SIDE STORY’ COMES TO THE MIDLANDS!

Birmingham gets ready for a Manhattan musical makeover as one of the most celebrated musicals of all time takes to the stage at the City’s New Alexandra Theatre next month.

Dates: Tuesday 01 - Saturday 19 April 2014

Preview by Kyle Pedley

Birmingham and the Midlands are in for a veritable musical theatre extravaganza next week as BB Promotion and ATG’s highly acclaimed revival tour of West Side Story takes residence at the New Alexandra Theatre for a three week run commencing Tuesday 1st April.

West Side Story changed the course of musical theatre when it opened on Broadway in 1957 and it remains one of the most successful stage shows of all time. The 1961 film adaptation went on to win a staggering 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with only 3 other films in history surpassing this. In 2012, I myself selected the film adaptation as Number 1 on my countdown of The Top 20 Movie Musicals Of All Time. 

Based on Romeo and juliet, West Side Story is set on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and explores the rivalry between two teenage gangs; one white, the other Puerto Rican. When Tony falls in love with Maria, the sister of the rival gang’s leader, the feud takes on a new dimension, and as their love blossoms so beings a fatal journey overshadowed by violence and hatred. The score includes such unforgettable musical numbers as ‘Maria’, ‘Tonight’, ‘Somewhere’, ‘America’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’.

This touring production features the entire original Jerome Robbins choreopgraphy, and is directed by his former assistant Joey McKneely. Leading the cast will be Katie Hall as ‘Maria’, who appeared on TV in the likes of BBC’s I’d Do Anything and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Your Country Needs You, as well as appearing in major musical productions including playing ‘Christine’ in The Phantom of the Opera and ‘Cosette’ in Les Miserables. Djalenga Scott will play ‘Anita’, having previous starring in such shows as Chicago, Flashdance - The Musical and The Rocky Horror Show, and Jack Wilcox will play ‘Riff’, with his previous experience including Singin’ in the Rain, Wicked and Shoes.

With critics united in their acclaim of this production, with the Evening Standard calling it “Quite simply a masterpiece”, and Michael White of The Telegraph urging people to “Go see this show and be stunned by genius”, there isn’t long to wait for Midlanders to get the chance to do just that!

WEST SIDE STORY will run at the BIRMINGHAM NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE from Tuesday 01 April to Saturday 19 April 2014.

CLICK HERE for more information on the show and to book your tickets!

Alternatively telephone the New Alexandra Theatre’s booking line direct on 0844 871 3011.

For more information on the tour, visit the official website HERE.